Sierra Lamar #2 4/21/12 -

[Amys Sister]

DNA in Sierra LaMar's bag linked to suspect (video)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=8671945

There were rumors early in the investigation that urine was found on Sierra's clothing.

 


Sierra LaMar's Purse, Clothing Found
Thursday, Mar 22, 2012

<snipped>

Cardoza said a pair of pants, a shirt, a bra and a pair of underwear were neatly folded inside a Juicy brand purse. It was not clear if they were the clothes Sierra put on the morning she was last seen or if they were something she brought along with her. He said they contained no forensic evidence that pointed to a crime or a person of interest in the case. They said they did not release the information earlier because they were waiting on forensic evidence analysis.

Cardoza would not confirm reports that the purse or clothing had urine on it."The specific details on the condition of the clothing - whether they were wet or had urine on them - we are holding that specific detail as confidential," Cardoza said.

<snipped>

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Clue-Found-in-Sierra-Lamar-Disappearance-143815416.html

Thank you for providing the link and story, Tamiko's Mom.  You are so on the ball with that!   

[Amys Sister]

It's curious that the perp neatly folded Sierra's clothes then placed them within close proximity of her home and area of abduction.  I always wonder what goes on in the mind of a criminal.  Was there a part of him that wanted to be caught?  Was he playing cat and mouse with investigators and arrogantly thought they could not catch him?  Was there some part of him that prized Sierra or found her endearing and so he handled her belongings accordingly? 

I can see him now, taking a young girl to the dairy cooler so she can discuss her problems, meanwhile he's fanatsizing about the evil drives that are within him.   

[labubske]

Has his address been released yet?  I wonder if the volunteer searchers stumbled upon him during their own door to door questioning?  It was posted a ways back.  I did find two homes listed with the name Torres in Morgan Hill...but, they aren't that close to Sierra.  Jerome St and Shadow Dance Dr. 

[Northern Rose]

 ::snipping2::

The sheriff's office previously announced that a red Volkswagen Jetta with a black hood may be connected to the case, and according to authorities, Garcia-Torres is the owner of the car, which was seized on May 8.

Kenneth Piccolo, a former English teacher for Antolin Garcia-Torres at Central Continuation High School, said he remembers Garcia-Torres' Jetta.

"My car has a black hood too, and we joked about it," Piccolo said. "You don't put two and two together and think, that's Antolin's car."

"I'm in total shock right now," Piccolo said. "We never thought he was a criminal or a troublemaker."

Piccolo described Garcia-Torres as "always respectful, very polite," and a "bigger than life presence on campus; very social." He didn't graduate because he didn't all his work, not for lack of intelligence, he said.

 ::snipping2::

http://**/crime-courts/ci_20680103/new-details-expected-emerge-sierra-lamar-disappearance

[labubske]

It's curious that the perp neatly folded Sierra's clothes then placed them within close proximity of her home and area of abduction.  I always wonder what goes on in the mind of a criminal.  Was there a part of him that wanted to be caught?  Was he playing cat and mouse with investigators and arrogantly thought they could not catch him?  Was there some part of him that prized Sierra or found her endearing and so he handled her belongings accordingly? 

I can see him now, taking a young girl to the dairy cooler so she can discuss her problems, meanwhile he's fanatsizing about the evil drives that are within him.   

I would like to know why he did that too...the fact that he folded them neatly (yet, apparently left DNA evidence) has peaked my interest from the beginning.  This also says to me this is not his first murder...I could be wrong...often am.

[Northern Rose]

Amy Hollyfield ‏@amyhollyfield
Suspect's sister says there's no way he killed Sierra LaMar. Says they have the wrong guy. Catch my interview with her at 11am on ABC7.

https://twitter.com/#!/amyhollyfield

[Northern Rose]

 ::snipping2::

Garcia-Torres' family defended him.

"It's not him," sister Lucero Garcia said. She added she knows how it sounds when the family members of accused criminals speak up on their behalf, but "I honestly feel they don't have enough evidence to convict him."

Despite Smith's announcement, Marlene LaMar said her family has not given up hope her 15-year-old daughter will be found alive.

"We continue to pray until she is found," LaMar said. "Our search is not going to end. As a mother I'm hopeful. Her body has not been found and that gives me hope."

 ::snipping2::

Two days after she was reported missing, Sierra's bag and some clothing were found.

"It was that clothing that was really instrumental in identifying the suspect," Smith said.

