Alabama police believe a body that was found in Macon County may be the remains of missing college student Aniah Blanchard, 19.
Authorities have “strong reason to believe” the remains may be Blanchard, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser Monday afternoon.
Ibraheem Yazeed was the first suspect arrested on Nov. 7 in connection with Blanchard’s disappearance. Blanchard was last seen on surveillance video at a convenience store in Opelika on Oct. 23.
Aniah’s remains were found in a wooded area shortly before 11 a.m. Monday. The discovery was announced before a second suspect, Antwain “Squirmy” Fisher, appeared in court on kidnapping charges.
A third suspect, David Johnson Jr., was arrested in connection with Blanchard’s disappearance. Johnson, of Montgomery, was arrested and charged with hindering prosecution, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser news.
Blanchard’s car, a black 2017 Honda CR-V, was found abandoned at an apartment complex in Montgomery, Alabama, nearly 60 miles away from where she was last seen alive.
There was extensive damage to the right bumper, right wheel well and right passenger side door. Her family said the car was not damaged when they last saw her earlier that day.
Evidence recovered from inside the car led investigators to believe Blanchard was harmed and a victim of foul play.
Blanchard is the stepdaughter of heavyweight UFC MMA fighter Walt “Big Ticket” Harris, 36. He used social media and his contacts in the UFC community to help get the word out about her disappearance.
