Military Wife Killer Drops Shocking Bombshells in Murder Case

When I got that original phone call, I. ended that phone call and literally. looked at my husband at the time and. said, "He killed her." I knew. immediately. A mother's greatest fear is. confirmed as her daughter's new husband. is found [music] guilty of killing her. in their Alaska apartment before dumping. her body in a storm drain. >> We, the jury, find the defendant, Zaryus. Hildebrand, [music] guilty. I had the. chance to speak with Sariah Barney. Hildebrand's mother after the verdict. and to ask her about Zarya Hildebrand's.

[music]. bizarre behavior both on and off the. witness stand. >> My plan was to I had the body of my wife. and clean up the blood off the mattress. in the surrounding areas. >> Welcome to Sidebar presented by Law and. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. By the way, if you're watching this. [music] and you're into content creation. or you're putting things out on social. media, you might be wondering, how do we. share all of these clips so quickly on. all these stories? Well, we use. something called Opus Clip. So, Opus. Clip is an all-in-one AI editor that.

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to get a free week and then 50% off. A. US Army soldier in Alaska has been. convicted of killing his new wife, shooting her after a night out. celebrating his 21st birthday. Jury. found Zaryus Hild debrand guilty of a. lesser charge of secondderee murder. after about 10 hours of deliberation. We. first told you about this case. We first. told you about Hild Debrand and his wife. Sariah in the leadup to his trial. We. gave you a preview of what this was. going to look like. But over the course. of two weeks, we learned many shocking.

new details about their relationship and. specifically about Hildebrand himself. When Hildebrand opted to take the stand. in his own defense, that was a sight to. see. Testified about everything from. cheating on his wife to disturbing phone. searches. It was all on full display. August 2023, Hild Debrand reported that. his wife, 21-year-old Sariah, was. missing. The couple, both members of the. military community, they had just. married the previous December. Hildebrand served with the 11th Airborne.

Division at Joint Base Elondorf. Richardson. Sariah was a member of the. Alaska Army National Guard serving as a. combat medic. She also worked at a local. restaurant called Bread and Brew. And. then go to Saturday, August 5th. They. went out with friends to celebrate. Zaryus Hildebrand's 21st birthday. But. when he was denied entry to a bar for. being too drunk, according to. investigators and the prosecution, the. couple apparently went home to their. apartment. The next day, that Sunday, Sarah was supposed to go to her. restaurant job, but never made it. Hildebrand finally reported her missing.

that Monday. There was a lot in this. story that just didn't add up. For. example, Hildebrand claimed that when. Sariah left the apartment, apparently. opting to walk rather than drive, she. left her cell phone behind. But then. Sariah's co-workers later received a. message on her phone saying she had to. call out sick. So, how could she have. sent that message if she was already on. her way out and her phone was back at. the apartment? According to a criminal. complaint, Hildebrand denied sending the. text, but really couldn't explain how. they fit the timeline that he gave. police. Multiple search parties were.

formed with members of the military, community volunteers, Sarah's mom, Meredith Barney joining the search, and. we got a chance to speak to her, too. Again, I'm going to play you that. interview. But Hild Debrand himself also. joined the searches. That was also. another interesting component about that. because in hindsight, witnesses. testified that he didn't react to the. situation in any way that you would. expect the husband in that situation to. react. And after several days, a drone. operator combing the area from overhead.

directed searchers to a storm drain. And. that is where Sariah's body was found, stuffed inside, gunshot wound to the. head. That would be confirmed by an. autopsy. During opening statements at. trial, prosecutors argued that the. couple they fought when they returned to. the apartment reportedly because Sarah. had discovered that Zary Hildebrand was. having an affair. And the prosecution. said the fight ended in murder. Now, the. defense, they did something interesting. They admitted, look, Hildebrand, yeah, he cleaned up the blood. He hit Sarah's.

body, but he didn't kill her. No. His. attorneys argue that Hildebrand was. drunk, exhausted, fell asleep, and then. woke up to find his wife dead from an. accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. That was the defense's theory. Now, I'm. gonna play you this whole interview, but. I just want to play you a portion of. this because again, I sat down with. Meredith Barney, Sarah's mom, and I. asked her about Zarya Hildebrand, what. he was like as a person, how he behaved.

