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

[Niner]

Wednesday, March 4th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 3) (Macon County) (@ 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 36) arrested (12/4/19 in Escambia County) & charged (11/7/19 Lee County) with 1st murder & 1st degree kidnapping. Held with no bond. Lee County 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. DA will seek DP. Held in Lee County jail. 1/16/26 transferred to Macon 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].
Jury Selection began on 3/2/26 in Macon County. Jury will consist of 12 Jurors & 2 alternates.
Trial set to begin after jury selection.
5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom F. Young, Jr. presiding . Lead prosecutor Kenneth Earl Gibbs. Defense attorney William Whatley Jr.
Previous crimes & court info from 11/10/19 thru 2/6/26 & Jury Selection Day 1 (3/2/26) reference post #56 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lee-county-23-oct-2019-arrest-7.724664/page-3
3/3/26 Tuesday, Jury Selection Day 2: As Tuesday’s sessions wrapped up, roughly 80 prospective jurors remained under consideration. The jury selection process is expected to take several more days before a full panel is seated. The third day of jury selection continues Wednesday, 3/4/26 at 9am at the municipal complex. Once a jury is seated, the trial will move to the Macon County Courthouse.

 

[Niner]

Search for impartial jury enters 3rd day for accused killer of Aniah Blanchard

The Yazeed trial pushed into a third day of jury selection, with dozens of potential jurors still under review.

www.wtvm.com

Mar. 4, 2026

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WTVM) - New details from inside the Macon County Courthouse on Wednesday reveal how potential jurors are responding to questions about capital punishment as the third day of jury selection in the Ibraheem Yazeed trial continues.

The first courthouse session began around 10:45 a.m. with 12 prospective jurors seated in alphabetical order. Retired Circuit Judge Tom Young, appointed under the Alabama Speedy Trial Act of 2025 to shepherd the case toward trial, led a series of detailed questions about the death penalty and life‑without‑parole sentences.

Ten of the 12 jury candidates said they support the death penalty, and all agreed they could consider a sentence of life in prison. One potential juror, despite generally supporting capital punishment, expressed hesitation, noting Alabama has historically “gotten things wrong” in death‑penalty cases.

Judge Young asked whether anyone was morally or religiously opposed to the death penalty; no hands were raised. No one indicated they believed capital punishment should be automatic in every murder case, either. But when the judge asked whether each juror could consider a death sentence if the law required it in this case, the entire panel signaled they could. All 12 also said their personal views would not interfere with their ability to serve impartially.
[.....]
Jury selection began Monday with roughly 100 of the 450 residents originally summoned. Over the past two days, attorneys have narrowed that number to around 80 by asking jurors about their media exposure and familiarity with the case.

Yazeed faces three counts of capital murder. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

 

[Niner]

Here's another article

https://eu.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/crime/2026/03/04/aniah-blanchard-murder-trial-jury-selection-begins/88963141007/

Mar. 4, 2026
TUSKEGEE − Jury selection is underway in a capital murder case that has already led to a change in Alabama laws.
[.....]
Jury selection began March 2 in Tuskegee and is expected to take about a week. Opening arguments for the trial are tentatively set for Monday.

 

[Eli9]

Thanks @Niner You Rock!

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 5th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 4) (Macon County) (@ 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 36) arrested (12/4/19 in Escambia County) & charged (11/7/19 Lee County) with 1st murder & 1st degree kidnapping. Held with no bond. Lee County. 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. DA will seek DP. Held in Lee County jail. 1/16/26 transferred to Macon 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].
Jury Selection began on 3/2/26 in Macon County. Jury will consist of 12 Jurors & 2 alternates.
Trial set to begin after jury selection.
5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom F. Young, Jr. presiding . Lead prosecutor Kenneth Earl Gibbs. Defense attorney William Whatley Jr.
Previous crimes & court info from 11/10/19 thru 2/6/26 & Jury Selection Days 1-2 (3/2-3/3/26) reference post #61 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lee-county-23-oct-2019-arrest-7.724664/page-4
3/4/26 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 3: session began around 10:45am with 12 prospective jurors seated in alphabetical order. Retired Circuit Judge Tom Young, appointed under the Alabama Speedy Trial Act of 2025 to shepherd the case toward trial, led a series of detailed questions about the death penalty & life‑without‑parole sentences. Ten of the 12 jury candidates said they support the death penalty & all agreed they could consider a sentence of life in prison. One potential juror, despite generally supporting capital punishment, expressed hesitation, noting Alabama has historically “gotten things wrong” in death‑penalty cases. Jury selection continues Thursday, 3/5/26 at 9am.

