cover of episode Her Killer Was Caught on Surveillance Moments Before Her Abduction: The Case of Aniah Blanchard

Her Killer Was Caught on Surveillance Moments Before Her Abduction: The Case of Aniah Blanchard

2024/10/31
logo of podcast True Crime with Kendall Rae

True Crime with Kendall Rae

Key Insights

Why was Aniah Blanchard's case particularly heartbreaking?

Aniah Blanchard's case was heartbreaking because she was a young, promising college student whose life was tragically cut short in a preventable act of violence. Her family's immense pain was compounded by the fact that the suspect, Ibraheem Yazeed, had a history of violent crimes and was allowed to remain free on bond, leading to her abduction and murder.

How did Aniah Blanchard's family respond to her disappearance and subsequent murder?

Aniah Blanchard's family responded with immense strength and resilience. They not only searched tirelessly for her but also turned their grief into action by advocating for changes in the law to prevent similar tragedies. They established Aniah's Heart, a nonprofit providing safety education and support to families of missing persons.

What evidence led to the identification of Ibraheem Yazeed as a suspect in Aniah Blanchard's case?

Evidence included surveillance footage showing Yazeed at the same gas station as Aniah, a witness who saw Yazeed force Aniah into her car, and DNA found in her vehicle. Additionally, Yazeed's criminal history, including previous charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, further implicated him.

What impact did the pandemic have on the legal proceedings in Aniah Blanchard's case?

The pandemic delayed the legal proceedings, pushing back the trial date for Ibraheem Yazeed to spring 2025. This extended the period of uncertainty and grief for Aniah's family, prolonging their quest for justice.

What legislative change did Aniah Blanchard's family advocate for following her murder?

Aniah Blanchard's family advocated for 'Aniah's Law,' which gives judges more authority to deny bail to individuals charged with serious crimes, particularly violent offenses. This law aims to prevent violent offenders from being released and potentially committing further crimes.

How did Aniah Blanchard's family honor her memory after her death?

Aniah Blanchard's family honored her memory by establishing Aniah's Heart, a nonprofit that provides safety education and support to families of missing persons. They also held a celebration of life attended by nearly 2,000 people and placed a memorial bench in a park significant to her childhood.

What was the significance of the surveillance footage from the Chevron gas station in Aniah Blanchard's case?

The surveillance footage from the Chevron gas station was significant because it captured Aniah's last known movements before her abduction. This footage, along with other evidence, helped investigators piece together the timeline of events and identify Ibraheem Yazeed as a person of interest.

How did Aniah Blanchard's family react to the false abduction case of Carly Russell?

Aniah Blanchard's family, despite knowing the pain of a real abduction, initially spent time and resources helping to search for Carly Russell. Their actions highlight their commitment to helping other families in need, even in the face of a fraudulent case that ultimately wasted their efforts and resources.

Chapters

Introduction to Aniah Blanchard's life, her close-knit family, and the tragic events leading to her disappearance.
  • Aniah Blanchard was a 19-year-old college student with a bright future.
  • She was close with her family, including her stepfather, Walt Harris, a UFC fighter.
  • Aniah's disappearance occurred after she dropped off her brother and was on her way home.

Shownotes Transcript

Aniah Blanchard was a 19-year-old college student living in Auburn, Alabama, when on October 23, 2019, she never returned home. Despite dropping off her brother and telling him she was headed back to her apartment, she never arrived. Then, odd messages to her roommate started coming through, and by the next day, it was clear that she’d never made it back. Friends and family joined in on the search, and two days later, her car was found abandoned 50 miles away. There was enough blood inside of her vehicle that investigators determined foul play had occurred. Over the following weeks, three men ended up getting arrested in connection with her abduction, but only one of those men, Ibraheem Yazeed, was determined to be responsible for her actual murder. About a month later, Aniah’s body was found, and despite overwhelming evidence to suggest Ibraheem murdered her, he has yet to face trial in part because of the pandemic and also in part due to our slow justice system. However, justice is on the horizon. Her family never gave up hope that she would be found, and they have since created Aniah’s Heart, a nonprofit in her honor.

Aniah's Heart: https://www.aniahsheart22.com/ ) Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ ) Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  ) Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop)

This episode is sponsored by: Laundry Sauce) - promo code: KENDALL Our Place) - promo code: TCKR Rocket Money) Uncommon Goods ) Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh) & Mile Higher ) Follow Kendall! YouTube) Twitter) Instagram) Facebook) Mile Higher Zoo ) REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly) Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj) Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN ) CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected])