Despite the fact that a 21-year-old Morgan Hill man is now behind bars in the case of Sierra LaMar, the Santa Clara County Sheriff said more tips are flowing into the office regarding her kidnap and supposed murder.
Antolin Garcia-Torres was arrested Monday on charges that he kidnapped the 15-year-old Sierra near her bus stop on March 16, and later murdered her, though her body still hasn't been found. Authorities say that the attack was random and the two didn't know each other.
In a statement Thursday, Sgt. Jose Cardoza said as a result of the arrest, the sheriff's tip line has been ringing with up to 30 additional calls a day. Many of those callers are providing "valuable" information to investigators," he said.
Crews have been searching ground and water areas since Sierra's disappearance. Cardoza asked the public "in an effort to maximize resources and locate Sierra," that the community -- especially rural property owners -- search their own property, water shorelines, creeks, streams, abandoned sheds and outhouse structures. The area of focus should be south Santa Clara County and the land bordering our county such as north San Benito County, north Monterey County and east Santa Cruz County.
Sheriff’s Investigators have reason to confine the search areas within these parameters based on the totality of their investigation to date.
The sheriff and District Attorney have acknowledged it is difficult, but not impossible, to prosecute a homicide case without a body.
Anyone with information on this case is being asked to contact Sheriff's Investigators at
(408) 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.
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