Trial for Alleged Killer of Aniah Blanchard Getting Underway in 2025

Years after the horrific night of Aniah Blanchard’s abduction and eventual murder, The Alabama Attorney General has requested a status hearing for January 30, 2025.

Aniah Blanchard, daughter and step-daughter of Angela Harris and Walt Harris, respectively, went missing on October 23, 2019. After dropping off her younger brother, Elijah, the last communication Aniah sent out was to her roommate. Her mother, Angela, said she knew something was wrong when she did not hear from her that evening, and drove down to Auburn the very next day.

(I had the honor of interviewing the mother of Aniah, Angela Harris, after the tragic events occurred. Read it here: A Different Type of UFC: Angela Harris Is The Ultimate Fighter.)

The Harris and Blanchard family received support from all over the country during her search, with even UFC President Dana White contributing $25,000 to the search. Eventually, police and detectives were able to create a timeline of her disappearance. Ibraheem Yazeed, was eventually placed at the center of the investigation after being seen on video surveillance. He was arrested in Escambia County in the following days. His capture brought to light that he was currently out on bond in an unrelated kidnapping and murder case in Montgomery, AL.

The irony of Yazeed being out was not lost on the public and especially not by Angela Harris, which sparked her to create and advocate for “Aniah’s Law.” This law would allow judges to deny bond to those who are charged with committing violent crimes. Harris received positive feedback for the implementation of the law.

"I've even had victims, you know, people that didn't lose their lives, victims that were badly injured even reach out to me and say 'hey, I don't have to be scared anymore because the person who offended me or assaulted me or hurt me is behind bars because of Aniah's Law,'" she said.

We will keep you updated on this story.