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TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Jury selection in the trial of Ibraheem Yazeed, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard in 2019, is expected to wrap up Friday.
The process is now in its fifth day at the Macon County Courthouse, where officials anticipate seating a final jury and moving the case toward opening statements. Yazeed briefly greeted reporters Friday morning—his first public words during selection—simply saying, “Good morning.”
Since Monday, attorneys have screened a large pool of potential jurors, narrowing it down through individual questioning about pretrial publicity and personal hardships. By Thursday evening, the group had been sharply reduced to those deemed capable of remaining impartial despite the case’s widespread attention.
Both sides are expected to use their peremptory strikes Friday, eliminating remaining prospects until 12 jurors and 4 alternates are selected. Once the jury is sworn in, the trial will move into its evidentiary phase.
Yazeed is charged with three counts of capital murder—during a kidnapping, during a robbery, and involving a victim in a vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty.
Blanchard, a college student from Auburn, disappeared from a convenience store in October 2019. Her remains were found a month later in rural Macon County, sparking national coverage and outpouring of support for her family.
If jury selection concludes by midday Friday as expected, opening statements could begin as soon as Monday morning, according to WTVM.
