Suspect in Aniah Blanchard disappearance arrested, faces kidnapping charges
The manhunt for a man wanted in connection with the disappearance of Alabama student Aniah Blanchard was arrested Friday night in Florida.
U.S. Marshals in Montgomery, Alabama called the U.S. Marshals after receiving a tip that 30-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed was possibly in Escambia County.
Auburn Police Department identified Yazeed as a suspect and issued a first-degree kidnapping warrant Thursday. They identified him as dangerous and possibly armed.
U.S. Marshals told us they converged on the area and spotted him wearing all black, and called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for assistance.
Around 11 p.m. Thursday night, Yazeed must have been spooked by the increased law enforcement presence, so he ran, an agent said. WEAR was on the scene when Marshals captured Yazeed hiding in bushes near a highway.
Yazeed was taken to a local hospital complaining of chest pains. As Yazeed was being taken away by EMS, he began shouting at our cameraman, and EMS shielded his face which appeared swollen.
He has been booked into the Escambia County Jail.
State Attorney Bill Eddins confirms with WEAR that Yazeed will be extradited back to Alabama on Friday.
In a Friday afternoon court appearance, Ibraheem Yazeed did not challenge his extradition to Alabama to face kidnapping charges, according to WPMI.
Yazeed is charged with kidnapping in the first degree in the October 24, 2019 disappearance of Aniah Blanchard.
Blanchard's parents responded to the arrest with a message for their daughter.
"Aniah, you're missed. Daddy loves you. I will do anything in the world to have you here with us right now," said Elijah Blanchard, her father.
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
Aniah Blanchard, an Alabama college student has been missing for more than two weeks. She was last seen on October 23rd.
Auburn Police released two surveillance photos of Yazeed in a convenient store showed where the 19-year-old was last seen alive.
An affidavit warrant states video evidence from a convenience store places both Blanchard and Yazeed at the store during the same time.
During the investigation, the affidavit adds a witness identified Yazeed as the “individual he saw forcing Blanchard into a vehicle against her will and then leaving with her.”
Blood evidence was discovered in the passenger’s compartment of the vehicle that was indicative of someone suffering a life-threatening injury. The evidence was submitted to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and confirmed to be that of Aniah Blanchard, " the affidavit states.Her stepdad, Walt Harris, a UFC Fighter, canceled his appearance in an upcoming show to continue searching for Aniah. A reward for more than $100,000 is being offered for any information that will bring her home.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
According to the Auburn Police Department, 30-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed is no stranger to the law. They report he was out on bond before Thursday’s arrest for kidnapping and attempted murder charges. Details on that case have not been released.
Yazeed's bond has been denied.
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