 

[Niner]

Day 4 of Jury Selection

https://www.wrbl.com/news/alabama-news/jury-expected-to-be-sworn-in-friday-in-capital-murder-trial-of-aniah-blanchard/

 

[Niner]

Friday, March 6th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 5) (Macon County) (@ 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 36) arrested (12/4/19 in Escambia County) & charged (11/7/19 Lee County) with 1st murder & 1st degree kidnapping. Held with no bond. Lee County. 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. DA will seek DP. Held in Lee County jail. 1/16/26 transferred to Macon 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].
Jury Selection began on 3/2/26 in Macon County. Jury will consist of 12 Jurors & 4 alternates.
Trial set to begin after jury selection.
5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom F. Young, Jr. presiding . Lead prosecutor Kenneth Earl Gibbs. Defense attorney William Whatley Jr.
Previous crimes & court info from 11/10/19 thru 2/6/26 & Jury Selection Days 1-3 (3/2-3/4/26) reference post #65 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lee-county-23-oct-2019-arrest-7.724664/page-4
3/4/26 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 3: Additional info: Had 72 remaining potential jurors & those remaining were spit into 6 panels of 12. Less than 5 jurors were dismissed on the third day. The remaining 3 panels will be back tomorrow. So we have about 67 potential jurors going into Thursday, 3/5/26. Judge Young has instructed jurors that have made it past the panel stage to report back to the Macon County Courthouse Friday, 3/6/26 at 10:30am.
3/5/26 Thursday, Jury Selection Day 4: Judges & attorneys are now working toward bringing back 40 potential jurors Friday morning. From that group, prosecutors ^ defense attorneys will begin striking names to seat a final jury. The court expects to place 12 jurors in the box along with four alternates. Once the jury is selected & sworn in, the court will move to the trial phase. However, it appears unlikely opening statements & testimony will begin Friday. Instead, the court is expected to break for the weekend & resume Monday morning. Officials say the trial itself could last about three weeks. Jury selection continues Friday, 3/6/26 at 9am.

 

[Miss Poovy]

I wished Alabama allowed televised trials, but no such luck.

 

[Niner]

I wished Alabama allowed televised trials, but no such luck.

Usually they (people that do show trials) don't televised the jury selection - just the trials. So that could be it. Maybe try Monday when the trial IS supposed start with opening statements per the articles I have posted.

 

[Niner]

Yes! We have a jury!!

Jury seated in trial of man accused of killing Aniah Blanchard

A jury has been selected in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed, who is accused of kidnapping and killing Aniah Blanchard in 2019.

www.wsfa.com

Mar. 6, 2026
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WSFA) - A jury has been selected in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed, who is accused of kidnapping and killing Aniah Blanchard in 2019.

Jury selection entered its fifth day on Friday, with both the defense and prosecution agreeing on 16 names — 12 jurors and four alternates.

The initial jury consists of eight women and four men. Two women and two men are alternates.
[.....]
Opening statements are set to begin Monday, March 9, with retired Circuit Judge Tom Young presiding. The remainder of the trial is estimated to take at least two weeks. If convicted, Yazeed faces the death penalty.

 

[Niner]

Here's another article

Jury seated in Capital Murder trial for Aniah Blanchard; testimony to begin Monday

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WRBL) — After five days of intense jury selection, a jury has now been seated in the capital murder trial of 36-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed, the man accused in the 2019 abduction and kill...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Niner]

JUSTICE for ANIAH!!