Alabama
Man convicted of murder for 2019 death of Alabama college student Aniah Blanchard
TUSKEGEE, Ala. — A man was convicted of murder in the 2019 death of Alabama college student Aniah Blanchard, whose disappearance drew national attention, but the jury spared him a possible death sentence Thursday.
Jurors found Ibraheem Yazeed, 36, guilty of murdering 19-year-old Blanchard. Jurors convicted Yazeed of the lesser charges of murder and felony murder instead of capital murder, an offense that would have carried a possible death sentence
Blanchard, the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, was last seen Oct. 23, 2019, at a gas station in Auburn. Her body was found a month later in a wooded area in neighboring Macon County. She was a student at Southern Union Community College.
The case inspired two changes to Alabama law. Under what was named Aniah’s Law, judges were given more discretion to deny bond to people accused of violent crimes. Yazeed was out on bond at the time of Blanchard’s disappearance.
Gov. Kay Ivey also signed legislation last year to allow visiting judges to handle violent criminal cases to get them to trial more quickly. The legislation was approved after the murder case languished for several years without a trial.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he was disappointed the Yazeed will not face a possible death sentence but will seek a life sentence for him
“I pledge to do everything in my power to ensure that Ibraheem Yazeed spends the rest of his life in prison. I believe that is what justice demands in this case. Aniah deserves it, as does her family,” Marshall said.
Defense attorney William Whatley told reporters that the case has been plagued with false information and misstatements “rising to almost the level of a lynch mob to get Mr. Yazeed on this capital murder charge.”
Alabama
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Alabama
ESPN’s Jay Bilas makes prediction for Alabama in NCAA Tournament
The Tide will enter the NCAA Tournament following an overall record of 23-9 this season.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will face the Hofstra Pride in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon.
Alabama will enter the tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region following an overall record of 23-9 throughout the 2025-26 regular season campaign. There are some across college basketball who believe that Alabama could be a sleeping giant in the tournament, despite being listed as a four seed, one of which is ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
Bilas also recently revealed his predictions for the Midwest Region, as the analyst picks Alabama to defeat both Hofstra and Texas Tech while advancing to the Sweet 16.
The Tide have been widely regarded as a top team in the nation for the majority of the regular season. Bilas’ prediction has Alabama’s season ending in the Sweet 16 vs. Michigan, but the Tide have proven to have the ability to defeat anyone should they continue shooting at an elite level.
Alabama will face Hofstra on Friday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. CT, as the Tide will look to make a run throughout the NCAA Tournament.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Alabama
University of Alabama student James Gracey reported missing after night out in Spain during spring break trip
A University of Alabama student has been reported missing following a night out with friends during a spring break trip to Spain, his family said.
James Paul Gracey, 20, was hanging out at Barcelona’s world-famous club, Shoko, on Tuesday, while visiting friends who are studying abroad in the Spanish city, before he vanished, his mother wrote on Facebook.
Therese Gracey said her son, who goes by Jimmy, was last seen by a friend inside the club at around 3 a.m. The friend had left the hotspot for the night, but Gracey had decided to stay.
Gracey failed to return to the residence he was staying, his mother said.
“The police have his phone but he didn’t make it back to the air bnb. Has anyone see him?” Therese Gracey pleaded to the “Students in Barcelona 2026” Facebook group.
Gracey, from Elmhurst, Illinois, is an honors accounting junior at the University of Alabama, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The school confirmed Gracey is a student at the Tuscaloosa school, but was on a personal trip at the time of his disappearance, according to ABC 33/40.
He was last seen wearing a white shirt, dark pants and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross.
Gracey announced in October that he was elected to serve as the chaplain of the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity.
Fellow college students had reported seeing Gracey and were urging his family to reach out to local politicians and embassy officials to increase the manpower in the search for him.
Shoko was named the seventh best club in the world and best nightclub in Barcelona for 2025, according to Nightlife International.
The club offers award-winning cuisine being served on the Barcelona seafront, with the establishment “redefining nightlife with exclusive experiences” in the city.
Louisville, Kentucky, EDM artist Daniel Allan was headlining live music at the club Monday night.
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