Authorities in Arizona say a man arranged with someone he met online to have his fiancée sexually assaulted at their home while their two young children were there.
Buckeye police said officers were called to the home at about 6 p.m. on Oct. 16. The woman told them an unfamiliar man entered the house and attacked her, then fled before officers arrived. She fought back, punching, kicking and choking him after he tried to strangle her.
Court records say the attacker also kicked the woman’s 17-month-old daughter, knocking her into a baby gate. Her 2-month-old son was asleep in another room during the incident.
Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Adrian Ayala. Investigators reviewed home security footage, which reportedly captured Ayala telling the woman that her partner had sent him to sexually assault her. He allegedly said he had met her partner on Reddit.
Investigators identified the fiancé as 23-year-old Zarian Dyer. Police say messages exchanged between Dyer and Ayala on Reddit showed they had discussed the plan.
In one exchange described in court records, an account allegedly linked to Ayala asked whether the woman knew about the plan. Dyer’s alleged account replied, “Nope.” Another message from that account reportedly told Ayala not to reveal who had sent him and added, “I understand if it’s too much.”
Ayala allegedly asked whether they could get in trouble. Dyer’s account reportedly advised him to leave and pretend nothing had happened. Court records also say Ayala wrote that he would have to back out because he was uncomfortable if the woman was not willing. Dyer allegedly responded, “The more you threaten her, the more she’ll get into it.”
Messages sent on the day of the attack suggest Dyer was waiting nearby, according to court documents. At about 5 p.m., he allegedly urged Ayala to hurry, saying he was trying to kill time at a grocery store. Police obtained video showing Dyer at the store around 5:30 p.m.; he left about 10 minutes later without buying anything.
At 5:57 p.m., Dyer’s alleged account sent Ayala a message saying, “Time’s up bro,” and told him to run if the woman became difficult. Ayala’s account reportedly sent an apology shortly after 6 p.m. Dyer then allegedly wrote that he was deleting the account and advised Ayala to do the same.
The woman told investigators Ayala tried to remove her clothes, but she managed to get away. A neighbor heard her screaming and called police. Court records say Ayala told the woman, “Your boyfriend told me you’d be into this.”
Dyer later told investigators that he arrived at the home, got out of his car and chased Ayala, then fought with him before Ayala ran off. But police said video showed Dyer sitting in his car for 44 seconds before pursuing him.
Investigators identified Ayala using license plate camera data and vehicle records. He was arrested the following day in Goodyear. Police said he told investigators he had gone to the woman’s home after meeting her fiancé online and agreeing to sexually assault her.
Police seized electronic devices belonging to both men. Investigators said data from the devices supported their finding that Ayala and Dyer had communicated about the planned assault. Dyer has denied the allegations. Court records say that when confronted with the Reddit messages, he kept his head down and did not answer directly.
Dyer was arrested and faces eight charges, including aggravated assault, sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and conspiracy. His bond was set at $500,000. Police said they did not initially know what motivated the alleged plan.
Police described the case as an alleged use of social media to arrange the sexual assault of Dyer’s fiancée, who is also the mother of his children. A department spokesperson said the family had been through a terrifying ordeal and that investigators were relieved the injuries were not serious.
