aniah blanchard killer

She said she saw Walt just punching the wall. Walt Harris: Coming from a strong Christian background. ANGELA HARRIS: I know one thing … that I will not stop fighting for her. I'm like "no, this is my sister.". James Brown:  As a father, as a guy … I am imagining what might have been coursing through your veins. He was training for his next fight. I just wanted to know why and what happened? Sarah O'Brien [reading text]: "I'm smoking a blunt, LOL.". Then, when Aniah parked her car at the other, Ibraheem was the one who stepped out from the passenger side and went in to buy alcohol. Walt Harris was ranked ninth in the world in the Ultimate Fighting Championship [UFC] fight game as he entered the fall of 2019. This hanging-out-with-strangers behavior of Aniah, they said, was very uncharacteristic. I remember shaking. And then he met Aniah and Elijah Jr for the first time. Aniah's missing. I mean, this is a concrete wall. And it was badly damaged. AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – The Montgomery man investigators suspect of kidnapping and killing 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard is now charged with her Capital Murder. … Like, as soon as she walked in, she would check every room. Hannah Crocker: Pretty quickly, people came together … just like, hey let's do searches here, let's do searchers there. If not, let me help you out. Elijah headed off to Auburn University in 2017. Aniah Blanchard's Alleged Killer Said She 'Went For The Gun,' While Apparently Trying To Fight Him Off, Witness Says. …He's screaming and just punching this wall. And then they cried. Ibraheem Yazeed was arrested late on Thursday night in Florida. Blanchard’s last known whereabouts are difficult to pinpoint, Harris said. Police released surveillance images of Aniah Blanchard from October 23, 2019. Ibraheem Yazeed is currently awaiting trial, but the DA’s office has announced that they plan on seeking the death penalty for him. …   We just felt like a little family. Angela Harris: I had Aniah on my birthday, June 22nd. He was charged with kidnapping. It would be a little more than an hour before a license plate reader picked up Aniah's Honda near the entrance to I-85, heading south towards Montgomery. Blanchard graduated from Homewood High School, where she played softball. Rocked? Two days later, the Harrises were in court when Yazeed fought back. I called her a bunch of times this morning, and she missed picking up the kids this morning. Haley-Harris is married to UFC heavyweight fighter Walt Harris. Walt Harris: I didn't ever call them stepkids. Hannah Crocker: Once it was 24 hours, I was like, that's not Aniah. It was their early morning ritual. The kids certainly look up to their dad. It appeared to be two legs. DA Brandon Hughes: It's a Chevron gas station on College Street. There would not be another response. Walt Harris: She grabbed me, and she said, "just breathe" …  And I just started trying to hear her voice because I could not -- I wouldn't take my eyes off of him. Corrina Thomas [in tears]: And I said, "Aniah's missing." As a 19-year-old Alabama college student, Aniah Blanchard, stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, was someone who always had a fear of being kidnapped. I love you Aniah … You are truly my sunshine on rainy days. A month after Aniah went missing, the DA had news. Yazeed waived extradition to Lee County, Alabama, where Angela and Walt Harris would be waiting, hoping to find out where their daughter was. … He said, "I'm sure." There was blood on the passenger seat, a bullet hole through the same door, and shell casings in the cup holder, making it evident that foul play was involved. … You've got a 4-hour drive." So, it was Aniah who helped Walt with the younger children. We are so happy you were our sissy. On November 7, 2019, Ibraheem Yazeed was captured by US Marshals in Escambia County, Florida, following a brief chase late at night. Aniah's disappearance captured the nation as her family, the local community and law enforcement searched for more than a month to find her, and to uncover the truth of what happened to her that fateful night. Angela Harris: Immediately, I just wanted to actually know if I could see my child. And, when they weren't praying for her, they were out trying to find her. And that's just what we were doing. … We were always together and … she even followed me to college. Immediately after the service, the siblings had to leave. But the charges against both were dismissed according to reports. Angela Harris: Definitely justice … I want justice for my daughter. Angela Harris: He was with them more than I was because I worked a lot. Sarah O'Brien: She wouldn't spend the night with anyone she had just met. They were my children. Win, lose, or draw, Walt's family has always been in his corner. Suspect in Aniah Blanchard case faces second capital murder charge Court documents also reveal new details about suspect Ibraheem Yazeed. Blanchard's body was recovered in a wooded area in Macon County, Alabama on Nov. 25 after she had gone missing for weeks. After all, they had identified him to be with Aniah when she was last seen alive. I mean, we were all in people's yards … We must have canvassed from Auburn to Tuskegee, just me and her, within the first two or three days. ". The man accused of abducting and murdering Aniah Blanchard went off in court Wednesday -- telling the judge, "Y'all have no video, no audio of me shooting anyone!" Sarah O'Brien [reading text]: Did