State Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed his condolences to the family of Aniah Blanchard after her killer, Ibraheem Yazeed, was sentenced to life in prison.
"Today, justice has been served," Marshall said in a statement. "I am gratified that the court imposed the maximum allowable sentence for the senseless and brutal murder of Aniah Blanchard, life in prison. It is the sentence that the weight of this crime demanded, and one that Aniah's family has long deserved."
Blanchard was abducted and murdered in 2019. Marshall said he hopes the verdict can bring some closure to her loved ones.
"My deepest sympathies remain with Aniah's family and all who loved her," he continued. "No verdict can undo their unimaginable loss, but my hope is that today's outcome brings a measure of closure and allows them to begin the long journey toward healing."
It took nearly seven years for the conviction and sentencing, but Marshall emphasized the importance of Alabama's Speedy Trial Act, passed last year, to ensure cases move more efficiently through the court system. Chief Justice Sarah Stewart utilized the law in the case.
Visiting Judge Tom Young sentenced Ibraheem Yazeed to life in prison on both felony murder and murder. However, one of those counts must be dismissed to prevent double jeopardy.
Marshall also thanked the many agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
"Special thanks were extended to the Alabama Attorney General's Criminal Trials and Investigations Divisions, Auburn Police Department, Montgomery Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Macon County Sheriff's Office, Lee County Sheriff's Office, Opelika Police Department, Tuskegee Police Department, Shorter Police Department, EquuSearch Search and Recovery, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the many volunteers and assisting agencies who devoted countless hours to seeking justice for Aniah and her family," the statement read.
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