 ::snipping2::

In March 2009, there were three assaults in the Morgan Hill area. Forensic evidence leads investigators to believe Garcia-Torres committed at least one of them, Smith said.

Since January of 2011 in Santa Clara county alone there are 43 missing females that have never returned home. Smith said "you wonder" if any of those actually were abductions also."

 ::snipping2::

http://**/ci_20680104/new-details-expected-emerge-sierra-lamar-disappearance?source=most_viewed

[Tamikosmom]

I sincerely try but I cannot feel compassion for Sierra's father.  He is a RSO ... a RSO who may not have taken the life of the victim who exposed him for what he is but ... the killing of the spirit through the selfish acting out of his perverted desires emotionally scars both his victim and parents/family for a lifetime.  As sex offenders seldom act out in a vacuum ... could it be there are other victims in Steve's past who have yet to muster up the courage/strength to come forward?

The tears?  The anguish?  Those who sexually offend chlldren are master manipulators/deceivers who lack a conscience.  That is the reason they have the ability to gain both the trust and silence of their victims.

IMO

Janet

+++++

NANCY GRACE
Aired March 20, 2012 - 20:00:00   ET

<snipped>

RITA COSBY, GUEST HOST: We know that there are no suspects at this hour. No one`s named. But there`s something interesting in the father`s background. He`s got a conviction.

ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Right. He does. And the sheriff`s department has confirmed this. We found records on this, as well. Her father is a registered sex offender.

COSBY: A registered sex offender? What happened?

JOSTAD: That`s correct. This is an incident actually going from 1998 to 2004.

COSBY: An incident? That sounds like repeated incidents.

JOSTAD: A continued -- right, continuing incident. He was actually charged with 12 counts of lewd or lascivious behavior with a child under 14. He pled no contest...

COSBY: This is Sierra`s father?

JOSTAD: Correct. This is her father. He pled guilty to one of those counts. He served under a year in jail for it. He is now required to register as a sex offender. He does appear on the registry.

<snipped>

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1203/20/ng.01.html

[Northern Rose]

abc7newsBayArea ‏@abc7newsBayArea
Divers are searching for what investigators now say is the body of Sierra LaMar. Watch at 11 a.m. on ABC7 News: http://bit.ly/zXBbqW

https://twitter.com/#!/abc7newsBayArea

[Northern Rose]

Sister of Sierra LaMar suspect says 'it's not him'
 

::snipping2::

"It's not him," said Lucero Garcia, whose younger brother 21-year-old Antolin Garcia-Torres was arrested Monday, and charged with Sierra's disappearance and presumed death.

Lucero Garcia, 26 called the arrest "unfair." She said she realizes how it sounds when family members of criminal suspects speak out on their behalf, but "I honestly feel they don't have enough evidence to convict him."

Isovet Martinez, Lucero Garcia boyfriend, said authorities are pointing at Garcia-Torres "because of his image, but image isn't anything." He said Garcia's family feel sorry for Sierra's family and send them their best wishes.

Garcia-Torres has a wife and 1-1/2-year-old daughter, and his wife is three months pregnant, his sister said.

 ::snipping2::

http://**/nationalbreaking/ci_20681237/sister-sierra-lamar-suspect-says-its-not-him

[Tamikosmom]

abc7newsBayArea ‏@abc7newsBayArea
Divers are searching for what investigators now say is the body of Sierra LaMar. Watch at 11 a.m. on ABC7 News: http://bit.ly/zXBbqW

https://twitter.com/#!/abc7newsBayArea

 

[sunshine12]

abc7newsBayArea ‏@abc7newsBayArea
Divers are searching for what investigators now say is the body of Sierra LaMar. Watch at 11 a.m. on ABC7 News: http://bit.ly/zXBbqW

https://twitter.com/#!/abc7newsBayArea

i wonder if the sub human that did this to sierra finally is talking about where she is

[KittyMom]

It's curious that the perp neatly folded Sierra's clothes then placed them within close proximity of her home and area of abduction.  I always wonder what goes on in the mind of a criminal.  Was there a part of him that wanted to be caught?  Was he playing cat and mouse with investigators and arrogantly thought they could not catch him?  Was there some part of him that prized Sierra or found her endearing and so he handled her belongings accordingly? 

I can see him now, taking a young girl to the dairy cooler so she can discuss her problems, meanwhile he's fanatsizing about the evil drives that are within him.   

