A month after Aniah Blanchard, stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, went missing, it appears the search has reached a tragic end. Human remains found in Lee County, Al., are believed to be the 19-year-old Southern Union Community College student.
“I can confirm that human remains have been found and we have good reason to suspect they are that of Aniah Blanchard,” Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes said in a statement.
Two suspects had already been arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping related to Blanchard’s disappearance. Ibraheem Yazeed, 30, was arrested after being identified on surveillance footage from the convenience store where Blanchard was last seen. An eyewitness also identified Yazeed as the man he saw forcing Blanchard into her vehicle against her will.
The vehicle was discovered days later with a “life-threatening” amount of blood inside.
A second suspect, Antwon “Squirmy” Fisher, was arrested this week, and a third, David Johnson Jr., was arrested yesterday. Fisher was charged with first-degree kidnapping, Johnson Jr. with hindering prosecution. A gag order on the case prohibits further information from being revealed.
Harris took to social media in the days after Blanchard’s disappearance, asking for the public’s assistance in locating her. He withdrew from the headline bout at UFC on ESPN 7 against Alistair Overeem at the same time. UFC President and LHW champ Jon Jones have each offered $25,000 reward for information, in addition to $5,000 each from the state and an anonymous donor.
Our prayers are with Harris and his family.