after his new bride was supposedly. missing, and what the guilty verdict. means for her quest for justice. >> There was multiple times we were. supposed to meet with him that he. ghosted or he had an excuse. Um there. was a point when me and my sister were. like, "We're gonna go search in the. woods." And he said, "Oh, don't go. without me. Let me grab my gun before we. go." And we were like, "Hard pass. We're. going to be okay. We don't need you to.

come with us with a gun." Right? Because. I already had this suspicion in me. And. so like all the things that we did was. coming from that perspective. And you. know also I need to stay his friend, right? So that was probably the most. difficult thing is I needed to try to. stay where him feeling supported in case. something slipped and trying to be. engaging with him and supportive to him. even though like I didn't trust a single.

thing he said. That's why that's why. when me and my sister went on the search. party with him at one point we let him. lead us so that we would look for where. he didn't take us. But the reality is is. it doesn't change anything for me. Doesn't bring my daughter back. It. doesn't give me a sense of relief. It. just means he's going to be held. accountable. But it doesn't like my life. is still the same. She's still gone. >> Okay. Okay, so again, we're going to. have more of that very emotional.

interview coming up in just a few. minutes. But before we even get to that, to put it into context, I want to talk. about one of the most unexpected parts. of the trial. Zaryas Hildebrand, the. defendant, chose to take the stand in. his own defense. It's always a. defendant's option. It's a defendant's. choice whether to do that. This is a. decision though that left him open to. scathing cross-examination by the. prosecution. But on direct examination, meaning when Hildebran's defense. attorney was asking about questions and. asking about his early life in the. foster care system and his history with. alcohol, this is what he had to say.

>> When you drink heavily, you said. sometimes you blacked out. You recall. that? >> Yes. >> Or you recall waking up and not knowing. what happened. >> Yes. >> Would you ever watch videos of yourself. doing things you don't remember doing? >> Occasionally, yes. I would typically go. through my phone after a night where I. didn't remember what happened and that's. my usually what my routine was. >> And. did you ever with besides draout.

blackout drinking when you drink a lot? What would normally happen? >> Usually find somewhere to go to sleep. Have you ever slept hard through. something while you were drinking? >> Uh, yeah. When I decide I want to lay. down, the pretty much the only thing. that's going to wake me up is myself. Uh, like I will wake up when I want to. >> And the defense also addressed what the. prosecution said led up to this deadly.

altercation between Hilda Brand and his. wife. The fact that he was cheating on. her. >> I want to talk a little bit more about. your relationship with Sarah. I specifically want to talk about a girl. named Cheyenne. >> Okay. >> Sorry. Who is Cheyenne? >> Um, she was a woman I was having an. affair with. She lived back in Kentucky. >> How did you meet her? >> Um, we met when I was younger before um. I left for the army. >> How did. you communicate with Cheyenne?

>> Um, we communicated on Snapchat. >> When did you start talking to Cheyenne. on Snapchat? Um, initially probably around 2020. and then we kind of fell off and then. reconnected in 2023. >> What month. >> did we reconnect? >> Yeah. >> Um, March, April. >> When you were married to Sariah,

correct? >> Yes, ma'am. Did you. ever. have a conversation or were you ever. confronted about Cheyenne. >> by Sariah? >> No. >> Were there other girls besides Cheyenne? >> Just once? Yes. >> Did Sariah ever confront you with.

suspicions that you were cheating on. her? Yes. >> And. when was that? >> Um, that would have been in around April. or May of 2023. >> How can you remember that date? >> How? >> Yeah. >> Um, I tend to. use when I go out to the field to kind. of date my years. And we had just. recently gone came back from the field.

>> So, when when was. When did you go to the field last in. 2023? >> Um, July of 2023. >> And before the July 2023 field. training, when was the time that you'd. been out before that? >> Um, February into March of 2023. It was a. pretty big training exercise. >> How many weeks was it? >> Five.

>> Where was it? It was I'm going to say. Fairbanks because I don't really know. the interior very well, but it was I. remember my phone locating it at the. North Pole. >> Did you take your phone with you to the. training? >> Uh, I had it on me, but like once we. It's called going into the box. The. phones were kind of left off because it. was a very serious training environment. And did Sariah confront you about her. suspicions of cheating after your.

February March field training in. Fairbanks? >> She did. >> How did that conversation go? Um, she. basically just wanted to know. what was going on and why and just. normal why are you cheating on me. questions. >> Did you feel guilty? >> Yes. >> But you stopped you kept talking to. Cheyenne. >> I did. >> Why? Why would you do that?

>> Um, because I felt it would have been. suspicious if I just stopped talking to. her in general. So, I tried to wind it. down slowly that way it looked less. suspicious on Cheyenne's end. >> Did Cheyenne know you were married? >> I I don't believe so. No. >> And Hilderbr made some, I would say, stunning admissions from the stand, including that he searched for. pornography or went on these websites on. his phone after finding his wife.

>> I want to talk to you about some of the. things we've heard in this trial about. what you were doing on your phone. >> Yes, ma'am. Were. you at any point in this time looking at. pornography on your phone? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Why were you doing that? I. was attempting to find.

comfort. in things that previously provided it. for me. And is pornography something that you. had found comfort in in the past? >> Yes, ma'am.

Is alcohol something you had found. comfort in in the past? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Were you drinking in this time period? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Why were you drinking? I just did not want to be. sober. >> Yeah. Hildebrand laid out exactly what.

he says he did after he reportedly woke. up and found Sariah dead next to him. >> My plan was to. hide the body of my wife and then clean. up the blood off the mattress in the. surrounding area. So, I'm going to approach with state. exhibit 36. Do you recognize date of 36?

>> Yes, ma'am. >> What is that? >> It's a receipt from Fred Myers of items. I purchased. >> What did you purchase? >> Um, hydrogen peroxide, uh, deodorant, a spray bottle, and then. Q-tips. What did you buy this one for? >> Um, the hydrogen peroxide and the sprayer. were to help with cleaning up the.

surrounding areas in the mattress. And. then I just needed deodorant and Q-tips. >> What is going through? What time of of. day was that purchase, Zarius? >> Um, evening. The beginning of the. evening. 6 612 is what the receipt says. >> And what's going through your head when. you're going to Fredmire to get those. items? >> Um,

a [clears throat] lot of. just. like. I was a lot of numbness. I just didn't. know what to feel. I felt everything. And. I just knew that the the next day was. going to be rough. >> Why?

>> Because I. had to. hide [snorts]. hide my wife's body and then clean up. the surrounding area in our bedroom. And. it just I knew it wasn't going to be. easy. Like mentally, I knew it was going to be. difficult. Where did you go after you went to. Fredmire? >> Um, I think I went back to my apartment.

>> What did you do? Um, at that point I started to look for. [clears throat]. I started to look for I started to think. about how I was going to move move my. wife's body. >> What's going through your head? >> Um, she.

I remember feeling nauseous. Oh, I. remember feeling guilt, shame, [clears throat]. and so like like I said previous so many. emotions that they were all just like. numbing me. >> Did you feel alone? >> Yeah, I. Yeah, I just I felt. like I just had nothing. No one.

Do you remember if you went anywhere. after you came back to the apartment. from Fred Meyer? >> Yes, ma'am. I went to Lowe's. Let's approach with state exhibit 266.

>> Sorry. Do you recognize states exhibit. 266? >> Yes, ma'am. >> What is state exhibit 266? Um, it is a. receipt. for a trash can. >> What kind? >> Um, a 96gallon black two- wheeled trash. can. >> What day was that purchase made? >> Um,

at 8:11 on August 6th. >> Did you do that? Did you buy that? >> Yes, ma'am. I I bought the trash can. >> And why did you buy the garbage can? um to help move my wife's body. >> Are you feeling numb still.

