Remains of Missing Alabama Woman Likely Found

DA says remains found in Macon County are likely those of Aniah Blanchard
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 25, 2019 4:30 PM CST
Remains of UFC Fighter's 'Baby' Likely Found
This undated file photo released by police in Auburn, Ala., shows Aniah Haley Blanchard.   (Auburn Police Division via AP, File)

An Alabama district attorney said Monday that authorities have “good reason” to believe human remains found in a wooded area belong to the missing stepdaughter of a UFC heavyweight fighter. The remains were found on a county road in neighboring Macon County, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes told the AP. “I can confirm that human remains have been found in Macon County on County Road 2 and we have good reason to believe they are that of Aniah Blanchard,” Hughes said. Police arrested a third person Monday in connection with the disappearance of Blanchard, 19, whose stepfather is Walt Harris. She was last seen Oct. 23 in Auburn. After she disappeared, Blanchard’s black Honda CRV was found abandoned more than 50 miles away at an apartment complex in Montgomery, Alabama.

Auburn police detective Josh Mixon testified at a hearing last week that Blanchard’s blood was found in the car and it appeared she had suffered a life-threatening injury. Mixon testified that convenience store video footage showed a man buying a beverage look over at Blanchard. He said tipsters later identified the man as Ibraheem Yazeed, 29, and a man at the store told investigators he saw Yazeed force Blanchard into her car and drive away. Police have arrested Yazeed and a second man, 35-year-old Antwain Shamar Fisher of Montgomery, on kidnapping charges in Blanchard’s disappearance. In an arrest warrant filed with the court Monday, police said Fisher helped Yazeed by disposing of evidence and driving him. Hughes said a third man, David Johnson, Jr., was arrested Monday in Montgomery and charged with hindering prosecution in the case.

(More missing woman stories.)

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