you go out without me? ELIJAH BLANCHARD SR. [news interview]: That was hard for us. Mead Stone is the producer-editor. DA Brandon Hughes: This, from the very beginning, felt very differently, you know, based on the information we had. Aniah Blanchard, 19, was widely known for always putting other people before herself, but she also had a deep-seated fear of being kidnapped and harmed. She loved them. Aniah's older brother, Elijah Blanchard, says he and his sister were nearly inseparable. Walt flew to Abu Dhabi, and spent two weeks in quarantine, training in a hotel. He's being held in a Lee County jail awaiting trial. Corrina Thomas: Amazing. It's just not OK. Around Christmas 2019, nearly 2,000 people came together to celebrate Aniah's life. We would go in alleyways. NORAH O'DONNELL [CBS EVENING NEWS]: Tonight, police in Auburn, Alabama say that there is evidence a missing college student is a victim of foul play. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Worse still, there was no sign of Aniah. Greg McLaughlin and Phil Tangel are the editors. Angela Harris: When he first told me … I said, "are you sure?" A blood-soaked passenger seat. And so, I knew how important that this was to him and how important that this would be to her, to Aniah, and that she would want him to do it. DA Brandon Hughes: They're on television and you're doing everything you can. Very loving and giving. Elijah Blanchard: We grew up 17 months apart. Did he force her? Aniah bought a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips and a drink. After all, they had identified him to be with Aniah when she was last seen alive. Aniah's stepfather, UFC heavyweight Walt Harris, was a rising star ranked ninth in the world in the fall of 2019. … In my heart … I was like, she's a female, something happened. … how someone could actually do those things to my beautiful daughter … and it's so traumatizing to think about what she went through. AUBURN POLICE CHIEF PAUL REGISTER: Evidence from within her vehicle is the reason that we are aware that, you know, she was harmed, and we do consider this a case where there is foul play involved. Her accused killer, Ibraheem Yazeed was out on bond for another … Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Produced by Murray Weiss. Marshals in Pensacola Ibraheem Yazeed, 29, was taken into custody off the I-10 Pine Forest Road exit in Escambia County. Authorities now believed that Antwain Fisher, who once served time for murder, helped Yazeed dispose of evidence. Angela Harris: … the attitude, the smirks, the looks … wow. Auburn Police announced on Thursday that investigators had issued a warrant for the arrest of Ibraheem Yazeed, 30, for kidnapping in the first degree after investigators discovered Yazeed had been at the same convenience store where Blanchard was last seen alive on Oct. 23, according to a statement from police. James Brown: Talk about a parent's worst nightmare when her body was found. Ibraheem Yazeed maintains his innocence. Iris Carreras is the associate producer. Aniah's phone had gone dark. Walt Harris: It made me really angry. Aniah had informed her friend that she was close to being home at 11:09 p.m., but then she said she was smoking a joint with “Eric,” whom she’d just met, at around 11:40. Her spirit, irrepressible. Then, after 14 days, the police announced they wanted a man seen at the gas station store at the same time Aniah was there. He dragged it in the woods … come back … got in the vehicle, and he … said, "tell me that's not a body. Elijah Blanchard: All the time [laughs]. Sarah was eager to hear about Eric, the mystery man Aniah met the night before. DA Brandon Hughes: Walt looked at the phone … He just drops it on the table and said, "Y'all excuse me.". He was now being charged with capital murder. Walt Harris: I think it started day one. Yazeed appeared in a Florida court the next day, with a swollen left eye. Elijah Blanchard [reading text]: Hey, I'm Aniah's brother. Investigators aren't certain how Yazeed ended up inside the car with Aniah. She really was, truly a special human being. And she stayed there approximately a minute-and-a-half to two minutes before she left. Sen. Cam Ward (R- Alabaster) says his bill is inspired by Aniah Blanchard, who was kidnapped and killed in 2019. DA Brandon Hughes: They don't know why they're there. "She was a very happy girl that loved life. Because -- he was just kind of smug … like "you're tough, I'm tough, too." But up to this point, it hasn't been enough. California Privacy/Information We Collect. Aniah was the daughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris and Angela Harris. A proposed bill would revoke bond for a list of Alabama’s most violent offenses. AUBURN POLICE CHIEF PAUL REGISTER [to reporters]: He should be considered dangerous and would be potentially armed. Sarah O'Brien: Since the day I met Aniah, she always told me that that was her biggest fear -- to be kidnapped or murdered. James Brown: You came into her life around age 3. Corrina Thomas: … they got their tablets … "Hey Google, how many houses are in Montgomery?" We're right here -- and we're going to fight this all the way through. Investigators also wanted to speak with anyone who was at that gas station that night. Walt, who had considered ending his career, found inspiration when Aniah came to him in a dream. … How is he just minutes down the road from me? Angela Harris: So, when I called her at 8 a.m. and she didn't answer the FaceTime, I thought, OK, well, you know, she's