Best of MURDERISH: Ep.175 Doug Benefield: “Black Swan Murder or Self Defense?” episode artwork

EPISODE · May 27, 2026 · 42 MIN

Best of MURDERISH: Ep.175 Doug Benefield: “Black Swan Murder or Self Defense?”

from MURDERISH · host Cloud10

In August 2016, 24-year-old Ashley Byers and 54-year-old Doug Benefield got married just 13 days after meeting. To a hopeless romantic, a whirlwind romance can seem like a dream. From a more practical standpoint, marrying someone you barely know can be perceived as impulsive and reckless. People close to the couple wondered - how well can you know someone in such a short span of time? In this case, it’s not clear whether Doug and Ashley’s rushed nuptials had anything to do with the relationship’s tragic end. And to this day, there remains much debate over the reasons why one of them would end up dead.  Follow Jami on Instagram & TikTok @JamiOnAir and join the Serial Streamers true crime TV club! Subscribe to Jami’s YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jamionair⁠ Dirty Money Moves: Women in White Collar Crime - Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirty-money-moves-women-in-white-collar-crime/id1619521092⁠. Research and writing by: Alison Schwartz. Want to advertise on this show? We’ve partnered with Cloud10 Media to handle our advertising requests. If you’re interested in advertising on MURDERISH, please send an email to Sahiba Krieger ⁠[email protected]⁠ and copy ⁠[email protected]⁠.  Visit ⁠Murderish.com⁠ to learn more about the podcast and Creator/Host, Jami, and to view a list of sources for this episode.  Listening to this podcast doesn’t make you a murderer, it just means you’re murder..ish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August 2016, 24-year-old Ashley Byers and 54-year-old Doug Benefield got married just 13 days after meeting. To a hopeless romantic, a whirlwind romance can seem like a dream. From a more practical standpoint, marrying someone you barely know can be perceived as impulsive and reckless. People close to the couple wondered - how well can you know someone in such a short span of time? In this case, it’s not clear whether Doug and Ashley’s rushed nuptials had anything to do with the relationship’s tragic end. And to this day, there remains much debate over the reasons why one of them would end up dead.  Follow Jami on Instagram & TikTok @JamiOnAir and join the Serial Streamers true crime TV club! Subscribe to Jami’s YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jamionair⁠ Dirty Money Moves: Women in White Collar Crime - Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirty-money-moves-women-in-white-collar-crime/id1619521092⁠. Research and writing by: Alison Schwartz. Want to advertise on this show? We’ve partnered with Cloud10 Media to handle our advertising requests. If you’re interested in advertising on MURDERISH, please send an email to Sahiba Krieger ⁠[email protected]⁠ and copy ⁠[email protected]⁠.  Visit ⁠Murderish.com⁠ to learn more about the podcast and Creator/Host, Jami, and to view a list of sources for this episode.  Listening to this podcast doesn’t make you a murderer, it just means you’re murder..ish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Best of MURDERISH: Ep.175 Doug Benefield: “Black Swan Murder or Self Defense?”

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Judgey & Juryish Cloud10 Join best friends, Jami (Host of MURDERISH podcast) and Jessi, as they recap your favorite reality tv shows. Each week, they’ll take you inside the drama with judgey opinions coming in hotter than a Lady Morgan Toaster Oven. When reality stars are at war, verdicts will be handed down (sides are chosen, honey!). The ladies dish on who had the best clap back, best storyline, messiest behavior and more. Pop culture and true crime discussions are sprinkled throughout. Sense of humor required before listening. Explicit Murderish with Madison Madison Ford Not Your Regular True Crime Podcast- Murderish with Madison, or MWM, is a new, cut-to-the-point podcast about everyone’s favorite crimes. Based out of Texas, every week we will post new episodes about crimes, murders, & missing persons that usually brings more questions than answers. Bringing a new, fresh face to the true crime community, you are sure to connect with host, Madison. Laughs, tears, & a lot of WTF moments are guaranteed. Blending true crime stories with your favorite haunted videos, ARGs (alternate reality game), & comedy, you are sure to find something to soothe your spooky side Explicit murderish ivanna follow ivanna as she navigates the life and death of serial killers. Explicit Lipstick & Lies Cloud10 Join Melissa Moore and Jami Rice, two crime survivors, as they lift the veil on lurid tales of lady liars and killers who hid their dark intentions behind a veneer of charm and normalcy. You may know Melissa Moore and Jami Rice from their hit podcasts. Melissa hosted and produced Happy Face, the podcast. When Melissa was a teen, she discovered her father’s double life as a serial killer, known by the moniker “Happy Face.” Jami hosts MURDERISH, a true crime podcast. In her teens, Jami survived a home invasion that spawned her interest in justice and women’s safety. Years later, Jami crossed paths with a wealthy Hollywood heiress whom she investigated and exposed for over $50 million in scams. On Lipstick & Lies, Jami and Melissa explore a genre once dominated by the whispered tales of 'good ol’ boys’, but sometimes, the truth lies behind lipstick. If you’re intrigued by women who’ve dabbled in the good ol’ boys crime club you’ve found your people...and your podcast! Listen to new epi Explicit

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This episode is 42 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 27, 2026.

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In August 2016, 24-year-old Ashley Byers and 54-year-old Doug Benefield got married just 13 days after meeting. To a hopeless romantic, a whirlwind romance can seem like a dream. From a more practical standpoint, marrying someone you barely know can...

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