Auburn Kidnapping Suspect Arrested In Escambia County

November 8, 2019

A nationwide manhunt came to an end Thursday when an Alabama man wanted for the disappearance of a woman in Auburn was arrested in Escambia County.

Ibraheem Yazeed, 30, is wanted on an Auburn Police Division warrant for kidnapping in the first degree stemming from the investigation of the disappearance of Aniah Haley Blanchard between Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, and Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019.

The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task force, with the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, took Yazeed into custody after a brief foot pursuit near the Pine Forest Road exit on I-10. ECSO responded after being called by U.S. Marshals in Montgomery.

Yazeed is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.

“Yazeed was at the same location Blanchard was last seen and is involved in taking Aniah against her will. Additional charges and/or arrests are anticipated,” Auburn Police said. Blanchard is still missing.

Evidence from within Blanchard’s vehicle (pictured below) was recovered in Montgomery. It was examined by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and has  determined that she was harmed and is considered to be a victim of foul play.

He was also out on bond on other kidnapping and attempted murder charges in separate case.

Comments

38 Responses to “Auburn Kidnapping Suspect Arrested In Escambia County”

  1. JBS on November 11th, 2019 7:33 am

    Continued prayers for Ms. Blanchard and her family.

  2. Wayne on November 10th, 2019 9:18 pm

    I guess any transient qualifies to be a judge these days

  3. AA on November 10th, 2019 9:34 am

    My heart breaks for this sweet girl…So sad praying for her family and friends…why the heck would they give him a bond the state systems are so screwed up they gave drug dealers no bond but killers a bond what the heck is this world coming to I’m so mad at the judge who allowed him to get out what the heck was he thinking because 9 out 10 there going to do it again and again that judge needs to come off the bench ASAP no telling how many other crazy people he allowed out on bond…the police go full force at drug dealers but not the sexual predators or killers they need to get it together wake the heck up this sweet young girl would not be missing if that judge didn’t let him out on bond…it’s no ones fault but that judge I hope it’s eating him alive for allowing that coward no good pos out on bond…god bless us all!!!

  4. steve on November 8th, 2019 7:04 pm

    the blood is on the judge that let him out on those other charges. A bond SO high that he stayed put.
    Sick demons because calling him a animal would be a insult to animals.

  5. Jason on November 8th, 2019 6:11 pm

    The purpose of bond is to safe guard the public and ensure the arrestee will appear for his future court dates. That said, by our constitution every person arrested is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. As such, offenders are granted bonds even when others in the public dont believe a bond should be an option. Hindsight is always 20/20.

    Even with that said, information obtained from the AL .com online newspaper indicates that this subject was involved in a previous incidents as noted:

    According to court records, in January 2019 two male victims – one of them 77-years-old – were held against their will in a hotel room. The older man was beaten until “unconscious, unresponsive, severely injured and near death” and robbed of a Rolex, rifle, handguns, wallet, bank card, clothing and unknown amount of currency. The other man was also beaten and robbed of at least $40. Bond in this case was set at $280,000.

    In July 2017, Yazeed was arrested by Cass County sheriff’s deputies in Missouri on an arrest warrant for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.

    Yazeed also previously pleaded guilty to felony drug possession in 2015 and received a 13-month suspended sentence. In 2012, he was charged with attempted murder after authorities said he rammed his car into a Montgomery police vehicle. A grand jury declined to indict him on those charges as well.

    The previous year – 2011 – Yazeed was charged with two counts of robbery after a man was robbed of more than $2,000, a cell phone and a Gucci watch. A grand jury also declined to indict him on those charges.

    IMHO, the grand jury is the one who continues to turn this alleged felon loose time and again. Based on the prior convictions, the $280,000 would have appeared sufficient to keep him behind bars. The question should be is who paid the bond? The bondsmen I know not only want their 10% upfront, they also want collateral to cover the remaining balance of the bond should the subject skip a court date.

    The one good thing, is since this subject was identified as a person of interest in this latest kidnapping case, the judge in his January 2019 case had revoked the the bond in that case. Im sure those of you with 20/20 hindsight will complain that its too little to late. #rolleyes

  6. Abrenda Edwards on November 8th, 2019 5:43 pm

    It never fails , come to Pensacola on the Run and you surely will be Caught… … Great Job Escambia County Sheriffs Office and U.S.Marshall Service

  7. john on November 8th, 2019 4:03 pm

    We getting to a sad state, when the message sent to killers is….you can do what the hell you please, and nothing is going to happen to you! He should have already been pushing up daisies!

  8. Charles on November 8th, 2019 1:57 pm

    Poor fella looks like he fell down during that foot pursuit lol

  9. Moe de Lone on November 8th, 2019 1:51 pm

    @ Sean…read the article. That is the girl’s vehicle. Already recovered in Alabama.

  10. RC on November 8th, 2019 1:44 pm

    @ Anne-I was thinking the exact same thing. Put them in a room together and everyone go to lunch. I bet his memory would be crystal clear on the girl’s whereabouts and the circumstances regarding her disappearance.Protect his rights with the same regard as he protected the young lady’s rights. Seems fair doesn’t it? This person is a predator-pure and simple. Deal with him in a manner he will understand.

  11. Stumpknocker on November 8th, 2019 1:39 pm

    @Beth that would be great, but judges can’t be held responsible for their bad decision making, by releasing him is a liberal judges way of justice reform and they try to keep the numbers more equal between whites and minorities, the crime has nothing to do with it, so more victims.

