A Macon County jury reached a verdict Wednesday in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed. Yazeed was found guilty of felony murder and murder, but not guilty of capital murder, for the 2019 killing of 19-year-old Southern Union Community College student Aniah Blanchard. The Homewood woman, stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, disappeared from an Auburn gas station in October 2019. Her body was discovered in Macon County woods weeks later. Sentencing is scheduled for May 7.
Key Takeaways:
- Ibraheem Yazeed was found guilty of two counts of murder, but not capital murder, for the 2019 death of Aniah Blanchard.
- The victim, a 19-year-old college student, was last seen at an Auburn Chevron gas station where evidence placed Yazeed.
- Her body was found in Macon County approximately one month after her disappearance; evidence indicated a gunshot wound.
- The case spurred "Aniah’s Law," a constitutional amendment restricting bail for violent offenders, approved by Alabama voters.
- Yazeed, who was out on bail at the time of the crime, faces sentencing on May 7 in Macon County.
The Crime and Investigation
Evidence presented at trial showed Ibraheem Yazeed was at the same Auburn gas station as Aniah Blanchard on the night of her October 2019 disappearance. Her vehicle was later discovered abandoned at a Montgomery apartment complex with blood evidence inside. A massive, nationally publicized search ensued before hunters found Blanchard’s body in a wooded area of Macon County in November 2019. The evidence concluded she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Yazeed was subsequently arrested in Florida.
Victim’s Case Drew National Attention
Aniah Blanchard, a student from Homewood, was the stepdaughter of professional UFC fighter Walt Harris. Her disappearance and the extensive search for her garnered significant media coverage, including attention on national television programs. The tragic case highlighted issues within Alabama’s bail system, as Yazeed had a lengthy criminal history and was free on bond for previous charges at the time Blanchard was abducted and killed.
Legal Repercussions and Sentencing Ahead
The circumstances of the case directly led to the passage of "Aniah’s Law." The constitutional amendment, approved by voters, allows judges to deny bail to individuals charged with certain violent felonies. Yazeed originally faced three capital murder charges, but one count was dismissed by the judge earlier this week. The jury ultimately convicted him on the lesser murder charges. He now awaits a sentencing hearing scheduled for May 7 in Macon County Circuit Court.
Sources
https://www.wsfa.com/2026/03/19/jury-finds-ibraheem-yazeed-guilty-murder-2019-death-aniah-blanchard/
https://www.wbrc.com/2026/03/19/jury-finds-ibraheem-yazeed-guilty-murdering-aniah-blanchard/
https://abc3340.com/news/local/verdict-reached-in-aniah-blanchard-murder-trial-in-macon-county
https://www.wtvm.com/2026/03/19/jury-deliberations-enter-2nd-day-aniah-blanchards-accused-killer/
