An Arizona man allegedly arranged for another man to sexually assault his fiancée at their home, but the mother of two fought back and drove her attacker from the property.
Zarian Dyer, 23, was arrested Thursday after investigators accused him of recruiting 20-year-old Adrian Ayala to assault his fiancée, the Buckeye Police Department said.
Police said Ayala carried out the alleged attack around 6 p.m. Oct. 16, when he arrived at the woman’s home in Buckeye, about 30 miles outside Phoenix. She was there with her two children at the time.
According to court records obtained by the Merced Sun-Star, the woman told police she spotted a “random man” peering through her front door just minutes after her fiancée left to pick up groceries.
Her 2-month-old son was asleep in a bedroom, while her 17-month-old daughter stood behind her as she confronted Ayala. He allegedly asked to use the bathroom.
Ayala allegedly kicked open the front door and forced his way inside. The woman told investigators that he then “began to choke her by grabbing her by the neck.”
The confrontation continued in the bathroom, where Ayala allegedly locked himself inside with the woman. He reportedly tried to unbutton her pants but was unable to do so before allegedly groping her, the Merced Sun-Star reported, citing court records.
The woman eventually managed to force Ayala out of the house and into the front yard.
Home security footage obtained by AZ Family shows the woman struggling with her alleged attacker in the driveway. She pushed him away, slapped him and shouted at him as he leaned his weight into her.
As she fought him off, Ayala allegedly told her, “Your boyfriend told me you’d be into this,” according to the records.
The woman chased Ayala down the street as he fled before police arrived.
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Police said Ayala was arrested the following day at his home in Goodyear, about 15 miles away. Investigators then allegedly discovered that the attack had been arranged by the victim’s fiancée.
Ayala told investigators that he met Dyer online and agreed with him to sexually assault Dyer’s fiancée without her knowledge.
Detectives seized Ayala’s electronic devices and found communications between him and Dyer discussing the alleged plan.
Dyer was charged with aggravated assault, sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and conspiracy.
Ayala was charged with kidnapping, sexual abuse, burglary and aggravated assault, according to court records obtained by the Merced Sun-Star.
He made his first court appearance Oct. 18.
Ayala’s attorney told the judge that his client had been brought to the home by the victim’s boyfriend for a “role-play scenario.” The attorney argued that Ayala did not intend to commit a felony and believed the woman had consented, the Merced Sun-Star reported.
Ayala’s trial is scheduled to begin April 1, 2027, records show.
It is unclear when Dyer is scheduled to appear in court.
Investigators said they still do not know what motivated Dyer to allegedly arrange the attack on his fiancée.
