Key witness recounts traveling with Aniah Blanchard’s murder suspect to area where her body was found

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WSFA) - Three days of witness testimony in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed has seen 17 people called to the stand.

The longest by far was that of Antwon “Squirmy” Fisher, the man who ultimately led authorities to Aniah Blanchard’s remains more than a month after she disappeared.

Fisher’s testimony began shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning and lasted until the court broke for for lunch around noon.

He provided a graphic, albeit heavily scrutinized account of travelling with Yazeed to the place where he allegedly dumped Aniah’s body the day after she was last seen alive.

Wednesday’s proceedings began with a short clash over whether Fisher should be allowed to testify.

The defense argued that Fisher had reasons to lie and his past - including a murder conviction from around 20 years ago - should also be considered via rule 609.

In that rule, which can allow for the impeachment of a witness by evidence of a criminal conviction, there is a limit on using a conviction as evidence after 10 years.

Since Fisher’s conviction was around 20 years ago, presiding Judge Tom Young weighed that the usefulness of Fisher’s testimony outweighed the factors of possible prejudice and allowed Fisher to testify.

Witness testimony from Wednesday’s session

Antwon “Squirmy” Fisher

Fisher, who served time in jail for obstruction of justice in this case, admitted that he initially did not tell law enforcement where Aniah’s body was.

He opened his testimony by recalling his day on Oct. 23, 2019. Fisher said he got off work at around 3 a.m. the morning of Oct. 24 and went to his father-in-law’s house where he, his ex-wife and children were staying that night.

When he got home, Fisher said he fell asleep, but woke up shortly after hearing his father-in-law, David Johnson Jr. (“Big Dave”), talking to Yazeed. Big Dave then gave Fisher the keys to his truck after Fisher said he would give Yazeed a ride.

Fisher said Yazeed was shirtless and was wearing only gym shorts and socks when he arrived at the house.

Fisher said he noticed a black SUV parked near a neighbor’s house, which Yazeed claimed belonged to one of his “h*es” and was out of gas.

The two went to a service station on Wares Ferry road, at which time Fisher admitted to taking Xanax and Percocet given to him by Yazeed.

From the service station, the two went back to Big Dave’s house to retrieve a gas can before returning to the station to buy $2 worth of gas for the car.

Fisher said he then followed Yazeed, who drove the black SUV, to an apartment complex on Atlanta Highway where they left the car.

Fisher’s testimony continued with a trip to a neighborhood near Montgomery’s Day Street. From the neighborhood, they went into an industrial area. Fisher stated that he remained in the vehicle while Yazeed got out and began fumbling near the truck bed.

The pair’s next stop, according to Fisher, was Montgomery’s Westgate community. Fisher added that Yazeed went into a residence and came out wearing flip flops.

While leaving Westgate, Fisher said he was starting to feel very intoxicated, and Yazeed took the wheel as he headed north on I-85.

From here, Fisher said his memory was blurry, but he recalled waking up behind a small church off a dirt road with a cemetery.

Fisher stated he never got out of the truck at the church but saw Yazeed going into the woods “dragging something.” Fisher testified that whatever Yazeed was dragging was wrapped up, and that he saw boots peeking out.

When Yazeed got back in the truck, Fisher said Yazeed told him, “I’ll make sure it doesn’t touch you or your family,” and when Fisher asked him “Why” he says Yazeed replied, “I f*****d up.”

According to Fisher, Yazeed explained to him that he “was with a young lady, tussled with her, and the gun went off,” hitting her once in the head.

Yazeed then directed Squirmy to the Plasma Center on Atlanta Highway, where he called someone to pick him up. At this point, the two men parted ways.

After this, Fisher said he returned home.

He testified that Yazeed showed up at the house a few days later, during which time, he put his finger to his mouth and told Squirmy to “Hush.” Squirmy told prosecutors he believed Yazeed was threatening to kill him if he said anything to authorities. Fisher said this is why he did not initially tell police what had happened.

Defense’s cross examination

The defense attacked Fisher’s credibility through an aggressive cross examination, making him re-tell much of his timeline.

The defense repeatedly questioned Fisher about his interactions with disgraced former District Attorney Brandon Hughes, suggesting that Hughes had promised to “take care of” Fisher in exchange for his cooperation.

Fisher denied that this had happened.

When presented with interview transcripts from the Auburn Police Department seeming to document these claims, Fisher maintained that he had no recollection of Hughes promising him leniency.

The acquaintance Yazeed met at the plasma center

A longtime acquaintance of Yazeed testified that the two of them had travelled to Auburn in Yazeed’s red van to see her mother a day or two before Aniah’s disappearance.

On Oct. 23, the acquaintance said Yazeed dropped her off at her grandmother’s house and left to Columbus to find work for her mother. That’s the last time she says she saw Yazeed before meeting up with him at the plasma center.

The acquaintance testified that once the pair left, they went to Yazeed’s father’s house off of Montgomery’s Mobile Hwy.

David Johnson III (“Lil Dave”)

Johnson, who showed up in an orange jumpsuit, is currently serving 188 months in a Georgia federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine.

He testified that in October of 2019, Yazeed (who he has known for decades) called him asking for a ride to an Atmore casino. They got gas, and then returned to Hope Hull, where Johnson says he had a motel room.

About a week later, Johnson said he learned Yazeed was a wanted man when scrolling social media. Not long after this, Johnson says Yazeed asked him for a ride “somewhere.”

The two traveled south on I-65 toward Mobile according to Johnson, who added that Yazeed had a gun in his lap.

During the ride, Johnson says Yazeed told him “I f****d up,” and before Yazeed could explain further, Johnson told Yazeed to “keep it between him and God.”

Yazeed, according to Johnson, directed him to pull off at an exit in Florida and he got out at a hotel.

The defense attempted to discredit Johnson’s testimony as well, pointing to his criminal record and implying that he was fabricating events to please the state in an attempt to reduce his prison sentence.

Johnson stated that he had not spoken to his lawyer about having his sentence reduced for testifying.

Auburn police detective

The final witness called to the stand was a narcotics detective with the Auburn Police Department.

The officer, who worked on the investigation in 2019, testified about photographing the crime scene, including the wooded area where Aniah’s remains were eventually discovered.

The defense did not cross examine the officer, closing out the day’s testimony.

Proceedings will continue on Thursday at 9 a.m.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!