Found Deceased AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard, 19, Auburn, Lee County, 23 Oct 2019 *Arrest* #7

[Niner]

Looks like he was in trial yesterday & Thursday - the court site did NOT show that!!

Family of Aniah Blanchard returns to court as murder trial set for March

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — The family of Aniah Blanchard was back in court for Friday’s status hearing as they continue a six-year wait for the capital murder case tied to her death to finally reach trial. Now, with jury selection scheduled to begin March 2, they are just six weeks away. Ibraheem...

www.yahoo.com

January 16, 2026

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — The family of Aniah Blanchard was back in court for Friday’s status hearing as they continue a six-year wait for the capital murder case tied to her death to finally reach trial. Now, with jury selection scheduled to begin March 2, they are just six weeks away.
[.....]
During Friday’s hearing we learned450 potential jurors are expected to report to the city complex in Tuskegee for jury selection. The process is expected to last most of the week, with opening statements possibly beginning that Friday.

During Thursday’s hearing, Yazeed spoke through his attorney, telling the court he does not believe he can receive a fair trial because of the extensive publicity surrounding the case — particularly related to Aniah’s Law.
[.....]
Specially appointed Judge Tom F. Young Jr. addressed those concerns directly, telling Yazeed the jury selection process is designed to ensure a fair and impartial jury and that the court will work carefully to seat one.

 

[Niner]

So - to keep my notes straight - I shall post this now.

Friday, January 16th:
*Status Hearing (Macon County [Aniah] (@ 9am ET) - AL - Aniah Haley Blanchard (19) (last heard from Oct. 23, 2019 text with friend, Auburn, Lee County; car found early morning hours of Oct. 24 along South College St; officially reported missing Oct. 24, 2019; found Nov. 25, 2019 near Highway 80 in Shorter, Ala., which is about 25 miles east of Montgomery, Macon County off County Road 2 near New Hope Baptist Church several feet into the woods.) – *Ibraheem Yazeed aka Laquetta Nicole Lamar, Ibraheema Yazeed, Ibraheen Yazeed (29/now 35) arrested (12/4/19 in Escambia County) & charged (11/7/19 Lee County) with 1st murder & 1st degree kidnapping. Held with no bond. Case was moved to Macon County.
*Indicted (11/14/22), recharged & arraigned (3/6/23 in Macon County) with 1 count of 1st degree capital murder (during a kidnapping), 1 count of 1st degree murder (during robbery) & 1 count of 1st degree murder involving a victim in a vehicle. Plead not guilty (3/6/23). Held with no bond. Held in Lee County jail. Macon County
Trial was set to begin on 2/3/25 but was vacated by Macon County Circuit Judge William Whorton on 1/27/25 [case moved from Lee County to Macon County.
Trial now set to begin on 3/2/26 with jury selection in Macon County.
Trial is set to begin on 3/6/26.
5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom F. Young, Jr. presiding (appointed on 6/5/25]. Lead prosecutor Kenneth Earl Gibbs. Defense attorney William Whatley Jr.
Previous crimes & court info from 11/10/19 thru 9/25/25 reference post #36 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lee-county-23-oct-2019-arrest-7.724664/page-2
9/30/25 Update: Next hearing on 11/12/25 @ 10am. 11/11/25 Update: Status hearing was postponed with no further dates.
12/31/25 Update: After more than six years of delays, new court activity indicates the capital murder trial in the killing of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard is moving forward & the March 2, 2026 trial date is likely to hold. Public records show attorney’s began issuing subpoenas in December, formally summoning witnesses to appear in court. The issuance of subpoenas typically signals active trial prep & suggests attorneys are operating under the expectation the case will proceed as scheduled. The trial date was set by Judge Tom F. Young Jr. Chief Justice Sarah Stewart appointed the retired Circuit Judge as a special judge to preside over the Yazeed case under Alabama’s Speedy Trial Act, a law designed to move long-delayed criminal cases toward trial.
1/16/26 Update: A status hearing was held on 1/16/26. Now, with jury selection scheduled to begin March 2, they are just six weeks away. During Friday’s hearing we learned 450 potential jurors are expected to report to the city complex in Tuskegee for jury selection. The process is expected to last most of the week, with opening statements possibly beginning that Friday. During Thursday’s hearing, Yazeed spoke through his attorney, telling the court he does not believe he can receive a fair trial because of the extensive publicity surrounding the case — particularly related to Aniah’s Law. Specially appointed Judge Tom F. Young Jr. addressed those concerns directly, telling Yazeed the jury selection process is designed to ensure a fair & impartial jury an &that the court will work carefully to seat one.
*Antwon “Squirmy” Shamar Fisher (35) was arrested & charged (11/22/19) & arraigned on (11/25/19) with first-degree kidnapping. $50K bond. 12/17/19: Charges dismissed “with prejudice” by Judge.
*David Lee Johnson, Jr. (63) –Montgomery County: Hearing on 9/3/25.