A 21-year-old Army soldier stationed in Alaska, Zarrius Hildabrand, has been apprehended and charged with murder following the discovery of his wife’s body in a storm drain in Anchorage. The Anchorage Police Department confirmed his arrest and detention at the Anchorage Jail on Friday. Hildabrand faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, as well as tampering with evidence. His bail has been set at $500,000.
The victim, Saria Hildabrand, also 21, was a combat medic with the Alaska National Guard. Her disappearance was reported on August 6, with her husband being the last person to see her alive. Zarrius reported her missing the day after she failed to return from her job at Bread & Brew Alaska, where she was supposed to walk to on the morning of her disappearance.
The discovery of Saria’s body in a storm drain led to the arrest of her husband. The shocking news has left the victim’s family and friends in disbelief. Meredith Barney, Saria’s mother, expressed her shock and dismay to the Anchorage Daily News, stating that Zarrius had participated in the search for her daughter, all the while knowing her fate.
Saria was described as a vibrant, caring individual by her loved ones on a GoFundMe page set up in her memory. She had relocated to Alaska at the start of the year with plans to enroll in college courses in the fall, harboring dreams of a career in the medical field.