Aniah Blanchard, 19, was broadly recognized for all the time placing different folks earlier than herself, however she additionally had a deep-seated worry of being kidnapped and harmed.
On Oct. 23, 2019, Aniah vanished with out a hint after she dropped her brother off in Auburn, the place they each attended faculty, and she or he texted her roommate that she was practically house – solely minutes away. “Just the worst feeling ever to not know the place your little one is,” Blanchard’s mom, Angela Harris, tells James Brown.
It would take two agonizing days earlier than Aniah’s badly broken automobile was discovered 55 miles away, and a blood-soaked seat and a bullet within the door advised investigators that Aniah’s worst worry had possible turned a tragic actuality.
Aniah’s disappearance captured the nation as her household, the local people and legislation enforcement looked for greater than a month to seek out her, and to uncover the reality of what occurred to her that fateful night time.
Now, her grief-stricken dad and mom are combating to get a brand new legislation handed as a result of her alleged killer was out on the streets although he was arrested for kidnapping and beating two males earlier that 12 months.
A VIBRANT PRESENCE
Angela Harris: I had Aniah on my birthday, June twenty second. … That was simply gonna be … one thing so particular in life for she and I to share … the identical birthday.
Her chuckle, infectious. Her spirit, irrepressible. Aniah Blanchard was simply 19 when she vanished – her vibrant presence changed by the terrifying silence of her absence.
Angela Harris
Angela Harris: She simply embraced folks. She simply beloved folks.
Walt Harris: She would stroll in and irrespective of the way you felt, how down you have been, she might choose you up.
Aniah’s stepfather, UFC heavyweight Walt Harris, was a rising star ranked ninth on this planet within the fall of 2019. He says Aniah always impressed him.
Walt Harris: After wins … we rejoice. If it is a loss, she’d all the time choose me up, and … she was all the time that rock … that voice that saved me going.
Aniah grew up in Homewood, Alabama, close to Birmingham. It’s virtually native folklore, that after each college softball recreation, Aniah invited the opposing group to affix hers on the pitcher’s mound to share excessive fives and the Lord’s Prayer.
Hannah Crocker: And even when we misplaced, the opposite group misplaced, it doesn’t matter what … no exhausting emotions. … I feel that was her complete factor. … This is a method to join folks.
Longtime buddy Hannah Crocker met Aniah within the sixth grade.
Hannah Crocker: She was a type of people who simply … wished to guarantee that, “hey, you are doing OK. If not, let me enable you out. ”
James Brown: Did of us ever suppose you two is likely to be boyfriend and girlfriend?
Elijah Blanchard: All the time [laughs]. “Is this your girlfriend?” I’m like “no, that is my sister.“
They have been practically inseparable, says Aniah’s older brother, Elijah Blanchard.
Elijah Blanchard: We grew up 17 months aside. … We have been all the time collectively and … she even adopted me to varsity.
Elijah headed off to Auburn University in 2017. Aniah enrolled at close by Southern Union State Community College a 12 months later, discovering an residence simply minutes from her brother.
Elijah Blanchard: I’d name her each morning [pauses]. Sorry. It will get sort of tough generally.
On October 23, 2019 – Aniah, Elijah and their mother, Angela, attended the funeral of a household buddy in northern Alabama. Immediately after the service, the siblings needed to go away. Both needed to work the subsequent morning again in Auburn — 185 miles away.
Angela Harris: She regarded over at me. She stated,” hey, mother, we actually want to go away now … as a result of it is getting late.” And I stated, “Yeah, you are proper, it is 7 o’clock. … You’ve obtained a 4-hour drive.” And then she hugged me, and I kissed her on the cheek, and I advised her I beloved her.
Driving proper previous Birmingham, Aniah and Elijah made a pit cease at house to see their stepfather, Walt. He was coaching for his subsequent combat.
Walt Harris: I did not ever name them stepkids. They have been my kids. It’s simply the best way I noticed it, you understand. I beloved them like my very own.
The kids’s organic father — Elijah Blanchard Sr., an area pastor and businessman — remained an in depth presence of their lives. He and Angela divorced in 2004. Soon, she began courting Walt Harris. And then he met Aniah and Elijah Jr for the primary time.