>> at this time? >> I don't know if numbs right. Emotional. overload is what I would say is a better. description. And you did you go home? >> Yes, ma'am. >> After you went to Lowe's? >> Yes, ma'am. >> What did you start doing? >> I. started cleaning up my apartment. >> Your apartment? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Where did you start cleaning?

around the bed at first. and and. then I I move my wife into the trash can. and that's when I started to clean up. the bed. >> How did you feel in that moment, Darius?

>> It felt so disrespectful. just disrespect and just. at that point I'm starting to get a. little angry at myself. Um just. say disrespect anger and then more. shame, more betrayal. But then you go to. cross-examination. During. cross-examination, the prosecutor got Hildebrand to admit. something very critical that he doesn't.

know for sure if he's the one who. actually pulled the trigger or not. >> You testified that you went through this. elaborate lie of your wife being missing. and telling everybody that that she was. missing because otherwise people would. assume the worst. >> Yes, ma'am. >> What's the worst? of the situation I'm in now. >> What is the worst? >> Going to jail,

they would assume that you murdered your. wife. >> Yes. >> Okay. And you have testified that after. you were at Willawa essentially, you. have no memory of the evening. Yes. >> Okay. That gun's a allowed gun to shoot. >> Say again. >> That gun is allowed gun to shoot. I. >> mean, relatively.

to a normal person, yes. >> Okay. Um, what do you mean to a normal person? um. to someone who. didn't shoot artillery. Okay. >> Say the sound of a 9 mil is loud, but. >> you went to bed next to your wife. I can't tell you for sure cuz I don't.

remember. >> Okay. Um. and you have no idea what happened until. the next morning. >> Yes, ma'am. despite the neighbor more. than you know 80 feet away hearing that. weapon. >> destruction argument. >> Okay. How do you know, sir, that she. didn't confront you with those Instagram. and Snapchat messages and you didn't put. the gun to her head and tell her you. were going to kill her? How do you know.

that you didn't pull the trigger? >> I don't. >> Okay. You don't know? >> No, ma'am. You want the jury to believe. that she did this to herself? >> Objection. >> Overruled. >> It's not up to me what the jury. believes. >> Okay. Despite the fact that she was. otherwise happy in your marriage. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And planning for her future. >> Yes. >> And your future. >> Yeah. >> And tried to have a good evening with. you on your birthday.

>> Mhm. and had forgiven you for. text message infidelity in the past, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, you don't know that you didn't. kill her. >> So, can you restate that question? >> You don't know that you didn't kill her? >> Not sure how to answer that. There's a. lot of dos and don'ts. It's just a. complicated. Do you know if you pulled.

the trigger, sir? >> I do not. >> Okay. Because you don't remember. anything about her death. I want to get. to the morning when you wake up. >> Okay. >> You were soaked in blood. >> I was not. >> Okay. You've seen the photographs of the. mattress. >> I have. >> And you were laying in bed with her. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. You didn't call 911. >> Correct. >> You didn't take life-saving measures. >> No, I did not. Okay. You didn't run.

outside and ask for help. >> No. >> You didn't call her mom. You. >> did not. >> You didn't call her best friend. >> No. >> You didn't call her command. >> No. >> You started planning how to protect. yourself. >> I wouldn't phrase it that way, but. >> Okay. You started planning how to. dispose of her body.

>> I started planning on what I was going. to do next. >> A jury of 12 people, they were tasked to. determine whether Zaryius Hildebrand was. guilty or not guilty. He faced four. charges. Two counts of tampering with. evidence, one count of firstdegree. murder, lesser count of seconddegree. murder. And after about 10 hours of. deliberation, the jury had its verdict. Jay, will. >> you please rise? In the matter of the state of Alaska. versus Zarius Hildebrand, we the jury.

find the defendant Zerius Hildebrand not. guilty of murder in the first degree as. charged in count one. We the jury find the defendant Zaryus. Hildebrand guilty of a lesser included. offense of murder in the second degree. as charged in count one. We the jury find the defendant Zaryus. Hildebrand guilty of murder in the. second degree as charged in count two. We the jury find the defendant Zarius. Hildebrand guilty of tampering with. physical evidence as charged in count.

three. We the jury find the defendant Zarius. Hildebrand guilty of tampering with. physical evidence as charged in count. four. >> Hildebrand didn't seem to have much of a. reaction to the judge reading out the. verdict. He just stood there blinking. quickly. His sentencing is now scheduled. for October 23rd and under Alaska law he. faces a sentence of between 15 and 99. years in prison. So, as I said, I had. the chance to sit down with Meredith. against Sarah's mom and this was a. really illuminating interview for a.

number of different reasons as she. talked about the different aspects of. this case and just more of a talked. about her daughter and talked about the. loss to the community, to her, to. friends, to family. It was a really. important conversation. Take a look. >> Merida, thank you so much for coming on. It's uh it's a pleasure to meet you. Um. I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. and for what you and your family are. going through, continuing to go through, and I know this is incredibly raw. because we're talking right now right.

after the verdict. Um I want to start. right there. Your reaction to that? >> I mean, it's pretty much what I was. expecting it to be. I think murder one. is a hard thing to prove in a case like. this. So, this is what I pretty much. figured we'd get a murder two charge. based on the evidence. But the reality. is is it doesn't it doesn't change. anything for me, right? Like, doesn't. bring my daughter back. It doesn't give. me a sense of relief. It just means he's.

going to be held accountable, but it. doesn't like my life is still the same. She's still gone. Was there a moment in. the trial when you were concerned the. jury might side with the defense? I. mean, he took the stand. Was there was. there a moment where you were concerned. that they might not find him guilty? For sure, because you just never know. It's in other people's hands. And so, it. just takes one person to make a hung. jury. So, yes, that fear was always.

present the entire time. What did you think about him testifying. and saying, you know, he admitted that. he he said he wasn't responsible for. causing Sarai's death. He doesn't. remember what happened. And at the same. time, he said he he admitted to the. disposal. It was incredibly difficult. testimony to listen to. Shocking to say. the least. What What did you think about. what he had to say? >> I think it made sense to me that he. would take the stand. And I think that. was his only way to have any sort of.

hope because there's too much evidence. against him saying proving that he did. what he did to her body. So I think it. was his honestly his only chance. If I. take accountability for what they know I. did, then maybe they'll they'll see that. I'm I don't know. I felt like it was his. only choice. I think he he had to take. the stand in order to try to get out of. the murder charges. When you listen to. him speak, does he look like Does he act. like Does he seem like the guy that you.

knew or does he seem like a completely. different person? >> Completely different person. So, when I. met him originally. um the December before he killed her, he. was just more playful, more fun, and. like when he was on the stand, just very. cold and calculated. It just kind of. reminded me when I originally when he. called me originally. um with when he told me that she was.

missing that very just cold calculated. rigid like his I feel like his testimony. was very scripted. um and it just felt very much like that. like. nothing there was nothing there. >> rehearsed. Did he make eye contact with. him? Did he look at you at all? >> Absolutely not. Um, I did notice a side eye from time to. time, but. >> not like a direct look me in the face. No. >> What is it like to go through that? What.

is it like to go through a trial like. that and have to hear um this incredibly. difficult testimony um about what. happened to your daughter? Um everything. from, you know, the medical report to. the witnesses to his testimony. I have. to imagine that is a whole different. level of emotions. Um, if you can share. what that's like. >> I don't even know that there's words. that can describe it. [snorts].

It was such a like. surreal experience. I mean, this whole. thing has been from the beginning. And. there's [clears throat] definitely. moments in time where it hits you like, "Oh my god, is this my real life right. now? Is this really happening to me?" Or. like feeling like you're actually like. in a TV show. Here you have these expert. witnesses and they're so smart and they. are so articulate and like I've seen. that a hundred times on a TV show, right? And so it's like is this real.

life? Is this really happening? And so. like definitely levels of like. disassociation and disconnection. throughout the process to try to. maintain the ability to sit within that. space, but there was also like a. beautiful part of it. Getting to hear. people talk about my daughter and them. being able to share their experience of. her was will always be very special to. me. So like. this like beauty within the nightmare, but it was unreal. It was hard. I don't.

