Found Deceased AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard, 19, Auburn, Lee County, 23 Oct 2019 *Arrest* #5

[Van Helsing]

See look of recognition in his eyes....seems to be looking at the blonde imo

Sister and girlfriend (duh, babymamma)? ...maybe mother to the right. SM may have pictures.

 

[PrivateEye006]

@PrivateEye006 You are absolutely correct. I was joking when I said it was me. (I just want to clarify that) I do think it was talked about here on WS first though because I monitored a lot of different discussions and I personally didn’t see anyone talking about it before WS. Not that it is relevant but I just wanted to add.

ha! That was not directed at you actually.

 

[Van Helsing]

DNA test ordered for Aniah Blanchard kidnapping suspect; Witness regrets not coming forward sooner
The investigator does not say "quantity" or "amount" of blood in this video. His words are similar to the arrest affidavit.
This is just a point for accuracy. I think most of us believe the blood evidence was probably a large quantity since LE hasn't seemed to put much effort into finding her alive, or at least not that has been made public.

 

[peppertheyorkiepoo]

That is such a good question! IDK either I would think.

I am guessing, employees and check-out in. From what I've read on here the rooms let out into parking lot. No inside rooms with hallways.

 

[peppertheyorkiepoo]

What are we missing????

I am just talking out load here. Is there anyway to track down the day( or days) of the week hotel and curb store dumpsters are picked up. I live one block from a hotel. Every Thursday before daybreak we can here the hotel dumpsters being picked up. If IY spends time at the hotel he may know pick up times and days. Grab someone the night before, dump before pick up.

 

[peppertheyorkiepoo]

My husband wears white tennis shoes - the kids call them "Dad sneakers" - he's totally trustworthy

White tennis shoes not trustworthy, really my husband as three identical pairs. One for yard work, one for going out and one because his luggage got lost on airline flight and he did not want to walk around in work boots. To funny.

 

[amrapk]

Wow, yeah. IMO he definitely looks like he recognizes someone and looks surprised to see them there. He doesn't notice them on the way into the courtroom. I can't tell if it's the woman with the red dreads, or the blonde woman next to her. There's a good shot of it in the second video here (it should be the still shot befor eyou even play the video): DNA test ordered for Aniah Blanchard kidnapping suspect; Witness regrets not coming forward sooner

It looks more like he's looking at the blonde woman to me.

Is it strange that the blonde woman is wearing a denim jacket? Could she be the unknown companion and this is her way of telling IY who the witness is (by wearing that jacket)? She didn't want the witness to come forward because maybe she knows or works for IY.

 

[Gussified]

If he had an accomplice at the hotel( the area), that person could have drove her car. That may be why IY was seen leaving in the Lincoln. I wonder if there was more than one male DNA sample found in her car.

My latest theory on the Lincoln Town Car is, if IY frequented that Chevron, that he was seen driving the Town Car on another day. Maybe even after Aniah went missing. Can’t remember the exact words used when the put out the surveillance photos of IY (before arrest). Did they say he was seen driving away in it the night she disappeared?

 

[michellefultzyahoo.com]

I wanna know who drove him to Florida , because he had to be dropped off. He was found walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are so many questions about who was hiding him during this time! Also if he was staying at the hotel or with someone who was they would have to check out of the room, not unless the hotel is involved in a sex/ prostitution / drug area.

 

[Peppery]

Is it strange that the blonde woman is wearing a denim jacket? Could she be the unknown companion and this is her way of telling IY who the witness is (by wearing that jacket)? She didn't want the witness to come forward because maybe she knows or works for IY.

Is the woman with red dreads Aniahs stepmom and the blonde woman her mother?

 

[moonriverfarm]

This Clarion is a MOTEL not a HOTEL. My understanding is motels - "motor inns" have doors to the outside, whereas hotels have a lobby and inside entrances to rooms.
At any rate, this one is probably the kind so full of DNA from different sources you would need a knife to scrape it off.

 

[claudianunes]

This Clarion is a MOTEL not a HOTEL. My understanding is motels - "motor inns" have doors to the outside, whereas hotels have a lobby and inside entrances to rooms.
At any rate, this one is probably the kind so full of DNA from different sources you would need a knife to scrape it off.

Ewwww.

 

[Van Helsing]

I think what's making this all so muddy is we really have no idea when the witness was interviewed. Early on I can see your theory, but as time progressed it makes less sense to me.

Listening to the hearing again, I think maybe the witness was interviewed earlier than we think. Maybe he told LE he saw a man in a camo Vans jacket abduct her before info about the jacket was made public, and that's why they released the photo of IY as the POI. That would give the witness so much more credibility IMO.

