FACT VS. FICTION
DEBUNKING THE MYTHS
PROSECUTOR PRESENTING EVIDENCE PHOTO OF ASHLEY
NO SIGN OF INJURY?
NOT ACCORDING TO MCSO CRIME SCENE TECHNICIAN
Evidence photographs taken by Manatee County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) crime scene technician on the night of September 27th, 2020, document multiple injuries on Ashley’s body, yet the State’s lead witness, and a MCSO ‘Detective’, continues to make the claim that he saw ‘no signs of injury’ on Ashley the night she was forced to defend her life from the attack of her estranged husband, Doug.
These evidence photographs, taken by MCSO, were then presented by the State as EVIDENCE, and were even verified by multiple employees of the MCSO as authentic and accurate.
OFFICIAL MEDICAL EXAMINERS AUTOPSY REPORT
SHOT IN THE BACK?
NOT ACCORDING TO THE STATES OWN EXPERTS
Since day one, the local and national media has reported that Doug Benefield was ‘SHOT IN THE BACK’… but the evidence says otherwise.
The official medical examiners autopsy report states that Douglas was found to have a gunshot wound ‘TO THE CHEST’.
Dr. Vega, the Chief Medical Examiner for Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit, testified during the hearing, stating that: The direction “-was from front to back”
OFFICIAL POLICE REPORT - EYE WITNESS STATEMENTS
15 MIN WAIT?
NOT ACCORDING TO EYE WITNESSES
Some have falsely reported that Ashley ‘stood over Doug’ for 15 min after he was shot. One report even went so far as to say she was ‘waiting for him to die’. But the facts of the case prove unequivocally that this is yet another LIE!
Not one, but two eyewitnesses testified to lawenforcment at the scene that they heard what sounded like gun shots and with in ‘seconds’ they say a very frightened Ms. Benefield running from the house.
These neighbors continued to explain what they saw, stating that Ms. Benefield looked so frightened, they believed she was being chased and they also ran for cover.
OFFICIAL DOCKET RECORD
CHILD CUSTODY ON THE DOCKET?
NOT ACCORDING TO THE COURT RECORDS
Although this myth has been propagated by multiple networks, and even alleged by the State, official court records show otherwise.
There was in fact a pending hearing on the docket for just days after the incident, but it had nothing to do with a ‘custody battle’. In fact, this hearing wasn’t even to modify any kind of timesharing or related to any other trivial matters.
The hearing scheduled for September 30th, 2020, was an injunction hearing that was filed by Ashley’s council.
In fact, there was NOTHING on the court docket filed by either party regarding any custody issues regarding their daughter.
TEXT MESSAGE FROM DOUG
ASHLEY MADE IT ALL UP…. RIGHT?
NOT ACCORDING TO DOUG
The victim shaming media has continued to propagate the same lies being spread by the State, rather than reporting the TRUTH.
Doug has made numerous admissions in sworn statements both during deposition and in a court proceeding, as well as in text messages and emails, admitting to many of the things that Ashley has reported that he did.
Dougs admissions include shooting a gun during an argument to ‘shut her up’, kicking and punching their family dog in the face, throwing the family cat, punching holes in the walls of their home and much more.
Why has the media labeled Ashley as ‘a liar’ when the evidence shows through Doug’s own admissions that what she has claimed all along was TRUE?
OFFICIAL DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPT
HE DIDN’T PUNCH THE DOG… DID HE?
DOUG’S OWN WORDS SAY IT WAS A PUNCH
Was it more of a ‘shove’, or maybe a forceful ‘push’ like some have tried to claim?Doug said in both texts messages and in sworn deposition that it was a ‘PUNCH”. Doug said that he did indeed PUNCH the family dog, Sully in the face…. But it didn’t stop there. Doug has also admitted to hitting and kicking Sully and says he has thrown the family cat, Snuffy, on several occasions.
RENEE BENEFIELD TEXT TO DOUG
DOUG WASN’T A WIFE ABUSER THOUGH…. RIGHT?
ACCORDING TO HIS PREVIOUS WIFE, RENEE, HE WAS
Haven’t we all heard about how Doug was just a kind and loving father and husband? Wasn’t he married to his last wife for 15 years of pure bliss? Not according to Renee Benefield - Doug’s late wife.
Text messages, emails, and other communications show a very different kind of marriage between Doug and his former wife Renee. According to a police report, there was a ‘History of Domestic Violence’.
Renee claims that Doug punched holes in the walls of their South Carolina home, that he was controlling, manipulative, violent, and even pulled a loaded gun on her - more than once. Renee goes on to say that Doug had kicked her and finally had decided to tell him she wanted a divorce… but 13 days later, Renee Benefield was found dead in their home.
In the days that followed, Doug told investigators that he was ‘at peace’ with her sudden passing.
OFFICIAL DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPT FOR DOUG
NOT FOR INTIMIDATION?
DOUG SAYS IT WAS
The media has once again run with the idea that somehow Ashley wasn’t quite telling the truth when she said that Doug pulled a gun on her and even shot it during an argument. Could this have been an accidental discharge? Or maybe not meant for ‘intimidation’?
According to Ashley, Doug pulled the gun on her, threw it at her, and then retrieved the gun from the wall before shooting it in their home.
In a sworn deposition, Doug stated that he used the gun to make her ‘shut up’. He went so far as to BLAME Ashley for the incident and said ‘She could have stoped at any time’ but claims she continued to argue with him
OFFICIAL DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPT FOR DOUG
MASTER MANIPULATOR?
THE FACTS SAY OTHERWISE
When there is so much EVIDENCE to show that what Ashley has claimed happened to her at the hands of Doug was true, why does the State still claim she is a ‘Master Manipulator’?
The truth is not only painful, but important.
In cases studied across the country, the pervasive pattern shows that prosecutors statistically paint female victims who are being prosecuted for defending themselves as ‘manipulators’ who were willing participants in there abuse, even blaming the victims for what happened to them and twisting the evidence to discredit the pain and suffering they have endured. Courts often keep important evidence hidden from jurors, and then use the ‘lake of evidence’ as proof that the victim in not being ‘truthful.
The right to defend yourself is not only legal in all 50 states, but an understood human right as part of the foundation of this country, yet statistics show that women and minorities are often not given this liberty as they are often not believed, charged, prosecuted, and wrongfully convicted. The conviction rate of women who are forced to protect themselves from their abusers is even more staggering.
Our judicial system is still operating in an antiquated fashion where the very rules and regulations which govern the entire process, and biased and intentionally weaponized against minorities, women, non gender conforming individuals, and ALL victims of domestic violence regardless of age, gender orientation, and ethnicity.
