The man accused in the 2019 death of Aniah Blanchard has been indicted on three counts of capital murder.
Attorney General Steve Marshall said the case, which has gained national attention and led to stricter laws on those who are out on bond for certain charges in Alabama, was presented to a grand jury on November 4. The indictment against Ibraheem Yazeed on one count of capital murder during a kidnapping in the first degree, one count of capital murder during robbery in the first degree and one count of capital murder involving a victim in a vehicle came back on November 14.
“The indictment charges Yazeed did intentionally cause the death of Blanchard by shooting her with a gun during the course of abducting her and robbing her of a vehicle and cell phone,” Marshall’s office stated in a press release. “The indictment also charges Yazeed intentionally caused Blanchard’s death while she was inside her vehicle, a 2017 Honda CR-V.”
Blanchard was first reported missing on Oct. 24, 2019, from Auburn. Her body was found in a wooded area in Macon County on Nov. 25, 2019.
Aniah’s Law was passed by Alabama voters in the recent general election. Amendment 1 was a constitutional amendment named after the Homewood native. It allows judges to hold suspects without bail if they are charged with one of several serious crimes.
Judges already had the option to hold capital murder suspects without bail, but the list has now been expanded to include charges of murder, sexual torture, terrorism and aggravated child abuse of a child under the age of six, as well as first-degree rape, kidnapping, sodomy, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson and robbery.
Yazeed, 32, of Montgomery, is now being held without bond in the Lee County Jail. He faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole for each charge if convicted.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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