  12. A Domestic Violence Survivor on November 8th, 2019 11:46 am

    When in hell will the system learn to keep people who commit violent acts in freaking jail??? My ex boyfriend who assaulted and almost ended my life should have been in prison already for his history of violent acts and battery charges, yet the State of Florida keeps letting him out. He will kill someone eventually.

  13. Anne on November 8th, 2019 11:31 am

    Perhaps, the step-father, Walt Harris – a UFC fighter – should be the one to interview Ibraheem Yazeed concerning the whereabouts of Aniah Blanchard.

  14. Citizen on November 8th, 2019 11:06 am

    Do you think that if his prior charge of kidnapping and attempted murder had been on a police officer or government official he would have been released on bond?

    Of course he wouldn’t have been, and he shouldn’t have been regardless.
    So why was he released with those charges on an ordinary citizen?

    This is squarely on the judge that released him!!

    On another note… it’s fun to click back and forth between the previous mugshot of him on the homepage and the current mugshot of him in the story.
    Same stupid head tilt and look on his face, only with some well-deserved swelling.

    The judge deserves a dotted eye and removal from his bench… this dude deserves much worse than that!

  15. Terry on November 8th, 2019 10:47 am

    I wish he would have tried to run from deputies. Would have love to see some teeth marks in his butt.

  16. Terri Sanders on November 8th, 2019 10:30 am

    We can hold some judges accountable.It is called voting

  17. Gigi waters on November 8th, 2019 10:25 am

    Looks more like he got into fire ants!!

  18. James Sharp on November 8th, 2019 10:11 am

    I truly believe that the representatives that uphold the ordinances and make these decisions in our judicial system especially judges and anyone affiliated with the judiciary committee like jurors anyone who makes the case against someone and like i said ESPECIALLY JUDGES AND JURORS NEED TO BE DRUG TESTED ON A ROUTINE BASIS AND A JUROR SHOULD HAVE TO BE DRUG TESTED BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HELP CONVICT A PERSON PERIOD. Now because of this judge and the judicial process this beautiful child may no longer be able to ever see her family again nor will they be able to see her. IF SHE HAD BEEN THE JUDGES DAUGHTER THESE CRIMINALS WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OUT ON BOND TO START WITH FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES AND KIDNAPPING CHARGES AND LORD KNOWS WHATEVER ELSE SO I THINK THE JUDGES SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS

  19. Mandy on November 8th, 2019 10:05 am

    This just makes me sad… I pray for her safety and that she is found alive. Please, everyone pray for her return and for her family during this terrible nightmare they are going through. Please continue to share her photo so she can be found.

  20. sean on November 8th, 2019 9:58 am

    ok how does this man have a car that nice

  21. Sherry on November 8th, 2019 9:42 am

    I’m glad his eye looks like he resisted! But the judge who put him back on the street needs a full on Ass whuppin

  22. bewildered on November 8th, 2019 9:42 am

    Public opinion is tilting in favor of the person accused of a crime. In New York people are released WITHOUT any bond (even attempted murder in some cases) based on their promise to show up in court, You cannot bend over to give fair treatment to suspects and then complain if they disappoint society with their behavior.

  23. Marlene Findley on November 8th, 2019 9:05 am

    I hope they find her.for closure.

  24. Marlene on November 8th, 2019 9:02 am

    Maybe they will find her so this family can have closure.

  25. Marlene on November 8th, 2019 8:59 am

    I just hope she’s alive if not just give her family closure for this family

  26. NA on November 8th, 2019 8:55 am

    Smells like human trafficking because Auburn is on a well know route for it. It really is a lot more common that anyone cares to know

  27. David on November 8th, 2019 8:39 am

    @Thomas
    I have been an investigator concerning missing individuals for 45 years
    I do not need to surmise nor justify anything.
    However in your case it would be far over your head and scope to understand such matters.

  28. paul on November 8th, 2019 8:35 am

    True justice would be turning him over to her father..

  29. POS on November 8th, 2019 8:27 am

    His trial should be a trial by combat with her father, Ufc heavyweight

  30. Jaimi on November 8th, 2019 8:19 am

    WHY? WHY? WHY? Our judicial system is fked. When you let someone out on bond who has charges of kidnapping and attempted murder???? What idiot judge let him out??? You should be thrown OFF the bench. Praying this baby girl is found alive

  31. Thomas on November 8th, 2019 8:00 am

    “Smells like human trafficking”? How to you surmise that from a kidnapping and attempt murder charge? Seems like someone learned a new word and most likely uses it 5-6 times a day.

  32. David on November 8th, 2019 7:54 am

    Smells like human trafficking..prayers to the family

  33. Just saying on November 8th, 2019 7:47 am

    Looks like he resisted arrest. Check the eye.

  34. SW on November 8th, 2019 7:38 am

    Got that eye dotted, looks like.

  35. Insane on November 8th, 2019 7:38 am

    The judge that let this man out on bond has blood on his hands. Period. Had that rap sheet and was allowed out..? What a shame to our system. I feel for her family.

  36. Why??? on November 8th, 2019 7:35 am

    Lord why???? Why was he out on bond for kidnapping& attempted murder??? Why judicial system?? Why.?? Glad they caught the sack of mess!!!

  37. Beth on November 8th, 2019 7:22 am

    OUT ON BOND FOR KIDNAPPING AND ATTEMPTED MURDER????? DEAR GOD! WHY? MAYBE WE SHOULD START HOLDING JUDGES RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES COMMITTED BY CRIMINALS WHO SHOULD NEVER BE RELEASED! THIS IS HORRIFIC!!

  38. Oversight on November 8th, 2019 7:04 am

    “He was also out on bond for kidnapping and attempted murder.”

    What was the bond amount and which jurisdiction allowed did this scumbag out on the streets?