Police Positively Identify Aniah Blanchard’s Remains

Authorities confirm that human remains found in a wooded area in rural Macon County are those of Aniah Haley Blanchard.  Blanchard was reported missing on Oct. 24, 2019.

“I am heartbroken for the family of Aniah Blanchard,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “Like Alabamians across our state, I was praying for a much different outcome.  I appreciate the diligence of the Auburn Police Division, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the many volunteers who were searching for Aniah. She is indeed loved and will be remembered by us all.”

Searchers found the remains on Monday in the 38,000 block of County Road 2 in Shorter, Alabama.  In a press release on Wednesday, the Auburn Police Division said that the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences positively identified the remains and that the case will move forward as a homicide investigation, with additional charges are forthcoming.  Officials have not released the cause or manner of her death.

Blanchard, a 19-year-old college student originally from Homewood, was last seen at a convenience store on Oct. 23 in Auburn. Her vehicle was later found abandoned at an apartment complex in Montgomery. Josh Mixon, a detective with the Auburn Police Department, said Blanchard’s blood was found in the car and it appeared she had suffered a life-threatening injury.

Mixon testified that convenience store video footage showed a man buying a beverage looked over at Blanchard. He said tipsters later identified the man as Ibraheem Yazeed, and a man at the store told investigators he saw Yazeed force Blanchard into her car and drive away.

Yazeed and Antwain Shamar Fisher are charged with first degree kidnapping.  Fisher’s father, David Lee Fisher Jr. is charged with hindering prosecution.