Aniah Blanchard, who is the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, went missing on October 23 and her body was discovered on November 25.
Lee County (Alabama) District Attorney Brandon Hughes announced during a press conference earlier today that Blanchard died via a gunshot wound. The gunshot allegedly came from Ibraheem Yazeed, who was one of the three men arrested in connection to the disappearance and death of Blanchard.
“In the interests of public safety, I can say that the investigation has determined Ibraheem Yazeed to be the lone person responsible for Aniah’s abduction and her murder and he remains in the Lee County jail without bond,’’ Hughes said (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “Mr. Yazeed remains innocent of any charges against him until his guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. From its first moments, law enforcement moved swiftly and methodically to find Aniah’s abductor, her murderer, and her. The process of seeing justice done on behalf of Aniah and her family will not be swift, but it will be thorough. It is my intention that the response to this horrific crime serve as a warning to anyone who believes they want to come to Lee County and engage in violent criminal behavior. You will be dealt with and the consequences will be severe.”
Prosecutors will also be seeking the death penalty against Yazeed, who remains in prison without bond. Antwain Fisher and David Lee Johnson Jr., who are the other two men being held in connection with the disappearance and death of Blanchard, will get charged with other crimes, but only Yazeed will get charged with murder.
