Found Deceased AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard, 19, Auburn, Lee County, 23 Oct 2019 #4 *Arrest*

[JDough]

The mom and stepdad were on Fox6 WBRC this morning. They said the witness was someone at the Chevron and did not come forward on their own. Police were interviewing everyone seen on video from the store and that was when the person admitted seeing the abduction. They said the person was very scared.
They also said IY is not giving up any information.

I’m troubled that the parents are revealing information like that as it relates to the case. I know they mean no harm...

Does this violate the gag order? Perhaps one of our attorneys can answer?

 

[Peppery]

Does this violate the gag order? Perhaps one of our attorneys can answer?

I’m almost certain the gag orders only pertain to the parties of the case (victim & perp), the lawyers, LE involved, witnesses and jurors. I don’t think they apply to private citizens, which is what her parents are, so they are free to say whatever they want. Though I agree, sharing too much publicly is dangerous and runs the risk of attorneys and LE not sharing much with the family along with possibly damaging the case. IANAL though.

 

[Knox]

Thanks, I had missed that before. I just wish I understood what they were thinking. It's such a public place, and there were (apparently/maybe) witnesses. If you're okay with being on camera and committing a crime right there at the Chevron with witnesses around, why not just rob the gas station? Based on his history, I had been thinking this was a robbery gone wrong, but it's starting to feel like their interest was specifically with her. I just hate this case so much.

We still don't know for sure if he bought something, though it appears he did. Many of these cases of random abduction are simply the victim being at the right place. No fault of their own, evil was lurking. In addition, IY seems to suffer from poor impulse control, so while knows what flew through his brain. What about the accomplice? LE said there will be more arrests. So someone else likely drive the Lincoln away and followed IY.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Wondering out loud...

So much I want to say but keep worrying I’m violating rules.

My list of reasons why someone might be afraid to come forward ... remember it was 11:20 at night.

1. They know Yazeed

• He’s their dealer/supplier
• He provides something illegal for them- prostitutes
• They recognized him somehow (Former arrest)

2. They know his gang because he had something on that identified it? CN on necklace maybe?
3. They thought they were not needed because it was on video?
4. They are in legal trouble themselves
5. They are in the country illegally
6. They are afraid

• Of being identified
• They were not supposed to be where they were when they witnessed it and being involved means family/spouse/work problems because of that.
• They were threatened before, during or after

7. they were young? Could that be?

That’s all I can think of. Except this...
105k did not cause them to come forward?????

what was the tip / reward amount when this witness was identified?

Edited formatting and clarified last sentence

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Thanks, I had missed that before. I just wish I understood what they were thinking. It's such a public place, and there were (apparently/maybe) witnesses. If you're okay with being on camera and committing a crime right there at the Chevron with witnesses around, why not just rob the gas station? Based on his history, I had been thinking this was a robbery gone wrong, but it's starting to feel like their interest was specifically with her. I just hate this case so much.

Yes, I’m wondering if she wasn’t followed from her brothers place.

 

[Ltiger4]

Yes, I’m wondering if she wasn’t followed from her brothers place.

if he followed her to the Chevron, why would he ever go inside the Chevron, putting his face on camera? I think he was in the Chevron first and saw her when she came in.

 

[JDough]

I’m almost certain the gag orders only pertain to the parties of the case (victim & perp), the lawyers, LE involved, witnesses and jurors. I don’t think they apply to private citizens, which is what her parents are, so they are free to say whatever they want. Though I agree, sharing too much publicly is dangerous and runs the risk of attorneys and LE not sharing much with the family along with possibly damaging the case. IANAL though.

Thank you, Peppery. I wasn't sure if her parents are considered (indirect) victims.

 

[killarney rose]

MOO is that it was a crime of opportunity. He was hanging with his peeps (whether he was up to no good or not) and saw Aniah in the store. He decided to take her. Just that simple. Being a creature of impulse as he has proven to be, he never even considered the Chevron having cameras. His only thought was assaulting his victim.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

if he followed her to the Chevron, why would he ever go inside the Chevron, putting his face on camera? I think he was in the Chevron first and saw her when she came in.

that makes sense too, you’re right there. I’m still surprised he kidnapped from the parking lot, presumably, too.

 

[wareaglemama]

Wondering out loud...

So much I want to say but keep worrying I’m violating rules.

My list of reasons why someone might be afraid to come forward ... remember it was 11:20 at night.

1. They know Yazeed

• He’s their dealer/supplier
• He provides something illegal for them- prostitutes
• They recognized him somehow (Former arrest)

2. They know his gang because he had something on that identified it? CN on necklace maybe?
3. They thought they were not needed because it was on video?
4. They are in legal trouble themselves
5. They are in the country illegally
6. They are afraid

• Of being identified
• They were not supposed to be where they were when they witnessed it and being involved means family/spouse/work problems because of that.
• They were threatened before, during or after

7. they were young? Could that be?

That’s all I can think of. Except this...
105k did not cause them to come forward?????

what was the tip / reward amount when this witness was identified?