The witness saying that he saw a black man in a camo Vans jacket abduct her after a photo of a black man in a Vans jacket was released to MSM is pretty meaningless to me. Literally any of us could have ID'd his jacket at that point, you didn't even need to be there. I'm sure all of that will come out eventually, it'll be interesting to find out the actual timeline.

I feel confident the police didn't release the photos until after the witness ID'ed the man in the vans sweatshirt and this probably happened right before the release of the photo (11/6). Apparently neither the witness or the store clerk knew his name. Once LE got a name (reportedly due to SM), they worked through the night to prepare and issue the arrest affidavit. I would like to assume they worked just as hard to get the images of IY released once the witness reported seeing the abduction. Of course it did take a long time (~7 to 9 days?) to get to that point.

 

[CuriousBystander]

This Clarion is a MOTEL not a HOTEL. My understanding is motels - "motor inns" have doors to the outside, whereas hotels have a lobby and inside entrances to rooms.
At any rate, this one is probably the kind so full of DNA from different sources you would need a knife to scrape it off.

Here is a link to the hotel Clarion Inn & Suites University Center - Guest Reservations

There has been quite a bit of conversation regarding the hotel (as it is called directly on their website, see under business and other amenities). Having lived here my entire life, the hotel has undergone several upgrades over the years with changes in ownership. True, at one time, it was one of few places to stay in Auburn. Most people stayed in Opelika at the 280 E exit where there was a Holiday Inn and three more hotels. Over time, Opelika became much more seedy (underscore seedy) at this exit and Auburn grew quickly adding many more hotels. Opelika has also added an entire new group at the 280 W exit near Tiger Town. I wouldn't consider Clarion seedy by hotel standards (dated at times...yes) but I don't make a point of visiting there since I am from here. I do know that it was considered nice enough to host the annual Daddy/Daughter Date Night sponsored by the city as it still does ( Daddy Daughter Date Night - City of Auburn). It has also allowed churches to use it facilities for Sunday services at various times over the years. At one time it was good meat and three place to eat on Sunday afternoons and was generally packed out. I believe on game day weekends it is probably packed as is every hotel in town. I have personally been to all three events (dance, church, restaurant) but never felt like it was seedy at that time. I never felt in danger and never saw anyone sketchy nearby. Again, this is in a good part of town as is most of Auburn. It's a high traffic and highly visable area. It's also more than a sprint from the gas station and one hour of time wouldn't allow much time for getting back there from the gas station, physically assaulting someone, and leaving to dispose of a body or anything similar. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I just think this is less of a realistic scenario. Also, there are a few more seedy, translation cheap/low budget, hotels south of this hotel that would be more of the type someone with an affinity for crime and violence might be more comfortable with.

IMO, the more likely scenario is that the assault occurred and the body was disposed of somewhere between the I-85 exit and the final destination of Aniah's car and this has been the area of emphasis for the search. There is a lot of territory in the area, most rural and dark with easy access from the interstate. It will take time to cover this ground and still yet, the liklihood of missing something there is good. Also, Montgomery is a large city by our local standards and plenty of places to get rid of someone there.

Just trying to put some perspective on the hotel for those not from the area...no, I don't own stock in Clarion or know the owners, just being informative.

 

[Topppps]

Frustrating that they cant find a body or haven't made other arrests when they allegedly got their guy.

 

[Gussified]

My latest theory on the Lincoln Town Car is, if IY frequented that Chevron, that he was seen driving the Town Car on another day. Maybe even after Aniah went missing. Can’t remember the exact words used when the put out the surveillance photos of IY (before arrest). Did they say he was seen driving away in it the night she disappeared?

bbm
Answering my own question...
Looking back to when LE issued the surveillance photos of IY, as a POI. They never said he left in the Town Car the night Aniah disappeared. Could have been another day, since he reportedly frequented the Chevron. Also, doesn’t say leaving the Chevron, but leaving “the area” — could be the Clarion. (Of course, this is as reported in MSM, and may not be a direct quote from LE.)

