Yazeed guilty in Aniah Blanchard murder

A verdict was reached for Ibraheem Yazeed, the man on trial for the murder of Southern Union College student Aniah Blanchard.

After two days of deliberations, the Macon County jury returned with a guilty verdict for felony murder and murder, but not capital murder. The lesser verdict means the convicted killer will not face the death penalty. Yazeed now faces a maximum of life in prison.

The case generated national headlines when Blanchard disappeared from an Auburn gas station on the night of October 23rd, 2019. The East Alabama college student’s remains were discovered a month later behind a church in a rural area of Macon County, AL.

Yazeed was captured on the run in Florida and originally faced three counts of capital murder.

The case also prompted legislators in Alabama to pass “Aniah’s Law,” which allows judges to deny bond for certain violent crimes.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he was disappointed the Yazeed will not face a possible death sentence but will seek a life sentence for him

“I pledge to do everything in my power to ensure that Ibraheem Yazeed spends the rest of his life in prison. I believe that is what justice demands in this case. Aniah deserves it, as does her family,” Marshall said.

Defense attorney William Whatley told reporters that the case has been plagued with false information and misstatements “rising to almost the level of a lynch mob to get Mr. Yazeed on this capital murder charge.”

Yazeed’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 7.