By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-12 17:41:28 | Updated at 2026-06-12 23:41:38
6 hours ago
A young wife excitedly sent her friends pictures of the outfit she planned to wear on a night out, just hours before she was murdered and stuffed inside a drainpipe, a court has heard.
Zarrius Hildabrand, 24, of Alaska, allegedly killed his wife, Saria Hildabrand, 21, in their bed in August 2023, before hiding her body in a drainpipe, prosecutors said.
The 24-year-old is on trial in Anchorage for first-degree and second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence after pleading not guilty.
On Thursday, the jury heard that Saria was messaging a co-worker about what they were going to wear on the night of August 5, 2023 - which was her husband's birthday night out.
Elizabeth Crowther, who worked with Saria at Bread and Brew, told the court: 'She was honestly one of the most positive people I know.'
Another colleague Kaylonee Thompson took the stand and said her friend was 'very sweet, she would come help out, always happy, check in out people. Always happy, never a bad day with her.'
The jury also heard this week how police found a blood-soaked mattress in the couple's apartment.
There was so much blood that it soaked through to the carpet and into the wood frame, Law & Crime reported.
Zarrius Hildabrand, 24, of Alaska, allegedly killed his wife, Saria Hildabrand, 21, in their bed in August 2023, before hiding her body in a drainpipe
He now stands trial for the alleged crime. Investigators recalled finding a blood-soaked mattress that soaked to the floor instead their apartment
Hildabrand had originally denied allowing police to look under the mattress, claiming there were 'embarrassing' items, such as sex toys, underneath it. When police offered to turn their backs and allow him to remove them, he still denied them.
They discovered the blood after returning to the apartment with a warrant.
Police also discovered two handguns, including one that was missing a single bullet from its magazine.
They also noticed a pillow near a storm drain in the area, while using drone technology to search. Underneath the pillow, investigators found Saria's body shoved into the pipe.
She had a gunshot wound to the left temple.
Investigators also discovered that Hildabrand had purchased a mattress cover, hydrogen peroxide, and a 96-gallon trash bag the day of the shooting.
Hildabrand, who served in the Army, and his wife, who served in the Alaska National Guard, had gone out to celebrate his 21st birthday the night before on August 5.
The couple returned home around 2am and a neighbor reported hearing a single gunshot around 2.45am, Alaska News Source reported.
He told police that his wife left for work the next morning on foot, as she was hungover, and had left her phone behind.
However, friends told investigators they received a text message from her around 10.45am saying that she planned to call out of work. Hildabrand denied sending the message.
His defense team argued that Hildabrand awoke the morning after his celebrations to find his wife dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Saria was found in a nearby storm drain by police, who used drone technology. They found a pillow and found her body shoved in the pipe below
Hildabrand's defense have claimed Saria's shot herself and said his actions afterward were poor decisions made by a man when 'they're put in unthinkable circumstances'
Saria's mother, Meredith Barney, claimed Hildabrand 'lied' about knowing where she was and he spent hours searching for her daughter with her
They claimed his decisions afterward were poor decisions made by a man when 'they're put in unthinkable circumstances.'
'This case is a tragedy, it is heartbreaking, but it's not a murder,' public defender, Lacey Brewster, told the jury. The Daily Mail has reached out to Brewster for comment.
However, police audio played in court showed Hildabrand saying his wife was not suicidal or struggling.
Hildabrand also delayed reporting her missing to police by 36 hours, telling them that he tried to find her himself first.
Saria's mother, Meredith Barney, claimed Hildabrand 'lied' about knowing where she was.
She told Anchorage Daily News in 2023: 'He walked around for hours with me searching for my daughter knowing that she was dead. He lied to me multiple times and tried to play it off like he was a concerned husband.'
The couple had met at basic training, before marrying in December 2022.
Saria was a combat medic for the Alaska National Guard - and she moved from Utah to Alaska to be with her new husband six months before she died.
He was a cannon crewmember assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The trial will continue next week.
