Macon County Sheriff’s Office
Aniah Blanchard’s probable remains were discovered in Macon County, AL yesterday.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser David Lee Johnson Jr. 63, of Montgomery, AL, has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Aniah Blanchard. Blanchard had been missing for a month before her probable remains were located in Macon County, AL yesterday.
Johnson was booked on a charge of hindering prosecution and is being held on a $7,500 bond. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes declined to explain how Johnson is alleged to have hindered prosecution. A gag order has been in place regarding this case for over a week, which restricts attorneys, prosecutors and witnesses from speaking to the media.
Blanchard, a 19-year old college student from Homewood, AL, was declared missing on October 24th. Her last known contact was with a roommate on the 23rd.
Surveillance footage from the 23rd showed Blanchard at a gas station and convenience store in Auburn, AL. On the 25th authorities recovered Blanchard’s vehicle from an apartment complex in Montgomery. The vehicle had damage on the front passenger side door and wheel-well.
It was later revealed that blood evidence retrieved from inside the vehicle suggested a life-threatening injury had been inflicted there.
On November 7th Ibraheem Yazeed, 29, was named a suspect in Blanchard’s disappearance. Authorities stated that surveillance footage showed that Yazeed was in the same location as Blanchard on the night of the 23rd. A witness also claimed to have seen Yazeed force Blanchard into her car and then drive away.
Yazeed was then captured by U.S. Marshals in Florida and was transported back to Alabama, where he was charged with first degree kidnapping and held without bond. When he was arrested Yazeed was already out on bond for unrelated kidnapping and attempted murder charges.
On November 22nd Antwain Fisher, 35, was arrested in Auburn and charged with first degree kidnapping. Fisher, who plead guilty to felony murder in 2007 and served 3 years in prison (17 years suspended), is accused of giving Yazeed a ride and disposing of evidence.
Since Blanchard was reported missing, her stepfather Walt Harris — a UFC heavyweight — has been raising awareness online and urging people with information to come forwards. With the help of UFC President Dana White a reward fund for information reached $105,000.
Authorities stated that tips from the public did aid their investigation into Blanchard’s kidnapping.