Aniah's Law could have prevented death of Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — Everyone in Alabama knows her name. Aniah Blanchard was kidnapped and murdered back in 2019.

Her accused murderer is Ibraheem Yazeed. At the time of Blanchard’s murder, he was out on bond for an earlier kidnapping.

Last year, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill named after Aniah; giving judges the choice to deny bail to people accused of violent crimes-

In November, voters will decide if it should become law.

Aniah’s Law could prevent future violent offenders from getting out and committing more violent crimes- like Austin Hall, who had an extensive criminal history and was out on probation when he killed Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson.

“It’s been said that a coward dies 1,000 deaths but a hero gets one. Brad Johnson's a hero,” said Bibb County Sheriff

Michael Jackson is the Bibb County District Attorney. He says Hall had prior charges including assault, property theft, burglary and assaulting a police officer. In April, Hall was released on bond following another arrest.

Now charged with capital murder, Jackson says Hall shouldn't be allowed on the streets again.

“We’re going to ask for a super high bond. Outside the bond sketch because doing this to law enforcement, you know you probably need to expect a super high bond and we’re going to ask that of the judge,” said Jackson.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson is among those encouraging people to vote for Aniah's Law in November. Stimpson pointed to the uptick in violence in Mobile, many of the crimes police say was committed by gang members.

The mayor says it's time to keep criminals in jail, saying 13 of the 44 gang-affiliated suspects arrested since January are back on the streets and released on bond.