July 17, 2025 • 8 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: When 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard vanished in Auburn, Alabama in October 2019, her disappearance ignited a statewide manhunt and exposed critical flaws in the criminal justice system. As her family searched desperately for answers, a chilling truth emerged—her suspected killer was a violent offender who never should’ve been free.
This is the story of Aniah Blanchard.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
discussing a case that shook Alabama in October twenty nineteen.
This case would highlight the dangerous flaws within the bail
(00:21):
system and lead.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
To a groundbreaking legal reform.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
It all began when a nineteen year old college student
had arranged to meet a man from a dating app.
By the next morning, she would be missing. What happened
that night would spark statewide outrage and change Alabama's laws.
This is the story of a Nya Blanchard. Anaya Blanchard
(00:52):
was born into a loving family in Homewood, Alabama. At
nineteen years old, she was a student at Southern Union
State Community College in Lee County. Anaya was the stepdaughter
of UFC fighter Walt Harris, who had embraced her as
his own daughter. The family was super close knit, supportive,
(01:15):
and very proud of Anya's accomplishments. Those who knew her
described her as vibrant, kind hearted.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
And full of life.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
But on October twenty third, twenty nineteen, Anaya's promising future
would take a dark turn. October twenty third, twenty nineteen.
It was a Wednesday evening in Auburn, Alabama. Anaya had
been talking to a man she met on a dating app.
(01:47):
According to investigators, she spoke to a friend on the
phone saying she was going.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
To meet this man.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
The last confirmed sighting of Anaya alive was at a
show Vron gas station in Auburn. Security cameras would later
reveal she wasn't alone. What happened next would haunt her
family forever. By October twenty fourth, Anaia's family knew something
(02:18):
was terribly wrong when she didn't return home and stop
responding to calls and texts. They contacted the Auburn Police
Department to report her missing. A witness from the Chevron
gas station would later come forward with a chilling testimony.
They claimed to have seen Ania's kidnapping unfold right before
(02:43):
their eyes. The witness described seeing her being forced into
a vehicle against her will. That vehicle was Anaya's own car,
and as the hours turned into days, the search for
Anaya intensified. Her family used every resource available to find her.
(03:06):
They held press conferences, organized search parties, and pleaded with
the public for information. The breakthrough came when investigators identified
their prime suspect, Ibrahim Yazid, a thirty three year old
man with a violent criminal history. But what made this
(03:29):
case even more shocking was the revelation that Yazid was
out on bail at the time of Anya's disappearance. Yazid
had been charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery in
a previous case, yet the courts had allowed him to.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Remain free on bail.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
This decision would prove to be fatal for Anaya Blanchard.
According to investigators, Yazid's shot and while abducting her and
stealing her car. For weeks, the search for Anaya continued.
Her family never gave up hope that she would be
(04:13):
found alive. The community rallied around the family. Volunteers joined
search parties, businesses offered rewards, and social media campaigns spread Anaya's.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Story across the web.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Everyone hoped for a miracle, but in November twenty nineteen,
that hope was shattered. Anaya's body was discovered in a
wooded area in Macon County, about a month after she disappeared.
The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound.
(04:52):
The arrest of Ibraheim Yazid brought some measure of justice,
but it also revealed the systemic failure that led to
Anaya's death. How had a man facing charges for kidnapping
and attempted murder been allowed to walk free. In November
(05:13):
two thousand and two, Yazid was indicted by a grand
jury on three charges related to Anaya's murder. In March
twenty twenty three, he pleaded not guilty to all counts
of capital murder. The legal proceedings would drag on for years,
causing additional pain for Anaya's family. The trial of ibrahemiya
(05:38):
Zid has been delayed multiple times. Originally scheduled for earlier dates,
the trial was most recently set for spring twenty twenty five,
though an exact date had not been scheduled or at
least released to the public. These delays have been frustrating
(05:58):
for Anaya's family, who continue to seek justice for their daughter.
As of twenty twenty five, almost six years after Anaya's murder,
her family is still fighting for justice. They attend court hearings,
advocate for victims' rights, and work to ensure that Anaya's
(06:20):
story leads to meaningful change, but her legacy extends far
beyond her tragic death. In November twenty twenty three, Alabama
enacted Anaya's Law, giving judges discretion to deny bail to
defendants accused of violent crimes. This legislation was directly inspired
(06:43):
by Anaya's case and the recognition that the existing bail
system had failed her. The law represents a significant change
in how Alabama handles dangerous criminals. No longer would individuals
charged with crimes have an automatic right to bail. Judges
(07:05):
now have the power to keep dangerous individuals behind bars
while they await trial. My thoughts and prayers are with
the family and friends of Anaya Blanchard. Today, Anaya Blanchard
would be twenty six years old. Her family continues to
honor her memory by fighting for justice and working to
(07:27):
prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy. As we
close out this episode, don't forget to click the follow
button to stay updated on a Naya's case and others
like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for Answers
on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok for
our true crime updates and if you are watching us
(07:50):
on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this case
and the comments below. Thank you so much for joining
us on another episode.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Until next time.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
discussing a case that shook Alabama in October twenty nineteen.