James Brown: You got here into her life round age 3. … Tell us about how that bonding course of went.
Walt Harris: I feel it began day one. … Man, we did the whole lot collectively.
Angela Harris: It was stunning for me to observe their bond develop through the years.
Walt Harris: They beloved me like they knew me their complete lives. … We simply felt like a bit household.
Angela Harris
Walt and Angela made it official, getting married in January 2010. They finally had two kids of their very own – Asah and Aylah.
Angela Harris: He was with them greater than I used to be as a result of I labored so much.
Angela, a pediatric emergency room nurse, labored nights at a Birmingham hospital. So, it was Aniah who helped Walt with the youthful kids.
Walt Harris: It was me and Aniah. She helped me mainly elevate her little brother and sister.
Walt Harris: Coming from a robust Christian background. … I wished to … be a very good affect of their lives.
Getty Images
The children definitely look as much as their dad. At 6’5,” 250 kilos, Walt Harris has been a towering presence of their lives and within the bruising octagon cage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship – the UFC.
Win, lose, or draw, Walt’s household has all the time been in his nook.
Walt Harris: My household’s all the time been the rationale why I combat, and so they’ve all the time been the rationale why I get again up. And Aniah, she was the primary catalyst for that.
After the funeral, Aniah and Elijah’s go to with Walt was all too quick. A short speak, an extended hug, and so they have been again on the highway to Auburn … nonetheless about 2 hours away. When they left, Walt says he was left with a rising sense of remorse.
Walt Harris: I battle with it daily. … I ought to have simply advised them to remain.
Walt Harris: … as a result of I felt like she was drained. I keep in mind she stated, “No, I’m superb, Dad. I’ll be superb.” … then I hugged her and advised her I like her and that was it.
They made the drive with out incident, arriving in Auburn round 11 p.m. Aniah dropped off Elijah at his residence.
Elijah Blanchard: So, I simply stated, I like her, watch out, and be sure to get house protected.
Sarah O’Brien: So, at 11:09 p.m., I texted her and stated, “Are you near being house?” She responded proper again, “Yeah.”
Aniah’s faculty roommate, Sarah O’Brien.
Sarah O’Brien: She all the time let me know the place she was at and when she could be house. We really shared one another’s location on our iPhone.
That’s as a result of, Sarah says, Aniah had a deep-rooted worry.
Sarah O’Brien: Since the day I met Aniah, she all the time advised me that that was her largest worry — to be kidnapped or murdered. … Like, as quickly as she walked in, she would examine each room. … She would inform me a number of instances, like, she had nightmares about it taking place to her.
Walt Harris: You know, she actually by no means went anyplace by herself at night time.
But that night time, after dropping off her brother, she was alone with simply three miles to go.
That’s how distant she and Sarah lived from Elijah – 3 miles, usually a 10-minute drive. But practically half-hour later, Aniah had not come house. Sarah texted once more.
Sarah O’Brien [reading text]: Did you exit with out me?
About a minute later got here the reply.
Sarah O’Brien [reading text]: “I’m smoking a blunt, LOL.”
It was the phrase “blunt,” Sarah says, that stopped her. She had by no means heard Aniah use it.
Sarah O’Brien [reading text]: I stated, “Who are you smoking with?” “Eric.” I stated, “Who’s that?” …”I simply met him.” And I responded with, “Where?”
It was 11:43 p.m. There wouldn’t be one other response. Sarah checked her cellphone one final time for Aniah’s location. She gave the impression to be at a close-by residence complicated the place plenty of college students lived. Sarah went to mattress, she says, pondering Aniah was hanging out with pals.
“WE CAN’T FIND ANIAH”
The subsequent morning, October 24, Angela Harris took her kids to high school, and reached out to Aniah to speak. It was their early morning ritual.
Angela Harris: We FaceTimed each morning … that was sort of our factor like, “good morning. What are you doing? What do you will have deliberate for the day?”
Angela Harris: So, once I referred to as her at 8 a.m. and she or he did not reply the FaceTime, I believed, OK, effectively, you understand, she’s busy, so I’ll give her a bit bit longer.
