An Arizona mother says she continues to support her husband after police accused him of conspiring with a stranger to break into their home and sexually assault her.
Bella Torres defended her husband, 23-year-old Zarian Dyer, in court in Buckeye, Arizona, on Wednesday, saying she believes her alleged attacker was trying to frame him.
Torres was the victim of a terrifying home invasion on October 16. Police say Adrian Ayala, 20, entered the property and attempted to rape her while she was holding her baby daughter.
Ayala fled when Dyer returned home. Security footage appears to show Dyer chasing the alleged attacker away from his wife.
Ayala was arrested the following day. Police later detained Dyer on October 29, alleging they had found evidence that he helped organize the attack against his own wife.
Prosecutors say Reddit messages showed Dyer allegedly telling Ayala how to enter the home, when to arrive and where to park nearby.
Dyer also allegedly instructed Ayala to FaceTime him during the attack. But Torres told the court this week that she does not believe the allegations against her husband.
She accused Ayala of attempting to implicate Dyer with false claims during what she described as a ‘frantic attempt to make excuses’ after his arrest.
Torres wept as she said her husband had been ‘dealing with false allegations’ while behind bars, although she did not directly respond to the alleged digital evidence prosecutors say links him to the crime.
Arizona mother Bella Torres says she supports her husband, 23-year-old Zarian Dyer, after police accused him of conspiring with a stranger to break into their home and sexually assault her
Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Adrian Ayala, who was captured on home security footage apparently being fought off by Torres before fleeing as her husband returned
Torres was attacked during a home invasion in Buckeye, Arizona, on October 16. Police say the stranger attempted to sexually assault her while she held her baby daughter
A month before the alleged attack, Dyer posted a heartfelt message on Facebook marking his two-year anniversary with Torres. The post showed her smiling while holding flowers and read: ‘Two lovely years, two graceful children later. The love of my life.’
Prosecutors, however, allege that Dyer was secretly planning an attack on his wife with a stranger he met online.
Security footage from outside Torres’s home shows a suspect identified by police as Ayala being pushed and shoved by the mother of two after she allegedly fought him off.
Ayala appeared heavily intoxicated in the footage. He is seen leaning toward Torres and trying to grab her as she shouted, ‘What is wrong with you?’
Ayala ran from the scene after Dyer pulled up in his SUV. Dyer then chased him down the street.
Although Dyer appeared to react quickly and protect his wife, police now allege that he had helped orchestrate the incident.
Police said Ayala told investigators that Dyer had invited him to the home for ‘role play’ after the pair made arrangements online.
Security footage shows the suspect, who appeared heavily intoxicated, trying to grab Torres as she shouted, ‘What is wrong with you?’
Dyer arrived home during the alleged attack and chased Ayala away, but prosecutors now claim he had orchestrated the incident
Ayala, left, was released on bail after his arrest and faces charges of kidnapping, sexual abuse, burglary and aggravated assault. Dyer, right, remains in custody on a $500,000 bond and is charged with aggravated assault, sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and conspiracy
Authorities said Ayala handed over devices showing that the two men had been ‘communicating about this planned assault.’
At a news conference after Dyer’s arrest, police said they had not determined a motive for the alleged plan. They added that they believe Ayala was supposed to FaceTime Dyer during the attack.
Authorities said Torres managed to fight Ayala off before he could carry out the alleged sexual assault. She suffered only minor cuts and bruises.
During Wednesday’s court appearance, Torres said Ayala also kicked her 17-month-old daughter during the incident.
Torres became emotional as she described the attack, saying she realized someone was at the house when ‘my security sensor alerted me that my front door was opening.’
‘Assuming it was my partner returning from bringing in groceries, my daughter and I walked to the door to assist him. Instead, I found a stranger at my door,’ she said.
Dyer was arrested two weeks after the alleged attack after prosecutors said they discovered messages indicating he had planned it
Torres said Ayala initially asked to use the bathroom. When she refused, she alleged, he forced his way inside and attacked her.
She said she pursued him out of the house and fought him off until Dyer arrived, prompting Ayala to flee.
Ayala was released on bail after his arrest. He faces charges of kidnapping, sexual abuse, burglary and aggravated assault.
Dyer remains held on a $500,000 bond. He faces charges of aggravated assault, sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and conspiracy.
