Full Timeline:
CA Sierra Lamar, 15, Santa Clara County, 16 March 2012 timeline and media thread - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=8655001
May 9 more @ link
The number of volunteers dropped by 20 percent Wednesday, a big disappointment at Burnett Elementary School where the search teams are put together, but hope remains high that a break in the case could come at any time.
Volunteers were out searching shortly after 8 a.m. along Coyote Creek and other small ponds, undaunted by heavy growth of poison oak.
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-co...s-office-rules-out-links-between-sierra-lamar
May 9 more @ link
On March 23, San Jose police responded to the attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in which her assailant used a stun gun-type device on her and tried to force her into a red compact car with tinted windows in Willow Glen.
A week earlier, on March 14 and 15, Walnut Creek police said a man tried twice to lure a 13-year-old middle schooler into his faded, red, older-model sedan.
Sheriff's Sgt. Jose Cardoza said in a statement Wednesday that his agency contacted San Jose and Walnut Creek police to explore possible links, but found none.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/morgan-hill-new-clues-found-by-authorities/vHDB8/
May 9 from video @ link
Reporter: The police department also revealed detectives examined two attempted kidnapping cases in San Jose and Walnut Creek involving a red car.
Sgt. Jose Cardoza: Our investigators- Sheriff's investigators have recently contacted detectives from both San Jose police and Walnut Creek police, and at this time there does not appear to be any similarities.
Reporter: Sierra's parents both showed up at the center today, and said they are also rejuvenated from today's volunteer turnout, and talking to investigators.
Steve: I was confident that they have a lot to, uh- that they're working on and following up with, um, from the car.
Marlene: It's in their hands now. They have a good piece of evidence, and I'm hopeful. I'm very optimistic, you know, until Sierra comes back, we're all praying.
http://www.kron4.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4085
May 9 from video @ link
Sgt. Jose Cardoza: There was some recent contact made by our Sheriff's investigators with some of the local agencies to include San Jose police, they had a recent attempted kidnapping in the Willow Glen district, and then Walnut Creek police as well had a recent case. Our investigators reached out to those agencies. At this time, there does not appear to be any connection to the Sierra LaMar case.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/#!/...rra-LaMar-Case-Not-Linked-to-Others/150872815
May 9 from video @ link
Steve: I didn't get some of the answers to the obvious questions- like, about the car. You know, where, when, all that stuff. But- that's fine, I- I understood. And, yeah, sometimes it's a good sign that-um, it is a good sign that they're- uh, have some things that they're holding close for investigative purposes.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8655003
May 9 from video @ link
Marlene: This does make, uh- a significant difference. This is a physical lead that they have that they feel is- is pretty strong and it's hopeful.
Marlene: The hope is- is- we're not giving up. Everybody's still hoping and praying.
Reporter: I asked Marlene LaMar if she were more upbeat- she seemed to me to be more upbeat today than she has been in weeks going by. She says she has to be strong, she has to hang in there because Sierra might be watching.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8655576
May 9 from video @ link
Marlene: It's something that- that is significant that is going to expedite this investigation I feel. I consider it a sign of hope.
~~
Reporter: Sierra's mother has a message for her daughter.
Marlene: Stay strong. We're going to find you. You're coming back to us. Just hang in there.
Friday, May 11, 2012
http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news...cle_2428d23c-9b94-11e1-b27c-001a4bcf6878.html
May 11 more @ link
Sheriff’s search and rescue personnel will be conducting a search effort in the area of south Morgan Hill this afternoon, according to Santa Clara County Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Jose Cardoza. The ground search operation will focus on open fields and construction sites and zones in south Morgan Hill.
http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=18307542
May 11 more @ link
Tonight, the syndicated television show, America's Most Wanted will broadcast an in-depth segment on the missing Morgan Hill Teen.