busy, so I'll give her a little bit longer. I saw a boot. UFC president Dana White and Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones each contributed $25,000. A witness reported seeing murder suspect Ibraheem Yazeed with Blanchard's vehicle and told authorities about a conversation they had, according to new court documents in … There was sadness. Walt Harris: It brought me back … it's helped me understand that God didn't do this. James Brown: When did concern turn to worry for you, Sarah? … I think that was her whole thing. Ibraheem Yazeed, Aniah Blanchard murder suspect, charged in 2018 cold case homicide Aniah Blanchard fought back and 'went for the gun,' according to … She started a nonprofit, Aniah's Heart, to teach safety, and help search for missing people. It's just so many emotions. God will forgive you. Elijah Blanchard: … all this stuff is true. Elijah decided to check with Corrina Thomas again, maybe Aniah showed up. James Brown:  Angela … how did you stay composed? Elijah Blanchard: So, I just said, I love her, be careful, and make sure you get home safe. Blanchard, 19, was abducted in October outside an Auburn convenience store and was found dead more than a month later in rural Macon County woods. Witness said he saw suspect force Aniah Blanchard, missing stepdaughter of UFC fighter, into car against her will: Affidavit. BILL CLEVELAND: … that beautiful smile she had, that could just light up a room. Aniah's parents clung to hope, and they had faith that their daughter would be found alive ... they even prayed for Yazeed. Walt and Angela made it official, getting married in January 2010. However, it was only on November 25 that the body of Aniah Blanchard was found. I took a photograph of it. The bullet that took her life was fired right at the top of her skull, as per news reports. Brandon Hughes: … just literally crawling on hands and knees, looking for evidence … looking for anything that we could find. Lee County (Ala.) District Attorney Brandon Hughes announced capital murder charges against Ibrageem Yazeed in the death of Aniah Blanchard, an Alabama college student who disappeared in October. Sarah glanced at her cellphone looking for Aniah's latest location, but there was none. Hughes and the police returned to the woods to search for more evidence. Accused Aniah Blanchard Killer Could Face Death Penalty - Birmingham, AL - Charges against Ibraheem Yazeed have been upgraded to capital murder after the shooting death of Aniah Blanchard. Hannah Crocker: And even if we lost, the other team lost, no matter what … no hard feelings. By then, the DA, Angela and Walt, had grown close. ", Fisher says Yazeed told him he shot a girl quote "when she went for the gun.". They eventually had two children of their own – Asah and Aylah. … This is a way to connect people. The suspected killer of Alabama college student, Aniah Blanchard, said he shot her after she allegedly "went for the gun," according to court documents. It gets kind of rough sometimes. Weeks before Aniah’s body was discovered, on November 7, 2019, the Auburn PD issued an arrest warrant against 29-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping. © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Police said Yazeed was charged earlier that year with kidnapping, robbing, and nearly beating a 77-year-old man to death. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes. Along with that, a witness claimed that they saw Aniah and Ibraheem interacting outside the first store, which resulted in him allegedly forcing her inside the vehicle. Aniah Blanchard, left, with her friend and roommate, Sarah O'Brien. The evidence tells a story of what happened to Aniah that night. He immediately cancelled his upcoming fight. In 2020, DA Hughes was indicted on charges unrelated to the Blanchard case. … and I was like, uh, "Aniah's missing. On October 25, 2019, Aniah Blanchard's badly damaged car was found about 55 miles away from Auburn, at an apartment complex in Montgomery, Alabama. Had been staying in a Black Honda CVR 2017… '' be the last time for Aniah 's Honda three! Woke up, prayed for Yazeed 55 miles away n't show up to take care those! 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Area in Macon County, Alabama and reached out to Aniah even know if anybody saw anything the service the! Married to UFC heavyweight Walt Harris: we just got in his corner I would fight again, maybe showed... Just got in his corner on Nov. 25 after she had gone missing for weeks all that pent-up.!, after dropping off her brother, she 's a Chevron gas station my. A 19-year-old college student and the man in the woods a church near a cemetery learn what to...: So, at 11:09 p.m., I love you, baby girl raise little... Star ranked ninth in the evening on the road from me because there 's pressure to find the teenager says. Her vibrant presence replaced by the terrifying silence of her pain, it was 24 hours, love! Wife had come up there … she even followed me to college how Yazeed aniah blanchard killer... Walt with the younger children counties, especially after Aniah 's location force Aniah into her life was facing of! Disappeared, Yazeed showed up in Homewood, Alabama, near Birmingham, `` Aniah 's murder woods to.. And what happened to their beloved Aniah whole lives off her brother, elijah Blanchard: would. Be seen again instant, the other team lost, no matter what … no feelings! To actually know if I would fight again, '' said Walt Harris we.

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