Additionally, the man in the photos was observed leaving the area in what is described as a late 2000s model Lincoln Town Car, which investigators believe is silver or grey.
Photos show person of interest in Aniah Blanchard case

 

[Gussified]

Here is a link to the hotel Clarion Inn & Suites University Center - Guest Reservations

There has been quite a bit of conversation regarding the hotel (as it is called directly on their website, see under business and other amenities). Having lived here my entire life, the hotel has undergone several upgrades over the years with changes in ownership. True, at one time, it was one of few places to stay in Auburn. Most people stayed in Opelika at the 280 E exit where there was a Holiday Inn and three more hotels. Over time, Opelika became much more seedy (underscore seedy) at this exit and Auburn grew quickly adding many more hotels. Opelika has also added an entire new group at the 280 W exit near Tiger Town. I wouldn't consider Clarion seedy by hotel standards (dated at times...yes) but I don't make a point of visiting there since I am from here. I do know that it was considered nice enough to host the annual Daddy/Daughter Date Night sponsored by the city as it still does ( Daddy Daughter Date Night - City of Auburn). It has also allowed churches to use it facilities for Sunday services at various times over the years. At one time it was good meat and three place to eat on Sunday afternoons and was generally packed out. I believe on game day weekends it is probably packed as is every hotel in town. I have personally been to all three events (dance, church, restaurant) but never felt like it was seedy at that time. I never felt in danger and never saw anyone sketchy nearby. Again, this is in a good part of town as is most of Auburn. It's a high traffic and highly visable area. It's also more than a sprint from the gas station and one hour of time wouldn't allow much time for getting back there from the gas station, physically assaulting someone there, and leaving to dispose of a body or anything similar. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I just think this is less of a realistic scenario. Also, there are a few more seedy, translation cheap/low budget, hotels south of this hotel that would be more of the type someone with an affinity for crime and violence might be more comfortable with.

IMO, the more likely scenario is that the assault occurred and the body was disposed of somewhere between the I-85 exit and the final destination of Aniah's car and this has been the area of emphasis for the search. There is a lot of territory in the area, most rural and dark with easy access from the interstate. It will take time to cover this ground and still yet, the liklihood of missing something there is good. Also, Montgomery is a large city by our local standards and plenty of places to get rid of someone there.

Just trying to put some perspective on the hotel for those not from the area...no, I don't own stock in Clarion or know the owners, just being informative.

I think people are speculating that he took Aniah TO the Clarion and assaulted her there, not that he assaulted her somewhere else and then took her back there. I understand what you’re saying, but how do you account for that hour between the abduction at the Chevron and the sighting at South College and I-85.

 

[peppertheyorkiepoo]

Wow, yeah. IMO he definitely looks like he
recognizes someone and looks surprised to see them there. He doesn't notice them on the way into the courtroom. I can't tell if it's the woman with the red dreads, or the blonde woman next to her. There's a good shot of it in the second video here (it should be the still shot befor eyou even play the video): DNA test ordered for Aniah Blanchard kidnapping suspect; Witness regrets not coming forward sooner

It looks more like he's looking at the blonde woman to me.

I wanna know who drove him to Florida , because he had to be dropped off. He was found walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are so many questions about who was hiding him during this time! Also if he was staying at the hotel or with someone who was they would have to check out of the room, not unless the hotel is involved in a sex/ prostitution / drug area.

I wondered this several threads back,who drove him to Flordia. I suppose if he had someone helping him,they could have checked into the hotel room in Florida and just left IY there. We have always pre-paid and don't t check out, just leave the keys in the room.

 

[CuriousBystander]

I think people are speculating that he took Aniah TO the Clarion and assaulted her there, not that he assaulted her somewhere else and then took her back there. I understand what you’re saying, but how do you account for that hour between the abduction at the Chevron and the sighting at South College and I-85.

Perhaps I wasn't clear, I'm not implying he assaulted her elsewhere and took her back there. I was trying to say I don't think he would kidnap her at the gas station, assault her at either the gas station or the hotel as those are more high traffic areas. I'm not implying that he was ever there at all. That would not be the hotel I would think a perp would choose for an assault. In fact, I think we know that the assault likely took place in the car. There are plenty of places closer to I-85 that are more likely in my opinion for an assault to have occurred. Most crimes in this area occur closer to the interstate to allow the easier getaway as most of the crimes seem to be committed by those coming from Montgomery and Tuskegee on this side of Auburn.

Maybe its just a hunch, intuition, or having been there so many times and knowing the area like I do, that is not a location I would suspect to have any involvement. Just because it's closeby, doesn't make me think anything more about it. Worth checking cameras and asking staff and checking a list of occupants yes, but I don't think this will play into the situation. They would likely have camera footage if there was any connection there.

 

[Merryk]

I wanna know who drove him to Florida , because he had to be dropped off. He was found walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are so many questions about who was hiding him during this time! Also if he was staying at the hotel or with someone who was they would have to check out of the room, not unless the hotel is involved in a sex/ prostitution / drug area.

I wondered this several threads back,who drove him to Flordia. I suppose if he had someone helping him,they could have checked into the hotel room in Florida and just left IY there. We have always pre-paid and don't t check out, just leave the keys in the room.

what town was he picked up in? Was thinking maybe a clairion in that city?....like maybe he’s with an employee of motel and they stayed at one of franchise in Florida?????