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-co...-missing-teen-sierra-lamar-issues-mothers-day
May 11 more @ link
Two days before Mother's Day, the mother of missing Morgan Hill-area teen Sierra LaMar issued a poignant statement reflecting on the joys and difficulties of motherhood.
The brief, three-paragraph letter sent to media outlets said that Sierra was her "miracle baby," conceived when Marlene LaMar, now 51, had been told she might not get pregnant again.
"Mother's Day is a time of reflection on what being a mom has brought to your life. Being a mom has been the greatest joy of my life. From the moment I knew that a little life was growing inside me, there was an overwhelming need to protect and nurture my child," the letter began.
Marlene LaMar said she wrote the letter for her daughters Danielle, 21, and Sierra, 15, and also for other mothers.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/morgan-hill-investigators-say-they-arent-releasing/vHF3T/
May 11 from video @ link
Reporter: Earlier today I sat down with Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith to talk about what they are and are not telling the public about this case. This week, what appears to be a promising lead in the Sierra LaMar case was released to the media. On Monday, Sheriff's officials said they identified a red Volkswagen Jetta associated with her disappearance and put out this photo of a similar car. But what they didn't tell us until today was that they already had the car in custody.
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We had it before Monday, and when we realized that the public was looking for the car instead of telling us when they'd seen the car in the past, we had to put out a clarification that we actually did have the car, but we're looking for information about the car and the driver.
Reporter: Smith says the department did not mean to mislead the media or the public. She would not say if Sierra had been spotted inside the red Jetta with the black hood in any of the surveillance video they captured.
Sheriff Laurie Smith: The media is so helpful for us, but we're not going to release something that might hurt where we're going and our objective.
Reporter: The Sheriff says they have about 80 different pieces of video as evidence. Some show the car near Sierra's home, some don't. But forensics and witnesses lead them to believe the car is tied to her disappearance. She revealed the crime lab is still examining hundreds of pieces of evidence collected in the field.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/#!/news/local/Search-for-Sierra-in-National-Spotlight/151225915
May 11 from video @ link
Marlene: I want her to see that. I want her to hear what I'm saying right now- that I love her and miss her dearly. And just, really- I'm anxious to see her again.
Marlene: I'm hopeful. They found Elizabeth Smart through America's Most Wanted.
Marlene: I'm still not giving up.
Marlene: Reaching out to Sierra, letting her know that I love her so much as a mother and definitely she's a joy in my life.
Marlene: As soon as I put that pen to the paper, things started to flow and it was effortless and I realize there's a reason why I'm doing it.
Marlene: I'm thinking about the future Mother Days that are going to happen and that- I'm going to celebrate it with Sierra.
Reporter: One interesting note, the idea to write this letter actually came from Marc Klaas. He thought it would be a good idea for Sierra's mom to try and make contact with her.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8658957
May 11 from video @ link
Marlene: I'm reaching out to Sierra, letting her know that I love her so much as a mother and definitely she's a joy in my life and I do refer to- as my miracle baby.
Reporter: That's because she had Sierra late in life. She also wrote this letter to keep Sierra in people's minds, and help in her search.
Marlene: I'm still not giving up. I'm still hopeful and I'm just letting everybody know that this case is still wide open.
Marlene: I consider this a strong lead and want to follow up on it.
http://www.morganhilltimes.com/opin...cle_321826f6-9b97-11e1-80a6-001a4bcf6878.html
May 11 Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
As one of many volunteers manning the kitchen at the Sierra LaMar Recovery Center at Burnett School, I want to publicly thank all those who have contributed food and drinks for the hundreds of volunteers searching for Sierra.
Food has been served all day on each of the days the center has been open and some donors have been back each and every day bringing coffee and food.
Come by the Recovery Center at Burnett and take a look at the list of food donors displayed on the kitchen wall. Support and thank those businesses and individuals who have gone above and beyond in support of the search. This community, which extends from Gilroy to San Jose, has shown such heart and generosity.
Joan Sullivan, Morgan Hill