The lead suspect in the death of Aniah Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC heavyweight Walt Harris, will be charged with capital murder.
In a press conference Monday, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes said that he will seek the death penalty against 29-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed.
Blanchard, 19, was a student at Southern Union State Community College. She was last seen at a convenience store on Oct. 23, and her body was discovered on Nov. 25. Hughes said at the press conference that an autopsy had determined that Blanchard died by homicide. The cause of death was a gunshot wound.
Police are confident that Yazeed was “the lone person responsible for Aniah’s murder.” Two other men, Antwain “Squirmy” Fisher, 35, and David Lee Johnson Jr., 63, have been arrested on other charges relating to the crime. Fisher has been charged with kidnapping and is accused of disposing of evidence. Johnson has been charged with hindering prosecution.
A gag order prevents attorneys, prosecutors and witnesses from discussing the case. Alabama media organizations are challenging the order.
