Ten years ago, Rita Benson LeBlanc was the heir apparent to the New Orleans Saints empire. She was the Vice Chairman of the Board of an organization owned by her grandpa, Tom Benson. But behind the boardroom polish was a storm already brewing. By 2012, her leadership had turned turbulent, reportedly burning through 30 assistants in six years, alienating the very people she was supposed to lead. By 2013, even HC Sean Payton had tried to build an escape hatch into his contract, one that would’ve let him walk if Mickey Loomis — the de facto buffer between Payton and Rita — ever left the building.

The NFL shut it down. But inside the Saints’ corridors, the message was loud and clear: the succession plan was no longer safe. She had the inside track. And then, she lost it all. And now? She’s making headlines again, not from the owner’s suite, but from a South Carolina police report. It’s heartbreaking how her life has changed since the fall from the pedestal.

Once heir to one of the most powerful seats in pro sports, Rita Benson LeBlanc now finds herself back in the headlines, this time, far from the Superdome, and under arrest. According to court records, LeBlanc was arrested in Charleston, South Carolina, and charged with interference and hindering police officers. The details remain sparse, and WDSU confirmed they’ve reached out to the Charleston Police Department for more information.

According to Charleston County jail records, LeBlanc was booked around 6:30 p.m. Monday. But rewind to 2:45 p.m., when officers responded to a chaotic scene at Meeting Street and Water Street. She reportedly pushed a parking enforcement officer. The alleged culprit? LeBlanc. Not only that, she’s accused of snatching a boot-locking tool mid-operation, attempting to stop the booting of a vehicle.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense. Sources tell WCSC-TV and The Times-Picayune that officers apprehended LeBlanc on the spot. Ten years ago, she was seated next to NFL owners at league meetings. Now, she’s making headlines in police blotters. Let’s be honest, this isn’t just about a parking dispute. LeBlanc, once the presumed future of the Saints and Pelicans, lost that path after a bitter legal battle with her grandfather in the mid-2010s.

She’s since been released on a personal recognizance bond, without any bail money, and just a promise to show up. However, the implication is clear: another messy chapter for a woman once anointed the future of the Saints and Pelicans.

How did Tom Benson oust Rita from the ownership race?

For years, Rita was the chosen one. Tom Benson groomed her to take over his business enterprise. However, by 2012, cracks had begun to appear. Tom suspended her, citing inappropriate behavior. That was the public phrase. In 2015, he made it official: Rita was out as his successor. Her name was wiped from the long-term vision of the franchise.

The legal fireworks followed with inheritance lawsuits and courtroom drama. By 2016, the dust had settled. Rita remained a partial owner, but she was no longer the owner-in-waiting. That ship had sailed. Tom’s third wife, Gayle Benson, took the helm. When the smoke cleared in 2016, LeBlanc kept a piece. A partial owner, per her statement post-settlement.

Fast forward to now. Rita Benson LeBlanc didn’t just lose the Saints. She lost the story she was supposed to write. League sources haven’t confirmed her current ownership status. That’s key. If she’s still in? She’s in the disciplinary crosshairs. And that opens up a box the league rarely wants to touch, family drama. And a woman once promised the keys to the kingdom, now back under the microscope for all the wrong reasons.