Sarah O’Brien
Sarah was keen to listen to about Eric, the thriller man Aniah met the night time earlier than. She went straight to Aniah’s bed room.
Sarah O’Brien: … and she or he wasn’t there … She would all the time come house.
Sarah O’Brien: She would not spend the night time with anybody she had simply met.
Sarah glanced at her cellphone in search of Aniah’s newest location, however there was none. Aniah’s cellphone had gone darkish.
James Brown: When did concern flip to fret for you, Sarah?
Sarah O’Brien: When I referred to as the woman that she babysat for and she or he hadn’t proven up that morning … as a result of she by no means misses a day to babysit these children. She beloved them.
Corrina Thomas: She was like a mom to my children.
Corrina Thomas, the working mom who trusted Aniah, stated she was probably the most dependable nanny she ever had.
Corrina Thomas: Amazing. I do not understand how else to clarify it, like each good high quality that you really want in an individual she had, like the whole lot.
Angela Harris: She by no means as soon as, by no means as soon as did not present as much as deal with these children.
Sarah O’Brien: … and that is once I hopped within the automobile to search for Aniah’s automobile … The longer I drove the extra apprehensive I obtained. I did not see any hint of her in any respect.
Sarah determined to get Aniah’s brother and take a re-examination.
Angela Harris
Elijah Blanchard: Her roommate calls me and advised me that Aniah by no means even got here house final night time. Aniah’s lacking.
Sarah O’Brien: And then I advised him what she stated about Eric. And that she was with him … And he was like, “no, she did not inform me something about that.”
Elijah Blanchard: …and my coronary heart sort of simply sank … And this was utterly out of her character … This is not Aniah … Aniah would not have run away.
Elijah Blanchard: So … instantly … I name my dad and mom. … and I used to be like, uh, “Aniah’s lacking.”
Angela Harris: And he says, “mother, we won’t discover Aniah” … and I stated,” son what are you speaking about you’ll be able to’t discover her” he stated “no mother … I’m in her residence and we won’t discover Aniah.”
Immediately alarmed, Angela and Walt took off for Aniah’s residence, two excruciating hours away.
Angela Harris: We simply obtained in his truck and simply flew to Auburn.
Angela Harris: All kinds of issues are going by means of our heads. … What’s occurred? What’s occurring? … And pure hell.
James Brown: Walt, how did you course of all of this if you discovered your daughter was lacking?
Walt Harris [in tears]: That drive to Auburn was the toughest factor I’ve ever been by means of in my life as a result of I knew one thing wasn’t proper.
Elijah determined to examine with Corrina Thomas once more, possibly Aniah confirmed up.
Corrina Thomas: I wasn’t apprehensive till her brother messaged me.
Elijah Blanchard [reading text]: Hey, I’m Aniah’s brother. I used to be questioning if in case you have heard from my sister at this time?
Corrina Thomas [reading text]: No I have never. I referred to as her a bunch of instances this morning, and she or he missed choosing up the children this morning.
Elijah Blanchard [reading text]: … Yes, I’m at her residence. We have been trying all over the place for her and may’t discover her.
And Aniah by no means left her canine Bloo alone in a single day.
Angela Harris: That was her child … we simply knew after we get to her residence that, wait, there’s one thing actually unhealthy flawed right here.
Word rapidly unfold to Aniah’s pals.
Hannah Crocker: And I used to be like, what? I used to be simply speaking to her final night time. … what are you speaking about? … I imply, I reside three hours away from her. I used to be like, I do not know the place she is.
Hannah Crocker dropped the whole lot and headed to Aniah’s residence.
Hannah Crocker: Once it was 24 hours, I used to be like, that is not Aniah. … In my coronary heart … I used to be like, she’s a feminine, one thing occurred.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: Auburn is a school city. … and it is a very protected place.
Former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: This, from the very starting, felt very otherwise, you understand, based mostly on the data we had. It simply did not really feel like this was a school pupil who determined to go away and blow off some steam … that simply wasn’t her character. That’s simply not one thing she would have completed.
Aniah’s disappearance was breaking information.