Edited formatting and clarified last sentence

For most of these, I still don't understand why they didn't call in a tip anonymously. Can anyone confirm if Crime Stoppers works as advertised in terms of anonymity? I can see not wanting your name associated with this, not wanting to have to testify at a trial, etc. But I thought that you could completely anonymously report if you had seen something. Is that wrong? Can you be made to testify anyway, if the entire case hinges on your statement? I feel like it's important for the public to understand their options and exposure here, since many of us (including me) are claiming that we would probably have gone to the police, and trying to understand why someone didn't.

If this person was identified by IY at the gas station (and even threatened directly and told not to go to police) then I'm surprised they gave a statement even when questioned by police. If I had been there and IY had, for example, stolen my driver's license and told me that if I spoke to the cops he would murder me and my family - I can see that I would be terrified to come forward. But then when asked by police, I would probably continue to insist that I hadn't seen anything. No reward amount would make me not fear this man if he knew that I had seen him do this.

 

[PixieStix]

The mom and stepdad were on Fox6 WBRC this morning. They said the witness was someone at the Chevron and did not come forward on their own. Police were interviewing everyone seen on video from the store and that was when the person admitted seeing the abduction. They said the person was very scared.
They also said IY is not giving up any information.

This is new information, and I am leaning towards this person not being an accomplice to the crime, not that there wasn't another person outside that was helping IY.

I don't think there is any reason to believe the eyewitness is anything other than a scared person who happened to witness the abduction. Surely if they were involved in any sinister manner, the police would have figured that out by now.

I have to believe if the eye witness was involved in the crime, he would have been arrested already. I agree it looks like the eye witness is most likely a scared bystander.

bbm
Right, but would they have told us?

They most likely would have been arrested by now if they were involved.

In the interview Aniah’s mom & Walt did this morning, she said that the witness was at the gas station & the police only found them bc they located & talked to every single person they saw on surveillance at the gas station. They told the police after they found them & talked to them at that point. She said that person was absolutely terrified. But that’s the answer about where the witness saw everything. It was at the gas station.

I don't believe the location where AB was abducted is in question anymore. I know some are still speculating it was at another site, but it's pretty clear to me this all took place at the Chevron. MOO

MOO is that it was a crime of opportunity. He was hanging with his peeps (whether he was up to no good or not) and saw Aniah in the store. He decided to take her. Just that simple. Being a creature of impulse as he has proven to be, he never even considered the Chevron having cameras. His only thought was assaulting his victim.

This 100%. This seems like an impulsive crime of opportunity. I don't believe IY planned this out or thought much about the consequences of potential cameras etc. and why should he. Up until this point, he has seemed to avoid any real consequences for any of his crimes. I mean, he was out there walking around free on a bond for a very violent and heinous crime of beating and robbing the 77-year-old man.

 

[Dmefoc]

You watch too many movies.

 

[Peppery]

MOO the reason no one called in a tip is because the witness isn’t an upstanding, law abiding citizen either. Could be the witness was at the chevron also committing a crime, could have outstanding warrants or pending legal action, could be known to IY, could just have a general distrust of police and not trust the anonymity guarantee. Although $105k is a lot of money, if you thought your or your family’s life could be in jeopardy, you might not risk it. The old “snitches get stitches” is alive and well in some communities.

 

[ce4au]

Where was the video interview because the Fox News video that watched her parents said nothing about a witness. Could you post the video that you saw? @ce4au

Idk what was posted on WRBC’s website but I have the link to the Facebook video & that’s about a 20 min interview. Just wanted to double check that I’m allowed to post that here...

 

[Nug_Lyfe]

I just don't understand what keeps you from at least calling in an anonymous tip. What takes two weeks? For days, people thought that she went missing possibly at a bar on the other side of town, in a dating app meetup gone wrong. Why not at least point the police in the right direction if you saw it happen?

This also indicates that the crime was committed at the Chevron, and was committed in front of witnesses. Why in the world would they do that? Not saying it didn't happen, it just makes no sense to me.

I think you are thinking with the level mind of a person with a IQ higher than that of a blank piece of paper. These CRUM guys arent going to be challenging you in a game of Jeopardy.

 

[Kabelle]

Why was the Jefferson County DA at his court appearance yesterday?

 

[Knox]

Thank you, Peppery. I wasn't sure if her parents are considered (indirect) victims.

Pretty sure Heather Elvis' parents were subject to the gag order in that case.

 

[Momof4RN]

Pretty sure Heather Elvis' parents were subject to the gag order in that case.

Ya and look where that case is now. Still No Heather and 5 years before her kidnappers were brought to some kind of justice.

 

[Gussified]

Idk what was posted on WRBC’s website but I have the link to the Facebook video & that’s about a 20 min interview. Just wanted to double check that I’m allowed to post that here...

If you mean WRBC’s facebook, then yes, you can post a link to social media of mainstream media.

 

[Knox]

I think you are thinking with the level mind of a person with a IQ higher than that of a blank piece of paper. These CRUM guys arent going to be challenging you in a game of Jeopardy.

Nope, but they should be intelligent enough to think about cameras. So imo it goes back to his lack of impulse control. He wants what he wants in that minute and doesn't think about the consequences.