Published: June 24, 2009 10:30 am      

Woman says she feared for her life

Formal arraignment was scheduled Tuesday for Federico Zarat.,Zarat is being held in the Grady County Jail on six felony and misdemeanor counts.

Zarate, whose felony charges include kidnapping and assault and battery with a deadly weapon, was arrested last June on suspicion of holding co-worker Brandy Wildey against her will in his home and threatening to kill her, Assistant District Attorney Lesley March said.

Formal arraignment has been scheduled for July 7 at the Grady County Courthouse.

At the preliminary trial Tuesday, Wildey and Deputy David Jacobs were questioned. Jacobs was one of several deputies on the scene that night.

Wildey was questioned by both March and Zarate’s criminal defense attorney Paul Faulk from Oklahoma City.

Wildey, who worked with Zarate in 2008, had been at Zarate’s home in Tuttle to collect her personal belongings and her payroll check. A mutual friend had dropped her off for this purpose, and after Wildey asked Zarate to drive her back to Oklahoma City, he refused, records show.



RECORDS STATE THAT, after Wildey called the friend who had dropped her off, Zarate held a gun to her and smashed her cellular phone.

Wildey said Zarate held her at gunpoint in the house for almost five hours, several times hitting her in the head and knees with the weapon.

She said he was drinking tequila, and continually told her she was going to die that day.

She also said Zarate threatened to kill her sister and nephew, as well as shoot up her boyfriend’s house.

At one point, Wildey said, Zarate forced her to her knees and told her to pray as he held a gun to her head between her eyes.



WILDEY SAID AT said at the preliminary hearing Tuesday that she honestly believed Zarate would kill her and no one would find her.

Wildey’s friend, who she had earlier tried to contact, called the Grady County Sheriff. Deputy Sean Knight called Zarate’s house and spoke with Zarate, confirming he was holding Wildey against her will.

Knight also spoke on the phone with Wildey, who had a gun pointed at her side at the time, according to tesimony.

Records show Sheriff Kieran McMullen approached the residence and ordered Zarate to surrender, at which point the house alarms were set off. After this, Wildey ran from the house and said she had been held at gunpoint and was scared for her life, records state.

UPON CONTACT WITH Zarate, Knight put him under arrest on charges of domestic assault and requested to search the house for other weapons or illegal items.

Several loaded guns were found, one stolen, as well as four glass pipes that are supsected to have been used for smoking methamphetamines, reports show.