WALT HARRIS’ APPEAL: If you will have any leads on the place our daughter is, Aniah Blanchard, please, please, please go to the authorities, inform somebody. She was final seen in a Black Honda CVR 2017…”
ANGELA HARRIS’ APPEAL: Please, if you understand something … now we have to have her again, now we have to have her again.
On October 25, 2019, with Aniah gone for 2 days, her Honda was noticed in an residence complicated, in Montgomery, Alabama, 55 miles from Auburn.
WIAT
And it was badly broken. Worse nonetheless, there was no signal of Aniah.
Corrina Thomas needed to break the information to her kids.
Corrina Thomas [in tears]: And I stated, “Aniah’s lacking.” And then they cried.
And then they got here up with their very own plan to assist discover her.
Corrina Thomas: … they obtained their tablets … “Hey Google, what number of homes are in Montgomery?” And I used to be like, “why are you trying that up?” And he stated, “as a result of we obtained to go see what number of homes now we have to go search for her at” … they simply wished to seek out her.
But nothing anybody did led to an Aniah sighting. Then, just a few days after she disappeared, police found that after Aniah dropped off her brother, she stopped at a gasoline station simply two minutes from her house.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: It’s a Chevron gasoline station on College Street.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: Aniah entered the Chevron gasoline station roughly 11:21 within the night on the night time of October 23. And she stayed there roughly a minute-and-a-half to 2 minutes earlier than she left.
Auburn Police Department
Aniah purchased a bag of bitter cream and onion potato chips and a drink.
Angela Harris: … that was her factor each night time. … Even at house, rising up, she would snack proper earlier than mattress.
Investigators additionally wished to talk with anybody who was at that gasoline station that night time.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: We wanted to know if anyone noticed something. … What was she doing? … Was she speaking to anyone? Did she go away with anyone?
THE SEARCH INTENSIFIES
Investigators zeroed in on the Chevron gasoline station, the place Aniah was final seen on video earlier than she disappeared. They have been in search of any results in the place she is likely to be.
The neighborhood of Homewood, the place she grew up, prayed for Aniah’s protected return. Ribbons and bows in Aniah’s favourite coloration appeared all over the place.
And, once they weren’t praying for her, they have been out looking for her.
Hannah Crocker: Pretty rapidly, folks got here collectively … similar to, hey let’s do searches right here, let’s do searchers there.
Elijah Blanchard: We would go within the woods. We would go behind folks’s homes. We would go in alleyways.
Walt Harris: We drove my truck in backwoods. I imply, we have been all in folks’s yards … We will need to have canvassed from Auburn to Tuskegee, simply me and her, throughout the first two or three days.
The investigation rapidly expanded throughout a number of counties, particularly after Aniah’s automobile was discovered 55 miles away in Montgomery.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: … you must think about there have been simply large areas that we needed to search.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: There have been dozens of companies — state companies, county companies, native companies, federal companies … big process power.
And reward cash poured in. UFC president Dana White and Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones every contributed $25,000.
Walt Harris: It’s a ache, it is an anxiousness. It’s simply so many feelings. You’re making an attempt to carry hope that one thing optimistic goes to return out of it … But as the times go on, your hope simply begins to dwindle and dwindle.
Now lacking eight days, hope was dealt a significant blow.
NORAH O’DONNELL [CBS EVENING NEWS]: Tonight, police in Auburn, Alabama say that there’s proof a lacking faculty pupil is a sufferer of foul play.
AUBURN POLICE CHIEF PAUL REGISTER: Evidence from inside her car is the rationale that we’re conscious that, you understand, she was harmed, and we do contemplate this a case the place there’s foul play concerned.
Police wouldn’t say what they discovered, however Aniah’s organic father, Elijah Blanchard Sr., was not prepared to surrender.
Angela Harris
ELIJAH BLANCHARD SR. [news interview]: That was exhausting for us. … I’m a person of religion and no matter what the police say, I nonetheless have hope that my Aniah is on the market ready for her father to get her.
Aniah’s disappearance was taking greater than an emotional toll on Walt Harris. He instantly cancelled his upcoming combat. Aniah was the one factor on everybody’s thoughts.
Walt Harris: I wasn’t in a position to focus in any respect … it was chaos. There was disappointment. I simply wished to be there for my household … It’s like a darkish abyss … you are combating that off.
