David Lee Johnson Jr., 63, was arrested and charged on Monday with hindering prosecution after authorities discovered he knew his son allegedly drove Aniah Blanchard kidnapping suspect Ibraheem Yazeed to Florida, court records show.
Court records show that Auburn Police and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force visited Johnson Jr.’s home on Nov. 7 on a tip that Yazeed was there earlier. They were told by Johnson Jr. that Yazeed left his home with a woman, whose identity was unknown to him.
Yazeed was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with first-degree kidnapping in Pensacola, Florida.
Johnson Jr.’s son, David Lee Johnson III, according to the records was an “associate” of Yazeed. Investigators later learned on Nov. 8 from Johnson III by written statement that he knew Yazeed was wanted and gave him a lift from Montgomery to Pensacola, Florida via his 2008 Audi Sedan.
The authorities then returned to Johnson Jr.’s home on Nov. 10, where he confessed to knowing Yazeed was wanted and that he did see him and his son leave together.
No charges have been registered against the younger Johnson III, but Johnson Jr., has since been released from the Montgomery County jail on $7,500 USD bond.
Johnson Jr.’s arrest marks the third person connected with Aniah Blanchard’s case.
Yazeed and Antwain Shamar Fisher are the other two suspects charged. Yazeed’s case was sent to the grand jury, while Fisher was released on $50,000 USD bond while his case continues. Both cases have gag orders which continue to be in effect.
On Monday, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes confirmed that human remains found Monday morning in Macon County were likely those of Blanchard, who has been missing since Oct. 23.
