US Army soldier Zarrius Hildabrand emotionless as he’s convicted of killing wife, covering up her death

An ex-US Army soldier, Zarrius Hildabrand, was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Saria Barney Hildabrand, in an Alaska courtroom. The 23-year-old faces up to 99 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and evidence tampering, though he was acquitted of first-degree murder. Saria, a combat medic in the Alaska National Guard, was shot dead in the early hours of August 6, 2023, following her 21st birthday celebration.

During the trial, Hildabrand claimed that his wife may have taken her own life or died accidentally, but prosecutors argued that he shot her after she discovered explicit messages hinting at his infidelity. Saria had taken screenshots of these conversations as proof. Hildabrand, while testifying, admitted to cheating on his wife and expressed fear of losing his family and going to jail for a crime he couldn’t remember committing.

The killer confessed to tampering with evidence, including hiding his wife’s body in a storm drain after cleaning up the crime scene. He even went as far as sending messages from Saria’s phone to her colleagues, pretending she was ill and unable to show up for work. Despite knowing she was dead, he participated in search efforts and issued missing person appeals.

Prosecutor Brittany Dunlop accused Hildabrand of acting impulsively and intentionally, calling his selective amnesia a coward’s way out of the truth. A fellow Army member, Logan Calhoun, testified that Hildabrand was heavily intoxicated at the time of the murder. Hildabrand, who joined the Army in 2021 and was stationed in Alaska in 2022, showed no emotion as the jury’s verdict was read in court.

The sentencing for Hildabrand is scheduled for October 23, where he could face a lengthy prison term for his crimes. The tragic case of Saria Barney Hildabrand serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and betrayal within relationships.