A man who said he witnessed the kidnapping of Aniah Blanchard later cried with remorse over not having come forward sooner, an Auburn police detective testified today.

Ibraheem Yazeed, 29, is charged with kidnapping in Blanchard’s Oct. 23 disappearance in Auburn.

The testimony came as Lee County District Judge Russell Bush today held a preliminary hearing in the disappearance of the 19-year-old college student who was last seen four weeks ago today.

Bush sent the case to a grand jury. The judge ordered Yazeed to be held without bond and to submit to a DNA mouth swab sample, as requested by prosecutors.

Yazeed attended the hearing in white jail clothes and handcuffs and was represented by attorney Elijah Beaver. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes and Assistant DA Garrett Saucer spoke for the prosecution.

Also in the courtroom were Blanchard’s mother Angela Harris and stepfather Walt Harris, as well as her father Elijah Blanchard and stepmother Yashiba Blanchard. They left the courthouse without speaking to reporters. Bush has issued a gag order in the case.

Auburn police detective Josh Mixon was the only witness to testify during the half-hour hearing.

Mixon, in response to questions from Hughes, described how Yazeed was identified as the suspect based on surveillance video from the Chevron store on South College Street in Auburn, where Blanchard was last seen.

Mixon said the video showed that Yazeed entered the store and was at the counter paying for an alcoholic beverage when he looked over his shoulder at Blanchard as she walked past.

Mixon testified that the video showed a man wearing a blue jean jacket who entered the Chevron the same time as Yazeed. Investigators tracked down that man, who said he saw Yazeed forcing Blanchard into her vehicle, a black 2017 Honda CRV, and drive away.

“He observes Yazeed forcing Blanchard into her vehicle against her will,” Mixon said.

Yazeed’s lawyer, Beaver, questioned Mixon closely on the witness, who has not been publicly identified. Mixon said he was staying at a nearby hotel and walked into the store at roughly the same time as Yazeed. The witness, Mixon said, had seen Yazeed previously. Mixon said the witness returned to the hotel after witnessing the kidnapping, and told a female companion about it.

Mixon also testified that the witness’ female companion recently suffered a miscarriage, and that he felt remorse about not coming forward earlier. He said the witness later cried over his delay in talking to police.

“She told him it was none of his business and to stay out of it,” Mixon said.

Beaver asked Mixon about the witness' criminal history. Mixon said he had reviewed it and that "all I saw was a few misdemeanors."

Beaver also said that it was “important” to identify the witness. Hughes suggested in response that they were concerned about witness intimidation, which Beaver objected to.

Beaver said Yazeed had been charged for felonies previously that did not result in indictments and said it was important that the defense know the identity of the witness. Hughes said the witness’s identity would be known if the case went to trial.

Bush decided not to require the state to name the witness for the purposes of the preliminary hearing.

28 days since anyone last saw Blanchard

According to an affidavit by Mixon, Blanchard was last seen by a family member the evening of Oct. 23 at a residence in the 1000 block of Alan Avenue in Auburn.

She last communicated with a friend late on the night of Oct. 23. Police said her vehicle was seen in the early-morning hours of Oct. 24 along South College Street.

The Southern Union College student from Homewood was officially reported missing Oct. 24.

Mixon’s testimony today covered some previously released information, including about the discovery of Blanchard’s Honda CRV at an apartment complex on the 6100 block of Boardwalk Boulevard in Montgomery around 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 25. A citizen reported the vehicle to police.

Mixon restated on the witness stand what was shown in charging documents against Yazeed -- that blood evidence was discovered in the passenger’s compartment of the vehicle and was “indicative of someone suffering a life-threatening injury.” The evidence was submitted to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and confirmed to be that of Blanchard.

Yazeed’s lawyer, Beaver, asked Mixon if any evidence found in the vehicle had been linked to Yazeed. Mixon said none had at this point. Prosecutors said said DNA evidence from a male had been found in the vehicle.

Prosecutors requested that Yazeed submit a DNA sample. Saucer said DNA evidence from a male had been found in the vehicle.

Beaver objected to the request, but Bush ordered Yazeed to submit it.

Yazeed was taken into custody about 10:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, off the I-10 Pine Forest Road exit in Escambia County, Florida. He was arrested after a brief foot pursuit.

After he was extradited to Alabama, Yazeed made his initial appearance in a Lee County courtroom Sunday, Nov. 12, before Bush. The proceedings were closed to reporters.

The judge at that time issued a gag order in the case. Several media companies have filed a motion seeking to have that gag order lifted.

Bush also ordered Yazeed be held without bond.

Yazeed’s attorney, Beaver, has requested that bond be granted, saying Yazeed’s life was being threatened and that he was innocent of past charges he has faced.

Hughes opposed that request, noting that when Blanchard disappeared Yazeed was out on bond on kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder charges stemming from a January 2019 incident in Montgomery.

Bush has set a Dec. 4 hearing to consider arguments about the gag order.

Beaver said the defense did not oppose the gag order but questioned whether it was being fairly enforced, noting that Blanchard’s mother and stepfather appeared on the Dr. Phil television show. Beaver said he was concerned that could influence potential jurors and affect Yazeed’s chances of getting a fair trial.

Hughes said it’s understandable that Blanchard’s parents and step parents are speaking out.

“Grieving parents are trying to find their little girl,” he told the judge.

Bush said he expects the gag order to be followed. He said he would take the arguments on the gag order today under advisement and address them at the Dec. 4 hearing.

There is $105,000 in reward money for information in Blanchard’s disappearance.

Anyone with information about Blanchard’s disappearance or how the vehicle was damaged, is asked to call police at 334-501-3140, the anonymous tip line at 334-246-1391 or the 24-hour non-emergency number at 334-501-3100.

Tips to Crime Stoppers can be made through the 24-hour tip line at 215-STOP (7867), through the P3-tips app, on the web at www.215STOP.com or via the Central Alabama Crime Stoppers Facebook page.

This article contains material written by The Montgomery Advertiser and distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Updated at 10:23 a.m. to clarify it was not clear if Yazeed’s family was present. Updated at 11:50 a.m. to add more information from Detective Josh Mixon’s testimony.