Zarrius Hildabrand faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in the death of his 21-year-old wife, Saria Barney. Both the defendant and the victim served in the military. Hildabrand was a soldier in the U.S. Army assigned to work in Alaska, while Barney was a combat medic in the Alaska Army National Guard. Saria Barney was found dead in a storm drain along a trail near her Anchorage on August 10, 2023. Zarrius Hildabrand was arrested the following day. The newlyweds were out late celebrating Zarrius’ birthday on August 5, 2023 and returned to their Anchorage home at 2am. the next day. At around 2:45am, a neighbor reported hearing a gunshot. Zarrius claimed that Saria was hungover from the previous night and decided to walk to Bread and Brew, her workplace, about a mile away, between 9 and 10am, adding that she didn’t bring her phone. Saria's colleagues, however, told police they received a text from her phone at 10:45am saying she was calling out of work. Zarrius has denied sending the text. When a co-worker texted back advising Saria to check in with her boss, she did not respond. Police say that Zarrius allegedly bought new bedding, hydrogen peroxide, and a 96-gallon trash can with wheels. A police drone search eventually discovered evidence that led to Saria’s body, which authorities say had been concealed with a pillow. Saria had a gunshot wound to her left temple. After obtaining a warrant, investigators searched the Hildabrands' apartment, and when they lifted a mattress, they described it as 'saturated by human blood' and 'There was so much blood on the mattress that the blood soaked through onto the carpet and into the wood frame'. More blood was in the bathtub and on some of the floors. Blood was also found in a trash can adjacent to the local trail where Saria's body was discovered. The first-degree murder charge carries a maximum penalty of 99 years in prison.