US soldier jailed for 59 years for murdering wife and hiding body

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 08:44 · Archive

A former US Army soldier has been sentenced to 59 years in prison for shooting his wife and dumping her body in a storm drain.

Former US Army soldier Zarrius Hildabrand, 24, has been sentenced to 59 years in prison for the murder of his 21-year-old wife, Saria Hildabrand, in Anchorage, Alaska. The killing occurred in August 2023, hours after Hildabrand's 21st birthday celebrations, after prosecutors say his wife discovered messages revealing his infidelity. Hildabrand shot his wife in the head, then bought cleaning supplies and concealed her body in a storm drain near their apartment.

Rather than alerting authorities, Hildabrand filed a missing persons report and joined relatives, fellow soldiers and police officers in searching for his wife despite knowing she was dead. The New York Post reports that his lawyers attempted to argue during trial that Saria had taken her own life.

An Anchorage jury convicted Hildabrand in June of second-degree murder and two counts of tampering with physical evidence, though he was acquitted of first-degree murder. At sentencing on Friday, Judge Peter Ramgren condemned Hildabrand's conduct, saying he acted intentionally and showed an apparent lack of remorse throughout the investigation and trial, noting he 'never seemed to show concern for anyone other than himself'. Hildabrand will serve at least two-thirds of his 59-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

How it is being reported

• US Army soldier Zarrius Hildabrand sentenced to 59 years in prison for murdering wife, dumping her in storm drainA heinous US Army soldier who fatally shot his 21-year-old wife before joining her anguished family in search efforts despite knowing she was dead has been sentenced to 59 years in prison – and the killer was scolded for not showing concern for "anyone other than himself."New York Post · 27 Oct, 08:30
• US soldier is sent to jail for six decades for murdering wife, 21, and stuffing body down storm drainFormer US Army soldier Zarrius Hildabrand, 24, has been sentenced to 59 years in prison for shooting dead his 21-year-old wife, Saria, and dumping her body in a storm drain.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 05:25

In this story: Zarrius Hildabrand · Saria Hildabrand · Anchorage · Alaska · Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson · 11th Airborne Division

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem