On November 8, voters in Alabama will decide whether a bill created in honor of Homewood native Aniah Blanchard should become law. October 23 marks three years since Blanchard was kidnapped at a convenience store in the Auburn area. Her body was found about a month later, just before Thanksgiving. “This time of the year, you know, is probably the hardest month of the year obviously because you know, we lost Aniah October 23,” Elijah Blanchard, Aniah’s brother, says. “But it gets harder because this was the last few moments we got to spend with her.” In early 2021, the Alabama legislature approved Aniah’s Law. It would essentially make it easier for judges to deny bond to those accused of violent crimes. Governor Kay Ivey later signed off on it as well, leaving it up to voters to have the final say on November 8. Local attorney Tommy James says it would have a huge impact on the legal and justice system. “What this law is going to do is give a judge pretty wide discretion when a defendant has been accused of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, rape, sodomy, arson, trafficking,” James explains.Authorities say the suspect charged with kidnapping and killing Aniah Blanchard was free on bond in a previous kidnapping case. Aniah’s Law could potentially keep a similar type of event from happening again. “I’ve been involved in other cases where violent offenders have gotten out on bail and have murdered my clients,” James adds. “It’s tragic, but sadly that was the law then. And I think when this comes up 3 weeks from today that it’s going to be ratified by the people of Alabama.” Loved ones are asking people to show their support for Aniah’s Law when they head to the polls. “I want people to be able to walk out on the streets and feel more comfortable,” Blanchard says. “Feel like, oh, I don’t have to worry about someone watching me or stalking. Maybe just waiting to commit that crime that can change your life forever.”The man accused of kidnapping and killing Aniah Blanchard, Ibraheem Yazeed, is charged with capital murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.
On November 8, voters in Alabama will decide whether a bill created in honor of Homewood native Aniah Blanchard should become law.
October 23 marks three years since Blanchard was kidnapped at a convenience store in the Auburn area. Her body was found about a month later, just before Thanksgiving.
“This time of the year, you know, is probably the hardest month of the year obviously because you know, we lost Aniah October 23,” Elijah Blanchard, Aniah’s brother, says. “But it gets harder because this was the last few moments we got to spend with her.”
In early 2021, the Alabama legislature approved Aniah’s Law. It would essentially make it easier for judges to deny bond to those accused of violent crimes. Governor Kay Ivey later signed off on it as well, leaving it up to voters to have the final say on November 8.
Local attorney Tommy James says it would have a huge impact on the legal and justice system.
“What this law is going to do is give a judge pretty wide discretion when a defendant has been accused of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, rape, sodomy, arson, trafficking,” James explains.
Authorities say the suspect charged with kidnapping and killing Aniah Blanchard was free on bond in a previous kidnapping case. Aniah’s Law could potentially keep a similar type of event from happening again.
“I’ve been involved in other cases where violent offenders have gotten out on bail and have murdered my clients,” James adds. “It’s tragic, but sadly that was the law then. And I think when this comes up 3 weeks from today that it’s going to be ratified by the people of Alabama.”
Loved ones are asking people to show their support for Aniah’s Law when they head to the polls.
“I want people to be able to walk out on the streets and feel more comfortable,” Blanchard says. “Feel like, oh, I don’t have to worry about someone watching me or stalking. Maybe just waiting to commit that crime that can change your life forever.”
The man accused of kidnapping and killing Aniah Blanchard, Ibraheem Yazeed, is charged with capital murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.
