Aniah Blanchard's Body Possibly Found, 3rd Suspect Arrested

MACON COUNTY, AL — Human remains found in Macon County are thought to be those of missing 19-year-old college student Aniah Blanchard, according to a statement by the Auburn PD. A third suspect has also been arrested in the case of the missing Homewood resident.

Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes issued a statement confirming that human remains were found. "We have good reason to believe they are that of Aniah Blanchard."

A third suspect, David Johnson of Montgomery, was arrested for hindering prosecution, according to police.

"During the course of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Aniah Blanchard, investigators obtained information regarding the possible location of a body," read a statement by Auburn police. "On November 25, 2019, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Auburn Police, along with members of the Task Force, Lee County DA’s Office, U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, ALEA and Montgomery County Sheriff Office, responded to a wooded area in the 38,000 block of County Road 2 in Shorter, Alabama."

After a brief search by investigators, they located what appeared to be human remains several feet into the woodline. A complete investigation is underway by ALEA and Auburn Police to determine the identity and how the victim came to be at that location.

The examination will explore if the remains are those of Blanchard.

Earlier today, Antwain "Squirmy" Fisher appeared in court on charges of aiding accused kidnapper Ibraheem Yazeed. Yazeed was captured by U.S. Marshals near the Alabama-Florida border Nov. 8.

Blanchard, a student at Southern Union, was last seen Oct. 23.

Charging documents against Yazeed said he was witnessed "forcing Blanchard into a vehicle against her will and then leaving with her in the vehicle." According to WBRC, Detective Josh Mixon of the Auburn PD said the witness regrets not coming forward sooner, but was told by a female companion at the time not to get involved.

Blanchard's father and stepmother — Birmingham attorney Yashiba Blanchard — as well as her mother, Angela Harris, and stepfather, UFC Heavyweight fighter Walt Harris, have been persistent in keeping their daughter's disappearance in the minds of people all over the state in hopes of eventually finding her alive.