Found Deceased AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard, 19, Auburn, Lee County, 23 October 2019 *Arrest* #7

[auburnmomof2]

Sorry - I too do not recall & considering we are on thread #7 - I am not going back to look! LOL! Maybe someone else might remember.

I take that all back!! I have this in my notes:
car found early morning hours of Oct. 24 along South College St; officially reported missing Oct. 24, 2019; Aniah was found Nov. 25, 2019 near Highway 80 in Shorter, Ala., which is about 25 miles east of Montgomery, Macon County off County Road 2 near New Hope Baptist Church several feet into the woods.)

But do we know where between Auburn and Montgomery the car was wrecked/damaged? I believe she fought hard and am thinking the car was damaged during the fight. I also think he spent time cleaning up the car and now i believe he planted condoms and who knows what else in the car. This wasn't his first crime and he's not stupid.
My opinion only and I'm praying for justice

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Key witness recounts traveling with Aniah Blanchard’s murder suspect to area where her body was found

Three days of witness testimony in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed has seen 17 people called to the stand.

www.wsfa.com

The longest by far was that of Antwon “Squirmy” Fisher, the man who ultimately led authorities to Aniah Blanchard’s remains more than a month after she disappeared.

Fisher’s testimony began shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning and lasted until the court broke for for lunch around noon.

He provided a graphic, albeit heavily scrutinized account of travelling with Yazeed to the place where he allegedly dumped Aniah’s body the day after she was last seen alive.

The defense argued that Fisher had reasons to lie and his past - including a murder conviction from around 20 years ago - should also be considered via rule 609.
…
A longtime acquaintance of Yazeed testified that the two of them had travelled to Auburn in Yazeed’s red van to see her mother a day or two before Aniah’s disappearance.
…

David Johnson III (“Lil Dave”)​

Johnson, who showed up in an orange jumpsuit, is currently serving 188 months in a Georgia federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine.

He testified that in October of 2019, Yazeed (who he has known for decades) called him asking for a ride to an Atmore casino. They got gas, and then returned to Hope Hull, where Johnson says he had a motel room.
…
The final witness called to the stand was a narcotics detective with the Auburn Police Department.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

No DNA matches suspect in Aniah Blanchard’s murder, forensic experts testify

The fourth day of witness testimony in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed was highlighted by the testimonies of three investigators with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

www.wsfa.com

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WSFA) - The fourth day of witness testimony in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed was highlighted by the testimonies of three investigators with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences: one firearm expert and two DNA experts.

Of the two DNA experts, neither testified that any of the ~40 pieces of evidence that were examined in court — which mainly came from Aniah’s car and ranged from pine straw to a Dollar Tree receipt — had been found with DNA matching Yazeed.

 

[auburnmomof2]

Wsfa has a reporter named Simon who is doing fb lives daily and is doing a fantastic job

 

[Niner]

Darn - not finding any updates for yesterday's trial.... all are just from Thursday.

 

[Niner]

Just got an alert for the trial on Friday. Unfortunately they do not tell us the names of the witnesses....

Day 5 - March 13th:

Lead investigator outlines evidence against Aniah Blanchard’s accused killer

Prosecutors continued building their timeline of Aniah Blanchard’s disappearance Friday as investigators detailed the massive search effort and key evidence findings.

www.wtvm.com

Maybe someone can find the names in a different article?

 

[Niner]

Here's an article with the lead detective's name - plus what he testified to. Still looking for other articles.

https://www.wrbl.com/news/day-10-of-testimony-in-trial-of-ibraheem-yazeed/

March 13, 2026

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — On the fifth day of testimony, jurors heard from a multitude of detectives from both the Montgomery Police Department and the Auburn Police Department, as they gave more details of Aniah Blanchard’s murder in 2019.

Josh Mixon, who was the senior detective of the Auburn Police Division in 2019, took the stand. Detailing that Blanchard and Yazeed went to another gas station together after convening at the Chevron on South College Street on October 23, 2019. They drove to the Murphy Oil gas station farther south. The court was then shown video of Blanchard sitting in the driver’s seat and Yazeed leaving the passenger seat to purchase something, then returning to the vehicle.

a lot more in article.

 

[Miss Poovy]

Here's an article with the lead detective's name - plus what he testified to. Still looking for other articles.

https://www.wrbl.com/news/day-10-of-testimony-in-trial-of-ibraheem-yazeed/

March 13, 2026

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — On the fifth day of testimony, jurors heard from a multitude of detectives from both the Montgomery Police Department and the Auburn Police Department, as they gave more details of Aniah Blanchard’s murder in 2019.

