Shocking Twist: Former Ballerina Ashley Benefield Sentenced to 20 Years for Husband’s Death

SARASOTA, Fla. — Ashley Benefield, a former ballerina, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband at her Florida home.

The sentencing comes four months after a six-person jury found Benefield, 32, guilty of manslaughter, a lesser charge than the original second-degree murder accusation. After seven hours of deliberation, jurors concluded that while Benefield was responsible for her husband’s death, the circumstances did not warrant a murder conviction.

The incident occurred on September 27, 2020, when Benefield shot her husband during what she claimed was an altercation at their Manatee County home. Her defense argued that she was under extreme duress at the time, but prosecutors maintained that the shooting was unwarranted.

Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Matt Whyte acknowledged Benefield’s extreme emotional state and apparent remorse during the sentencing hearing but declined to reduce her sentence.

Benefield’s attorney, Neil Taylor, announced plans to appeal the decision, citing concerns over how the case was handled.

The high-profile case drew significant public attention due to Benefield’s background as a professional ballerina and the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.