Teen cheerleader, Sierra LaMar, was last seen by her mother on March 16, 2012 and today, her mother relieves the pain of that morning. Her daughter’s suspected killer goes on trial.
That morning was like so many others. Sierra got ready for school and headed to the bus stop, in Morgan Hill, California. Sierra left for school, but never boarded the bus nor even made it to the bus stop. She was absent from school all day. Her cell phone, purse, and some clothing were discovered near the family home. Sierra had never ran away before and had nothing happen in her life to indicate she ever would. But Sierra’s body was never found. the suspect, 25-year-old
After five years of repeated delays, Sierra Lamar trial is expected to begin on Monday. https://t.co/1NvTXXw05a
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) January 28, 2017
The suspect, 25-year-old Antolin Garcia-Torres’ lawyers claim he never even met Sierra, that she simply ran away from home and could still be alive. Prosecutors, however, said that there is enough evidence to convict Garcia-Torres with kidnapping and murder.
Although her body was never found, police say they discovered her DNA in Garcia-Torres’ car trunk on a rope. DNA consistent to his was found on Sierra’s pants, say prosecutors. But the suspect’s lawyers insist their client masturbated onto tissues he threw from his car window.
Prosecutors say now or never and Sierra’s parents agree the case should go forward although there is no body, autopsy or murder weapon. If Garcia Torres walks free, he can never be retried on this offense due to the legal theory of “double-jeopardy.”
If convicted, Garcia-Torres faces death row.
[Feature Photo: Handout]
