The convicted killer of Aniah Blanchard will spend the rest of his life in prison. A Macon County Judge sentenced Ibraheem Yazeed to two life sentences, the maximum allowable sentence for the conviction of murder and felony murder. Yazeed escaped the death penalty for capital murder after the jury returned with the lesser verdict in March.
The case generated national headlines when Blanchard disappeared from an Auburn gas station on the night of October 23rd, 2019. Yazeed was captured on the run in Florida November 7, 2019. The East Alabama college student’s remains were discovered weeks later behind a church in a rural area of Macon County, AL.
The family spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after the sentencing. Aniah’s mother Angela Haley-Harris said she was relieved. “I’m relieved and I’m happy that justice was served of course we wanted the death penalty, but this was good so I’m happy that Judge Young did the right thing and got the right justice for Aniah.”
The father of Aniah Blanchard spoke to Birmingham news outlet ABC 33/40 after the sentencing hearing. “I’m so happy about the conviction even though it wasn’t what we really initially wanted however it is going to be able to have an effect on those victims who have suffered prior to Aniah but my daughter’s name speaks now and her name was able to get a conviction and I most definitely happy to see whatever happens going forward that he will be behind bars for the rest of his life, ” Elijah Blanchard said.
The case also prompted legislators in Alabama to pass “Aniah’s Law,” which allows judges to deny bond for certain violent crimes. An amendment on the May 19 ballot would expand the violent crimes currently included in Aniah’s Law.