know that I could have done one more day. of living in that space of unknown and. emotional roller coaster and trying to. sit in that space, but. it's hard. >> What has been the reaction you've been. receiving? I mean, you you hear so many. people talking so lovingly about Sarah. Um, did did did the community come out. to support you? Did friends, family come. out to support you? What is that support. system you've had? And you know, you.

hear people talking so lovingly about. your daughter who, you know, just maybe. reading about her. She seemed like such. an incredible person. Were you surprised. to learn things about her? You know, have you gotten a ton of support? What's. that been like? >> Oh, I've had a lot of support. I was. lucky enough to have two of like my very. closest friends come up here. My parents. have been up here. My siblings have been. up here. My son was there the whole. time. He skipped the days of where they. were showing the pictures. But so many. people reaching out, people I don't even. know. I mean, since the beginning, since.

it all started, there's been so much. support and so much rallying around me. and my family. >> That's great. That's great. What was. Sariah like? You know, sometimes that. that does get lost in these cases. There's so much talk about the trial and. the evidence and the defenses and the. arguments. You It gets lost about who. the person was that was taken away. What. was she like? What do you want people to. know about Sariah? I mean, she was amazing. She was super fun. She.

was so empathetic and compassionate and. she I mean, she was really driven. She. really wanted to do something with her. life. She was really close to our. family. Like, she was just I was so. proud of her. She didn't have the. easiest life and she still was so happy, always ready to be there for somebody, always laughing, trying like always a. good time. And like if you were hanging. out with Sa, you know you were going to. be having fun. Yeah.

>> She seemed like an incredibly not only. good person and fun person like you. said, but just a driven person, too. What was your relationship like with. her? >> We were really close. I got pregnant. when her with her when I was 17. And so. we really like [snorts]. almost grew up together. So we like had. a really. really close connection. >> [snorts]. >> She was so much like me and it that. scared me and made me happy at the same. time. [laughter].

>> Do you recall the last conversation you. had with her? >> Yeah. I talked to her the night that. they went out for his birthday and we. were just talking about um she was. telling me she was excited. Um she there. was she was so stuck on getting that. pickle break. So we talked a lot about. that and really excited because we were. like we talked about things she wanted. to do cuz we were scheduled to go to.

Alaska 2 weeks later for my birthday to. spend a week with her. So we talked a. lot about what are we going to do? What. restaurants does she want to take us to? Like there's just so much excitement. in her when I talked to her last. So. much to look forward to. It was, you. know, it was like a regular conversation. with her. But it was, you know, we were. excited. [snorts]. >> Did she ever say anything in that time. before that there were problems with her.

or Zarius? I mean, anything like this? [snorts]. The only thing that I. know is she shared some information with. me one time about [snorts] something. that had happened within his family and. he got really upset at her about it. But. she told me that they like talked. through it. [snorts]. But that was that was really the only. thing that she had. discussed with me. [snorts].

>> What about this idea of him having an. affair? Was that ever suspected? >> Not. She never shared that with me. because. she knows I would have big feelings. about that. >> Of course. Understandably. So, >> so on my side, like I it doesn't. surprise me personally. Um, [snorts] but. it was never anything that she discussed. with me, which I completely understand.

When you say you weren't surprised by. that, what do you mean? Were there were. there red flags you saw that maybe you. communicated to her? >> Um, not that I communicated with her. I'm just um more like. I'm a therapist and one of the things. that I work with is sexual problematic. sexual behaviors. And so like um I think. when you get married that young with a. history like just like a history like. his attachment there's going to be.

attachment wounds there. I think just. stuff like that I it doesn't surprise me. from like a clinical perspective. Does. that make sense? >> No it does makes 100% sense. Did you. conversations with him before all this. happened? Was there anything did he ever. say anything you're like then that gave. me pause. That's a weird thing to say. that shows a different side of him. You. go back, you look back at those. conversations. >> I honestly didn't have a lot of. conversations. Most of my interaction. was just with Sariah. Like was really.

looking forward. We spent like a few. days with him at Christmas. Um, and then. you know we were having that trip up for. a week where it was going to be honestly. I was going to check check on her and. see how she was doing cuz she was so. young when she got married but also to. kind of feel him out more because I just. I talked to her every day. I definitely. did not talk to him every day. going. back to something when I first was. covering this case. Um, and I was. reading about, you know, to me what.

stood out a lot was the conversations. you had with him after, um, when he, you. know, it was very, it was very to me, and I would love for you to expand upon. this, there was something weird the way. he was acting, the way he was behaving, and then you look back on it now and. you're like, he put on this complete act. after uh, you know, Sarai disappeared, right? I mean, can you talk to us about. that? What those conversations were like. going back? You're like that you said. like it was very cold, calculated. What. was he doing? What was he saying?

