Former professional ballerina Ashley Benefield will remain behind bars while her manslaughter conviction is under appeal, as ruled by a Manatee County judge. The case that commanded national attention, often referred to as the 'Black Swan' case, revolves around the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband, Doug Benefield. Despite her defense team's efforts, the judge denied Benefield's request to be released on bond, a significant decision confirmed by court records obtained by Bradenton Herald.

According to WFLA News, on January 23, the court had considered multiple factors before issuing a decision. Among these were the evidence presented, Benefield's community ties, and the severity of her 20-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years probation. Citing the defendant as a flight risk, the state had argued the increased stakes given the length of her sentence. While trying to leave her home, Benefield claimed she was struck by her husband and subsequently shot him in self-defense after he followed her into their bedroom.

The incident occurred on September 27, 2020, when Benefield reportedly ran to a neighbor's house and admitted to shooting her husband. Manatee County deputies found Doug Benefield with two gunshot wounds amidst multiple bullet casings, painting a dark picture of domestic turmoil. Ashley Benefield was later convicted in December 2024, receiving a 20-year prison sentence. The defense narrative centered around self-defense against an allegedly abusive husband, while prosecutors contended that she was intent on estranging their daughter from him, as reported by FOX 13 News.

The court's eight-page ruling made it clear that Benefield's legal team failed to satisfy the necessary criteria for bond release. Amidst the legal wrangling, the couple was in the process of moving to Maryland and living separately, a move complicated by the tragedy that unfolded.