Josh Mixon, who was the senior detective of the Auburn Police Division in 2019, took the stand. Detailing that Blanchard and Yazeed went to another gas station together after convening at the Chevron on South College Street on October 23, 2019. They drove to the Murphy Oil gas station farther south. The court was then shown video of Blanchard sitting in the driver’s seat and Yazeed leaving the passenger seat to purchase something, then returning to the vehicle.

a lot more in article.

Thanks Niner.

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 16th:
*Trial continues (Day 6) (Macon County) (@ 9am ET) - AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard (19) (last heard from Oct. 23, 2019 text with friend, Auburn, Lee County; car found early morning hours of Oct. 24 along South College St; officially reported missing Oct. 24, 2019; Aniah was found Nov. 25, 2019 near Highway 80 in Shorter, Ala., which is about 25 miles east of Montgomery, Macon County off County Road 2 near New Hope Baptist Church several feet into the woods.) – *Ibraheem Yazeed aka Laquetta Nicole Lamar, Ibraheema Yazeed, Ibraheen Yazeed (29/now 36) arrested (12/4/19 in Escambia County) & charged (11/7/19 Lee County) with 1st murder & 1st degree kidnapping. Held with no bond. Lee County. Case was moved to Macon County.
*Indicted (11/14/22), recharged & arraigned (3/6/23 in Macon County) with 1 count of 1st degree capital murder (during a kidnapping), 1 count of 1st degree murder (during robbery) & 1 count of 1st degree murder involving a victim in a vehicle. Plead not guilty (3/6/23). Held with no bond. DA will seek DP. Held in Lee County jail. 1/16/26 transferred to Macon County jail. Macon County
Jury Selection began on 3/2/26 & ended on 3/6/26. Jury will consist of 12 Jurors [8 women & 4 men] & 4 alternates [2 women & 2 men] [3 black & 3 white men & 7 black & 3 white women].
Trial began on 3/9/26.
5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom F. Young, Jr. presiding . Lead prosecutor Kenneth Earl Gibbs. Defense attorneys William Whatley Jr. & Carmella Penn.
Previous crimes & court info from 11/10/19 thru 2/6/26 & Jury Selection Days 1-6 (3/2-3/6/26) & Trial Days 1-4 (3/9-3/12/26) reference post #98 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lee-county-23-oct-2019-arrest-7.724664/page-5
3/13/26 Friday, Trial Day 5: State witnesses: I have no names for the witnesses. If I find them later I will re-post their names. Lead investigator Josh Mixon. T-Mobile representative. Flock Safety representative [makes auto license plate readers]. Former Montgomery Police Dept. fingerprint analyst. Private practice dentist. Former Montgomery Police Dept. detective. Trial continues on Monday, 3/16/26.

 

[auburnmomof2]

State and defense rested today. Closing arguments will begin tomorrow. Very tough day at trial today with testimony from forensic anthropology, medical examiner and fbi cell phone expert

 

[Miss Poovy]

Final witnesses testify as trial for Aniah Blanchard’s accused killer nears deliberation

The capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed enters its second week and sixth day of testimony Monday, following a rapid opening week that saw 29 witnesses take the stand.

www.wtvm.com

Testimony synopsis.

 

[ReillyElizabeth]

Here's an article with the lead detective's name - plus what he testified to. Still looking for other articles.

https://www.wrbl.com/news/day-10-of-testimony-in-trial-of-ibraheem-yazeed/

March 13, 2026

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — On the fifth day of testimony, jurors heard from a multitude of detectives from both the Montgomery Police Department and the Auburn Police Department, as they gave more details of Aniah Blanchard’s murder in 2019.

Josh Mixon, who was the senior detective of the Auburn Police Division in 2019, took the stand. Detailing that Blanchard and Yazeed went to another gas station together after convening at the Chevron on South College Street on October 23, 2019. They drove to the Murphy Oil gas station farther south. The court was then shown video of Blanchard sitting in the driver’s seat and Yazeed leaving the passenger seat to purchase something, then returning to the vehicle.

a lot more in article.

I’m confused by this. Is the theory that Aniah went with Yazeed voluntarily at the outset? Otherwise why wouldn’t she have gotten out of the car when they went to the other gas station? And it sounds like she was driving at that point too.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 17th:
*Trial continues (Day 7)-CLOSING ARGUMENTS & VERDICT WATCH! (Macon County) (@ 9am [for attorneys] & 12pm [closing] ET) - AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard (19) (last heard from Oct. 23, 2019 text with friend, Auburn, Lee County; car found early morning hours of Oct. 24 along South College St; officially reported missing Oct. 24, 2019; Aniah was found Nov. 25, 2019 near Highway 80 in Shorter, Ala., which is about 25 miles east of Montgomery, Macon County off County Road 2 near New Hope Baptist Church several feet into the woods.) – *Ibraheem Yazeed aka Laquetta Nicole Lamar, Ibraheema Yazeed, Ibraheen Yazeed (29/now 36) arrested (12/4/19 in Escambia County) & charged (11/7/19 Lee County) with 1st murder & 1st degree kidnapping. Held with no bond. Lee County. Case was moved to Macon County.
*Indicted (11/14/22), recharged & arraigned (3/6/23 in Macon County) with 1 count of 1st degree capital murder (during a kidnapping), 1 count of 1st degree murder (during robbery) & 1 count of 1st degree murder involving a victim in a vehicle. Plead not guilty (3/6/23). Held with no bond. DA will seek DP. Held in Lee County jail. 1/16/26 transferred to Macon County jail. Macon County
Jury Selection began on 3/2/26 & ended on 3/6/26. Jury will consist of 12 Jurors [8 women & 4 men] & 4 alternates [2 women & 2 men] [3 black & 3 white men & 7 black & 3 white women].
Trial began on 3/9/26.
5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom F. Young, Jr. presiding . Lead prosecutor Kenneth Earl Gibbs. Defense attorneys William Whatley Jr. & Carmella Penn.
Previous crimes & court info from 11/10/19 thru 2/6/26 & Jury Selection Days 1-6 (3/2-3/6/26) & Trial Days 1-5 (3/9-3/13/26) reference post #109 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lee-county-23-oct-2019-arrest-7.724664/page-6
3/16/26 Monday, Trial Day 6: State witnesses: Forensic anthropologist Heather Walsh Haney. Dr. Edward Reedy, the Chief Medical Officer for the Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences FBI Special Agent James Berni [works for their CAST (Cellular Analysis Survey) team & went over phone records].
*State rested their case. Defense rested their case without calling witnesses.
*The defense filed a motion Monday afternoon that the state had not met their burden of proof in order to move on, a motion the judge denied.
Trial continues with closing arguments starting at noon tomorrow, Tuesday, 3/17/26.

 

[Miss Poovy]

I’m confused by this. Is the theory that Aniah went with Yazeed voluntarily at the outset? Otherwise why wouldn’t she have gotten out of the car when they went to the other gas station? And it sounds like she was driving at that point too.

Before the trial, there was publicity about a witness coming forward saying Aniah was forced into the car @ the first gas station. As far as I can tell, he did not testify. I think from testimony & camera capturing & Aniah driving, she may not have been physically forced into the car. It seems to me, the prosecution is stating she was held against her will (kidnapped) after they entered Aniah’s car? It is very confusing, so I’m really not sure what the prosecution is contending at this point?

Aniah Blanchard abduction witness cried over not coming forward, detective testifies at hearing

Yazeed, 29, is charged with kidnapping in Aniah Blanchard’s Oct. 23 disappearance.

www.al.com

The Auburn detective’s testimony states they could not get a clear photo of the person (Yazeed) with Aniah at the second gas station.

Expert: No ‘prints of value’ in Aniah Blanchard case

After learning that forensic experts had not identified suspect Ibraheem Yazeed’s DNA in any evidence Thursday, the court learned from a fingerprint analysis expert on Friday that no “prints of value” were found either.

www.wsfa.com

 

[Niner]

Thought I'd share this article

https://www.wrbl.com/top-stories/aniahs-trial-enters-final-stage-closing-arguments-tuesday-jury-deliberations-next/

March 17, 2026

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — The capital murder trial of 36-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed is moving toward its final stage after prosecutors rested their case following days of testimony about the disappearance and shooting of 19-year-old Southern Union student Aniah Blanchard. The defense did not call any witnesses.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, after which the case will go to the jury for deliberations. Jurors will ultimately decide whether Yazeed is guilty of the charges tied to Blanchard’s 2019 death.

If [me: NO IF!] the jury finds him guilty, the trial will move into a penalty phase, where jurors will decide whether Yazeed should be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Yazeed has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

and more in article about the case.