>> It was more of like what he was insane. >> Mhm. >> Like when I got that original phone. call, I ended that phone call and. literally looked at my husband at the. time and said. he killed her. Like I knew immediately. >> You said that. >> Yeah. Um, so it wasn't about what he was. saying. Yes, he was very robotic and. very like wouldn't defer from his story, but it was more about what he wasn't.

saying and how he wasn't showing up. Like he didn't meet us at the police. station. He was supposed to hang flyers. He never showed up. He like there was. multiple times we were supposed to meet. with him that he ghosted or he had an. excuse. Um there was a point when me and. my sister were like, "We're going to go. search in the woods." And he said, "Oh, don't go without me. Let me grab my gun. before we go." And we were like, "Hard.

pass. We're going to be okay. We don't. need you to come with us with a gun.". Right? because I already had this. suspicion in me and so like. all the things that we did was coming. from that perspective and you know also. I need to stay his friend right so that. was probably the most difficult thing is. I needed to try to stay where him. feeling supported in case something. slipped and trying to be engaging with.

him and supportive to him even though. like I didn't trust us a single thing. He said, "That's why that's why when me. and my sister went on the search party. with him, at one point we let him lead. us so that he we would look for where he. didn't take us.". >> Oh, that's so interesting. And just to. be clear, did you not want him to take a. gun because you were concerned for your. own safety that he might do something? >> 100%.

>> Wow. So, when he's arrested, you weren't. surprised by that at all? No, not at. all. >> What was it like working with law. enforcement and communicating with. prosecutors throughout all this? >> They've actually been really great. I. mean, I've not necessarily a patient. person. I've definitely learned patience. throughout this process, but you know, Detective Clark was amazing. He was. amazing from the beginning. Detective. Albi was those two were so great. And.

then Britney Dunlap and Kayla, they've. been great this whole time. I mean, I. could hear their passion and like the. way they talked and I have a million. questions all the time and I want to be. a part of everything and they never one. time were like annoyed by me and my. desire to gather data and gather. information and that it's been great. frustrating because the process was so. long and I just think the criminal. justice system is can be a frustrating. process in general but. >> 100%. >> Um,

they were they've they've been great. It's been good. >> If you could ask him something, if you. wanted and he was truthful about it, if. you could ask him something and try to. get an answer to something that you. want, what would you ask him if you had. the opportunity? And he, again, if he. was transparent and honest about it, >> I wouldn't ask him. I don't want to hear. anything he has to say. >> Listen, this is an incredibly sad case. I'm so sorry for what you and your. family and the community and your.

friends are going through. I know it's. not easy talking about this, but you're. incredibly strong. I am so happy I got. an opportunity to talk to you and learn. a little bit more about Sarai that our. audience knows a little bit more about. Sarai because sometimes again that gets. lost. Um I'm wishing you nothing but the. best and um thinking about you as you go. into this next chapter. Uh I know you. said it that this, you know, ends the. legal case. It's a form of. accountability. It doesn't bring your. daughter back, but I'm just wishing you. all the best and I really appreciate. [music] you coming out to talk about it. >> Yeah, of course. Thank you.

>> And that's all we have for you right now. here on Sidebar. Everybody, [music]. thank you so much for joining us. And as. always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, [music]. wherever you should get your podcast. You can also check us out at NBC's. Peacock as well. If you want to follow. me, X Instagram, my NewsNation show, Jesse Gber Live, Monday through Friday, 11 [music] p.m. Eastern. We'll see you. next time.