This case would highlight the dangerous flaws within the bail
(00:21):
system and lead.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
To a groundbreaking legal reform.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
It all began when a nineteen year old college student
had arranged to meet a man from a dating app.
By the next morning, she would be missing. What happened
that night would spark statewide outrage and change Alabama's laws.
This is the story of a Nya Blanchard. Anaya Blanchard
(00:52):
was born into a loving family in Homewood, Alabama. At
nineteen years old, she was a student at Southern Union
State Community College in Lee County. Anaya was the stepdaughter
of UFC fighter Walt Harris, who had embraced her as
his own daughter. The family was super close knit, supportive,
(01:15):
and very proud of Anya's accomplishments. Those who knew her
described her as vibrant, kind hearted.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
And full of life.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
But on October twenty third, twenty nineteen, Anaya's promising future
would take a dark turn. October twenty third, twenty nineteen.
It was a Wednesday evening in Auburn, Alabama. Anaya had
been talking to a man she met on a dating app.
(01:47):
According to investigators, she spoke to a friend on the
phone saying she was going.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
To meet this man.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
The last confirmed sighting of Anaya alive was at a
show Vron gas station in Auburn. Security cameras would later
reveal she wasn't alone. What happened next would haunt her
family forever. By October twenty fourth, Anaia's family knew something
(02:18):
was terribly wrong when she didn't return home and stop
responding to calls and texts. They contacted the Auburn Police
Department to report her missing. A witness from the Chevron
gas station would later come forward with a chilling testimony.
They claimed to have seen Ania's kidnapping unfold right before
(02:43):
their eyes. The witness described seeing her being forced into
a vehicle against her will. That vehicle was Anaya's own car,
and as the hours turned into days, the search for
Anaya intensified. Her family used every resource available to find her.
(03:06):
They held press conferences, organized search parties, and pleaded with
the public for information. The breakthrough came when investigators identified
their prime suspect, Ibrahim Yazid, a thirty three year old
man with a violent criminal history. But what made this
(03:29):
case even more shocking was the revelation that Yazid was
out on bail at the time of Anya's disappearance. Yazid
had been charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery in
a previous case, yet the courts had allowed him to.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Remain free on bail.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
This decision would prove to be fatal for Anaya Blanchard.
According to investigators, Yazid's shot and while abducting her and
stealing her car. For weeks, the search for Anaya continued.
Her family never gave up hope that she would be
(04:13):
found alive. The community rallied around the family. Volunteers joined
search parties, businesses offered rewards, and social media campaigns spread Anaya's.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Story across the web.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Everyone hoped for a miracle, but in November twenty nineteen,
that hope was shattered. Anaya's body was discovered in a
wooded area in Macon County, about a month after she disappeared.
The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound.
(04:52):
The arrest of Ibraheim Yazid brought some measure of justice,
but it also revealed the systemic failure that led to
Anaya's death. How had a man facing charges for kidnapping
and attempted murder been allowed to walk free. In November
(05:13):
two thousand and two, Yazid was indicted by a grand
jury on three charges related to Anaya's murder. In March
twenty twenty three, he pleaded not guilty to all counts
of capital murder. The legal proceedings would drag on for years,
causing additional pain for Anaya's family. The trial of ibrahemiya
(05:38):
Zid has been delayed multiple times. Originally scheduled for earlier dates,
the trial was most recently set for spring twenty twenty five,
though an exact date had not been scheduled or at
least released to the public. These delays have been frustrating
(05:58):
for Anaya's family, who continue to seek justice for their daughter.
As of twenty twenty five, almost six years after Anaya's murder,
her family is still fighting for justice. They attend court hearings,
advocate for victims' rights, and work to ensure that Anaya's
(06:20):
story leads to meaningful change, but her legacy extends far
beyond her tragic death. In November twenty twenty three, Alabama
enacted Anaya's Law, giving judges discretion to deny bail to
defendants accused of violent crimes. This legislation was directly inspired
(06:43):
by Anaya's case and the recognition that the existing bail
system had failed her. The law represents a significant change
in how Alabama handles dangerous criminals. No longer would individuals
charged with crimes have an automatic right to bail. Judges
(07:05):
now have the power to keep dangerous individuals behind bars
while they await trial. My thoughts and prayers are with
the family and friends of Anaya Blanchard. Today, Anaya Blanchard
would be twenty six years old. Her family continues to
honor her memory by fighting for justice and working to
(07:27):
prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy. As we
close out this episode, don't forget to click the follow
button to stay updated on a Naya's case and others
like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for Answers
on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok for
our true crime updates and if you are watching us
(07:50):
on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this case
and the comments below. Thank you so much for joining
us on another episode.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Until next time.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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