I would like to know why he did that too...the fact that he folded them neatly (yet, apparently left DNA evidence) has peaked my interest from the beginning.  This also says to me this is not his first murder...I could be wrong...often am.

folding the clothes....deliberate, calm, meant to torture the parents and further his please, imo

[Northern Rose]

Carly Gelsinger ‏@carlygelsinger
Shoppers at Safeway in Morgan Hill say they recognized Antolin Garcia-Torres as a bagger. #SierraLaMar

https://twitter.com/#!/carlygelsinger

[melisb]

He wasn't a neighbor of Sierra's.  He lived in the Morgan Hill area all his life and would be familiar with Sierra's neighborhood and surroundings.  I heard the Sheriff say that this am at the press conf..

[Northern Rose]

Carly Gelsinger ‏@carlygelsinger
A sobbing Laura Torres, Antolin's mother, said her son did not kill #SierraLaMar, but if he did he "really lied" to her.

https://twitter.com/#!/carlygelsinger

[melisb]

By the time CW gets home maybe the addy will be posted!  I always love his maps!  Okay, I have to admit that I don't know if CW is a man or a woman, only the Monkey with specs looks like a sweet man! Heehee, sowwyy for being so out of the loop!

[fatcatlurker]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/suspect-taken-custody-sierra-la-mar-case/nPBX3/

Suspect taken into custody in Sierra La Mar case

KTVU.com

MORGAN HILL, Calif. —

A 21-year-old suspect was taken into custody Monday in connection with the disappearance of Morgan Hill teen Sierra La Mar, according to authorities.

KTVU confirmed Monday evening that Santa Clara sheriff's deputies were holding 21-year-old Antolin Garcia-Torres in custody as a suspect in the case.

Garcia-Torres, a resident of San Martin, is the owner of the red VW Jetta that authorities sought and seized in connection with the case on May 8th.

 ::snipping2::

Sources said there is some DNA evidence linking Garcia-Torres to the clothing found in Sierra La Mar's backpack.

 ::snipping2::

OS

Maybe help with the address? Resident of San Martin.

[fatcatlurker]

abc7newsBayArea ‏@abc7newsBayArea
Divers are searching for what investigators now say is the body of Sierra LaMar. Watch at 11 a.m. on ABC7 News: http://bit.ly/zXBbqW

https://twitter.com/#!/abc7newsBayArea

i wonder if the sub human that did this to sierra finally is talking about where she is

   And I hope they have more than urine. 

[Northern Rose]

 ::snipping2::


Garcia-Torres attended a Morgan Hill continuation school, Central High School. He lives in a trailer park in the city with his mother, wife and 18-month-old child, neighbors said. Several "Missing" fliers of Sierra are taped around the park, including one on a lamp post 25 yards from Garcia-Torres' home.

The Garcia-Torres property is strewn with garbage, baby strollers and sippy cups.

The suspect's mother, Laura Torres, arrived home from her night shift as a nurse at a convalescent home to find reporters waiting near her trailer.

She said she spoke to her son Monday night and was distraught about his arrest.

"He said, 'Don't worry about me, mom. I am going to be OK,' " Torres said. "I told my son, 'Well, if you didn't do it, you don't have anything to worry about.' "

She added, "He would say, "Mom, I have never seen that lady,' " referring to Sierra.

Torres said her son was "always quiet, always respectful, always close to me. It is unbelievable that this is happening to him. I feel like all of this is wrong. ... What parent wants to believe their son did something wrong?"

Garcia-Torres' father is in jail in Santa Clara County and his brother recently died in Mexico after a life of drinking and drug abuse, Torres said.

Elizabeth Ruano, 19, who lives in the trailer next door, said police had searched the property a few weeks ago.

She said Garcia-Torres and his family are quiet and keep to themselves. However, that was not the case with Garcia-Torres' previous home.

Before moving to the trailer park, Garcia-Torres and his family were thrown out of a Morgan Hill farmhouse in the summer of 2010 for keeping pit bulls on the property and allowing non-tenants to stay there, their landlord said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, saying she feared for her safety.

"They were the nightmare that never ended," the landlord said.

Garcia-Torres has a misdemeanor conviction for "interfering with an officer" and a separate felony arrest for assault, for which he was not prosecuted, the sheriff said.

Garcia-Torres is believed to be linked to a 2009 assault in Morgan Hill, Smith said. She did not specify whether that was the case in which he was arrested

 ::snipping2::

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/22/BA1P1OLN18.DTL