The person who witnessed a man abduct an Alabama teen last month initially did not contact authorities because his wife told him not to get involved, court testimony revealed on Wednesday.
Kidnapping suspect Ibraheem Yazeed, 30, was denied bond and ordered to submit his DNA during the preliminary hearing. Auburn police detective Josh Mixon testified during the brief hearing that surveillance cameras filmed Yazeed, 30, at an Auburn convenience store on October 23, moments before Aniah Blanchard’s abduction, according to Al.com.
Mixon also stated that the witness, who remains unidentified to the public, was staying at a nearby hotel and had entered the store at around the same time as Yazeed. The witness told a female companion, which TMZ described as his wife, about the kidnapping, and she told him it was “none of his business and to stay out of it,” he testified.
The police officer went on to claim that the witness’ wife had suffered a miscarriage, and he had cried over his decision to not immediately call authorities.
The unidentified witness reportedly saw Yazeed forcing Blanchard into her car — which was found damaged and covered in her blood at a Montgomery apartment complex two days later. Police said the amount of blood discovered in the car suggests the missing teen had suffered a life-threatening injury.
At the time of Blanchard’s disappearance, Yazeed was out on bail on attempted murder charges — despite having a lengthy criminal history which includes arrests for kidnapping and robbery.
Blanchard was described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 125 pounds, and having brown eyes and brown hair. She was reportedly last seen wearing a black dress, tan duck boots, and black stockings.
Anyone with information regarding Aniah Blanchard’s whereabouts, or an accident involving her vehicle, is urged to contact the Auburn Police Division Detective Section at 334-501-3140 or the anonymous tip line at 334-246-1391.
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[Featured image: Aniah Blanchard/Auburn Police Department, Facebook]
