The man who murdered Alabama college student Aniah Blanchard, step-daughter of former UFC heavyweight Walt Harris, has been convicted, but will not receive the death penalty.
On Thursday, a jury in Macon County, Alabama found Ibraheem Yazeed, 36, guilty of murdering 19-year-old Blanchard. Specifically, the jury found him guilty of murder and felony murder, but not capital murder, which would have carried the death penalty.
He had originally been facing three counts of capital murder after being indicted by a grand jury.
Yazeed has yet to be sentenced. Prosecutors have vowed to ensure that he remains incarcerated for life.
The Associated Press was among those reporting the news.
Blanchard’s disappearance in 2019 led to offers of a reward being tendered for information on the case, including by UFC CEO and President Dana White. The UFC exec pledged $25,000 of his own money on top of a $5,000 reward originally offered in the case.
Unfortunately, Blanchard, who was abducted by Yazeed outside a gas station convenience store that October, was not found alive. Yazeed, and two others, were eventually arrested and charged.
The killer had been out on bail stemming from other serious charges including kidnapping at the time of his arrest. That led to the passing of Aniah’s Law in Alabama, with Harris and her mother campaigning heavily to see it passed.
Aniah’s Law allows judges to deny bail for anyone charged with a Class A felony in the state.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed disappointment that Yazeed would not be put to death. “I pledge to do everything in my power to ensure that Ibraheem Yazeed spends the rest of his life in prison. I believe that is what justice demands in this case. Aniah deserves it, as does her family,” Marshall added.
Blanchard’s feather, Aniah, told WVTM 13 News that he had found closure with the outcome, adding that “there’s no verdict that can bring Aniah back.”
Her mother, Angela Haley-Harris, issued a statement on social media following the verdict. “It’s has taken me a minute to get myself together. Yes we are of course Happy He was found guilty but we all knew he was guilty, but it should have been for capital Murder!!!!! We are not ok!! It’s gonna take a while to come to terms that that’s not what he got!!! The jurors that did not vote for Capital and they should be ashamed of themselves period!!! I will talk more when I get myself together!!!! And pray on May 7th the judge does the right thing and gives him the maximum sentence!!!!!”
