AUBURN, Ala. — An Alabama district attorney said Monday that authorities have “good reason” to believe human remains that were found belong to the missing stepdaughter of UFC heavyweight fighter Walt Harris.
The remains were found on a county road in neighboring Macon County, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes told The Associated Press.
“I can confirm that human remains have been found in Macon County on County Road 2, and we have good reason to believe they are that of Aniah Blanchard,” Hughes said.
Police have arrested two people in the disappearance last month of the 19-year-old. She was last seen Oct. 23 in Auburn. After she disappeared, her black Honda CRV was found abandoned more than 50 miles (90 kilometers) away at an apartment complex in Montgomery, Alabama.
Auburn police detective Josh Mixon said Blanchard’s blood was found in the car and it appeared she had suffered a life-threatening injury. Mixon testified that convenience store video footage showed a man buying a beverage look over at Blanchard. He said tipsters later identified the man as Ibraheem Yazeed, 29, and a man at the store told investigators he saw Yazeed force Blanchard into her car and drive away.
Police have arrested Yazeed and a second man, 35-year-old Antwain Shamar Fisher of Montgomery, in Blanchard’s disappearance. In an arrest warrant filed with the court Monday, police said Fisher helped Yazeed by disposing of evidence and driving him.
Harris decided last not month not to compete against Alistair Overeem in the scheduled UFC Washington headliner Dec. 7 due to Blanchard’s disappearance.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.