Ibraham Yazeed, who was accused of killing Aniah Blanchard in 2019 was arraigned in court on Monday, Mar. 6. He pleaded not guilty to all counts of capital murder, according to court documents.
In November, a Macon County grand jury indicted Yazeed on charges of capital murder during a kidnapping, capital murder during a robbery and capital murder of a victim in a vehicle.
Yazeed has ten days to file any special pleas or motions on the indictment, and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Banchard was a student at Southern Union State Community College, and was last seen alive on Oct. 23, 2019 in Auburn. According to court documents, Yazeed forced Blanchard into her car outside an Auburn gas station.
Blanchard's remains were discovered on Nov. 25, 2019 in Macon County. Yazeed was arrested in Pensacola, Florida earlier that month, and has been held in the Lee County Jail without bond since then.
Yawed had been free on charges of attempted murder, kindapping, robbery and assault for another, unrelated case at the time of Blanchard's murder. In November, Aniah's Law was approved, making it easier for judges to deny bail to those accused of violent crimes.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Destini Ambus, senior in journalism, pursuing a minor in sociology is the editor-in-chief of The Auburn Plainsman.