Then, after 14 days, the police introduced they wished a person seen on the gasoline station retailer on the identical time Aniah was there.
Auburn Police Department
An eyewitness stated he thought he noticed him power Aniah into her automobile earlier than they drove off collectively.
LOCAL NEWS REPORT: This is an individual of curiosity … anybody who sees him is requested to name 911.
Someone did, and the person the police have been in search of was not named Eric. He was Ibraheem Yazeed, a 30-year-old from Montgomery and he had a prolonged arrest report.
AUBURN POLICE CHIEF PAUL REGISTER [to reporters]: He needs to be thought of harmful and could be doubtlessly armed.
Police stated Yazeed was charged earlier that 12 months with kidnapping, robbing, and practically beating a 77-year-old man to dying. He was additionally accused of robbing and beating a second man. Despite the intense expenses, he was free on bond and had been staying in a lodge close to the Chevron gasoline station.
Sarah O’Brien: How is that this individual free to stroll right into a gasoline station? … How is he simply minutes down the highway from me? How is he in the identical gasoline station as my greatest buddy?
But he was, and that was at 11:22 p.m. Aniah’s automobile was subsequent seen a couple of minutes later at one other close by gasoline station, the place Yazeed purchased a small cigar.
It could be a bit greater than an hour earlier than a license plate reader picked up Aniah’s Honda close to the doorway to I-85, heading south in direction of Montgomery.
Aniah’s dad and mom clung to hope, and so they had religion that their daughter could be discovered alive … they even prayed for Yazeed.
ANGELA HARRIS [NBC News report]: You can cease now. … You can change this. You can let her go. God will forgive you.
Police captured Yazeed the next day hiding within the woods 145 miles away in one other state. Police say he didn’t give up peacefully.
ANNE-MARIE GREEN [CBSN]: 30-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed was arrested in a single day in Florida on the cost of kidnapping within the first diploma.
WIAT
Yazeed appeared in a Florida court docket the subsequent day, with a swollen left eye. And court docket paperwork lastly revealed what police discovered within the automobile. It was blood, and plenty of it.
NEWS REPORT: Court paperwork at this time say blood that was found in Aniah Blanchard’s automobile was “indicative of somebody struggling a life-threatening damage…
Yazeed waived extradition to Lee County, Alabama, the place Angela and Walt Harris could be ready, hoping to seek out out the place their daughter was.
A ROADMAP
The Harrises have been dedicated to dealing with Yazeed at any time when he appeared in court docket. And every time felt like the primary time.
James Brown: As a father, as a man … I’m imagining what may need been coursing by means of your veins. … Then you see him, Mr. Yazeed trying again at you guys.
Walt Harris: Anger. I keep in mind shaking. I wished to climb throughout the barricade.
Walt Harris: It made me actually offended. Because — he was simply sort of smug … like “you are powerful, I’m powerful, too.” … like he was difficult me, virtually.
It took all of Walt’s coaching within the ring, and Angela’s regular hand, to maintain him from ripping into Yazeed.
Walt Harris: She grabbed me, and she or he stated, “simply breathe” … And I simply began making an attempt to listen to her voice as a result of I couldn’t — I would not take my eyes off of him. … like, OK, who’s going to look away first kind of deal.
James Brown: Angela … how did you keep composed?
Angela Harris: I wished him to know that I’m representing my daughter. … and that I’m not going anyplace. We’re proper right here — and we will combat this during.
Yazeed maintained his innocence, and the burden to seek out Aniah mounted.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: Everybody was on edge as a result of there’s plenty of strain. … there’s strain to seek out this little lady.
Angela and Walt Harris publicized their daughter’s disappearance on “Dr. Phil.”
WALT HARRIS [on “Dr. Phil”]: Love you, child lady. … we’re in search of you … we’re doing the whole lot that we are able to … and we’re going to get you. I promise.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: They’re on tv and also you’re doing the whole lot you’ll be able to. But up so far, it hasn’t been sufficient.
By then, the DA, Angela and Walt, had grown shut.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: If you wish to name up, get annoyed and yell at me for an hour, cry with me for an hour. I’m there. And that is simply what we have been doing.
A month after Aniah went lacking, the DA had information. Authorities now believed that Antwain Fisher, who as soon as served time for homicide, helped Yazeed get rid of proof. He was charged with kidnapping. He quickly cooperated, offering a roadmap to Aniah.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: Aniah’s stays have been situated in Macon County, Alabama, which is between Auburn and Montgomery.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: Obviously, we did not … know, to one hundred percent certainty that that is who it was … there have been a number of objects of clothes on the market. I noticed a boot. I took {a photograph} of it.
Hughes requested the Harrises to satisfy on the DA’s workplace.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: They do not know why they’re there.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: … and I confirmed the Harrises the {photograph}.
The Sorel boots have been a present from Walt when the household visited New York City.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: Walt regarded on the cellphone … He simply drops it on the desk and stated, “Y’all excuse me.”
Former DA Brandon Hughes [emotional]: My spouse had come up there … she was arising the again stairwell. She stated she noticed Walt simply punching the wall. I imply, it is a concrete wall. …He’s screaming and simply punching this wall. That’s exhausting [crying].
CBS News
James Brown: Talk a couple of mother or father’s worst nightmare when her physique was discovered.
Angela Harris: Immediately, I simply wished to truly know if I might see my little one. I simply wish to see her. We have been advised, no.
Angela Harris: I simply did not wish to go on anymore.
James Brown: Walt?
Walt Harris: Broken. Confused. Angry. I simply wished to know why and what occurred?
Hughes and the police returned to the woods to seek for extra proof.
Former DA Brandon Hughes: … simply actually crawling on arms and knees, in search of proof … in search of something that we might discover.
And what they discovered helped the Harrises lastly be taught what occurred to their beloved Aniah.
FIGHTING FOR ANIAH
A blood-soaked passenger seat. A bullet gap within the door. The proof tells a narrative of what occurred to Aniah that night time. Investigators aren’t sure how Yazeed ended up contained in the automobile with Aniah. Did he ask for a journey? Did he power her? But the injury outdoors suggests there was a battle sooner or later because the automobile was transferring. Investigators say Yazeed shot Aniah as she tried to flee.
FORMER DA BRANDON HUGHES [to reporters]: Aniah Blanchard was killed within the method of murder … reason behind dying was a gunshot wound.
James Brown: Was your religion shaken? Rocked?
Walt Harris: To have our angel taken like that, I did not know why God would permit it.
But Walt finally discovered consolation in his religion.
Walt Harris: It introduced me again … it is helped me perceive that God did not do that.
And on December 2, 2019, then District Attorney Hughes introduced the individual accountable was Ibraheem Yazeed. He was now being charged with capital homicide.
FORMER DA BRANDON HUGHES [to reporters]: We’ll even be in search of the dying penalty.
WRBL
Two days later, the Harrises have been in court docket when Yazeed fought again.
IBRAHEEM YAZEED [in court]: I obtained rights too … Ya’ll haven’t any video, no audio of me taking pictures anybody, that is why I’m making an attempt to see how y’all going to bind me, over on rumour, however y’all aren’t presenting no proof.
Yazeed appeared happy when he was completed.
Angela Harris: … the angle, the smirks, the seems … wow.
But possibly probably the most damning proof towards Yazeed comes from Antwain Fisher. Remember, he was dealing with expenses of serving to Yazeed. Those expenses have been dropped. Fisher advised police that simply hours after Aniah disappeared, Yazeed confirmed up in Montgomery in search of assist. And he was driving what regarded like Aniah’s black Honda.
Fisher stated he adopted Yazeed to an residence complicated – the identical complicated the place police would later discover Aniah’s Honda. Yazeed then obtained into the truck Fisher was driving says lead Detective Josh Mixon.
DET. JOSH MIXON [in court]: They ended up behind a church close to a cemetery. … and when he regarded within the rearview mirror, he noticed Yazeed dragging one thing wrapped in a comforter. It gave the impression to be two legs. He dragged it within the woods … come again … obtained within the car, and he … stated, “inform me that is not a physique.”
Fisher says Yazeed advised him he shot a lady quote “when she went for the gun.“
Angela Harris [in tears]: Wow — it is indescribable. … how somebody might really do these issues to my stunning daughter … and it is so traumatizing to consider what she went by means of.
Walt Harris: Hearing it in grave element, it was painful.
And then the Harrises would be taught that Yazeed along with being charged with practically beating an aged man to dying, was additionally being charged with taking pictures two different folks the 12 months earlier than he is accused of killing Aniah.
James Brown: What would you prefer to see occur?
Walt Harris: Justice.
Angela Harris: Definitely justice … I need justice for my daughter.
But justice has been delayed. The pandemic has slowed all of Yazeed’s felony circumstances, and his lawyer declined to be interviewed.
Walt, who had thought of ending his profession, discovered inspiration when Aniah got here to him in a dream.
Angela Harris
Walt Harris: … she was sitting in her front room, and there was only a beam of sunshine on her and she or he had her arms out and I hugged her, and she or he stated, “hold going”. And I simply awoke, like with a renewed vigor, I felt contemporary.
Inspired by Aniah, Walt Harris bravely returned to the ring. Incredibly, a combat was scheduled for October 24, the anniversary of Aniah’s homicide.
Angela Harris: When he first advised me … I stated, “are you certain?” … He stated, “I’m certain.” And so, I knew how essential that this was to him and the way essential that this may be to her, to Aniah, and that she would need him to do it.
Walt flew to Abu Dhabi, and spent two weeks in quarantine, coaching in a lodge.
Angela, in the meantime, remained house, caring for his or her household, and holding a vigil the night time earlier than Walt’s combat, marking the anniversary for the final time they noticed Aniah alive.
The following day, the Harrises have been on the sting of their seats to observe Walt combat midway all over the world.
Walt began out sturdy, however immediately, the combat was over.
In retrospect Walt advised “48 Hours” he wanted extra psychological power. He returned house and some days later, he launched all that pent-up emotion.
Angela Harris: He simply broke down and fell down on the ground, crying.
And by means of all of her ache, Angela discovered her new calling. She began a nonprofit, Aniah’s Heart, to show security, and assist seek for lacking folks.
Angela Harris: I’ve completed group periods of training. I simply did one … with some sophomores from Aniah’s highschool, a bunch of like 20 women educating them about training and security, it was wonderful.
WAKA
ANGELA HARRIS [addressing reporters at the Alabama Legislature]: This is a should, now we have to have this legislation.
And she’s campaigning for “Aniah’s Law,” a invoice which, if enacted, permits judges to disclaim bond to severe violent offenders.
Angela Harris: You have folks committing a number of violent crimes and so they simply get out on bond. It’s simply not OK.
Angela Harris
Around Christmas 2019, practically 2,000 folks got here collectively to rejoice Aniah’s life.
ANGELA HARRIS: I do know one factor … that I can’t cease combating for her.
BILL CLEVELAND: … that stunning smile she had, that would simply mild up a room.
NOAH VAIL: Aniah was mild, if you checked out her in her eyes, the best way she made you are feeling, she simply made you are feeling such as you was OK.
AYLAH HARRIS: We will miss you. We are so completely happy you have been our sissy.
HANNAH CROCKER: Aniah has been my greatest buddy since I met her in sixth grade … she left me with the very best recollections ever, after all … she was a frontrunner … she would put folks first even when she was unhappy or wanted something. I like you Aniah … You are really my sunshine on wet days.
DENISE LEWIS: December 21, 2019, can be eternally recognized … as Aniah Haley Blanchard Day within the metropolis of Homewood, Alabama.
Elijah Blanchard: … all these items is true. She actually was, really a particular human being.
In March 2023, Ibraheem Yazeed pleaded not responsible to a few counts of capital homicide within the dying of Aniah Blanchard.
In November 2023, Alabama enacted “Aniah’s Law” giving judges discretion to disclaim bail to defendants accused of violent crimes.
Produced by Murray Weiss. Mead Stone is the producer-editor. Iris Carreras is the affiliate producer. Lauren Turner Dunn is the printed affiliate. Greg McLaughlin and Phil Tangel are the editors. Patti Aronofsky and Alvin Patrick are the senior producers. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.
