Second suspect arrested, charged in connection with Walt Harris’ missing stepdaughter
Photo courtesy of Walt Harris’ Instagram
A second suspect has been arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping in relation to the disappearance of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard, who is the stepdaughter of UFC heavyweight Walt Harris.
Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes confirmed to WRBL in Alabama that 35-year-old suspect Antwain “Squirmy” Fisher was arrested Friday night in Montgomery, Ala. and then booked into the Lee County Detention Facility on Saturday.
Fisher is being held without bond.
No additional information on Fisher’s arrest was available due to a gag order that has been issued regarding the case as the investigation into Blanchard’s disappearance continues.
Fisher is the second suspect arrested in the case after Ibraheem Yazeed, 30, was initially charged with first-degree kidnapping. Yazeed was apprehended by authorities in Florida and extradited back to Alabama where he made an initial court appearance earlier this week.
The judge in the case denied Yazeed bond after he was already out on bond in a separate case where he was charged with kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder.
Blanchard first went missing on the evening of Oct. 23 after she spoke to a friend before visiting a local convenience store in the Auburn, Ala. area. Yazeed was seen on surveillance footage in the store at the same time as Blanchard and a witness later came forward and identified him as the man he saw forcing the 19-year-old student into her car against her will.
Blanchard’s 2017 Honda CR-V was recovered two days later at an apartment complex in Montgomery, Ala. and forensic evidence showed that a “life threatening” amount of blood was discovered inside. Evidence was also recovered that showed a male was also in the vehicle after investigators declared that Blanchard was likely harmed and a victim of foul play.
At the time of Yazeed’s initial arrest, authorities stated that they expected additional suspects to be involved in Blanchard’s disappearance.
A reward totaling $105,000 including donations made by UFC president Dana White, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and prominent MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz have been offered for any information that would help find Blanchard.
Harris, a veteran UFC heavyweight, was originally scheduled to return to action on Dec. 7 but he dropped out of his bout to focus on the search for his missing stepdaughter.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Auburn Police Division Detective Section at 334-501-3140, the anonymous tip line at 334-246-1391 or the 24 hour non-emergency number at 334-501-3100.