# Tragic Shooting: The Story of Ashley and Douglas Benefield
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Chapter 1: The Fatal Incident
Ashley Benefield fatally shot her estranged husband, 59-year-old Douglas Benefield, during a tumultuous period marked by a fierce custody dispute over their three-year-old daughter. Ashley asserted that the shooting occurred in self-defense at their home in Lakewood, Florida, claiming she feared for her safety. However, investigators and prosecutors expressed skepticism regarding her narrative, raising doubts about the validity of her claims.
Section 1.1: A Marriage in Crisis
Prior to Douglas's death, the couple was contemplating a move to Maryland, hoping to start anew amid escalating tensions. On the day of the shooting, Douglas texted Ashley to announce he was en route to collect her belongings using a U-Haul truck. Just an hour after arriving, a neighbor received a frantic call from Ashley, who was seen running to the neighbor’s door with a gun, pleading for assistance and declaring she had shot