FULL TIMELINE:
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7958713&posted=1#post7958713
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http://www.fugitive.com/2009/03/24/...f-unknown-suspect-who-attacked-women-safeway/
March 24 2009 Article on Safeway assaults
http://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2132
March 26 2009 Safeway assault press release
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8671975
May 22 Press Conference
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Thank you for being patient with us. As you are aware, we did make an arrest last night. I'd like to start off by expressing condolences to Sierra's family. It's a very difficult time for them. And, um- on behalf of all law enforcement, all of the volunteers that have been involved in this investigation; they've been so dedicated, they've worked very hard to- to come to this point. After about two and half months of continuous investigation, with collaboration of all local agencies, state agencies, federal agencies - we really would like to acknowledge- the US Marshal is here, um- the supervising agent in charge from the FBI for their early efforts and there commitment for personnel. This has been very very labor intensive. We've used a lot of man hours, a lot of volunteer hours from our search and rescue team and for that we're grateful.
Our investigation has led to the identification of Antolin Garcia-Torres as the person responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Sierra LaMar. We developed this through our investigation based on direct and circumstantial evidence including forensic analysis conducted by the Santa Clara County district attorney's crime lab. The discovery of Sierra's cell phone, her clothing- what she wore that day and her personal belongings have contributed to our belief that - that Sierra is a victim of murder.
Early on when our deputy first responded to the missing child report, he knew immediately that this was not just a runaway. This was something more significant. So, early in the investigation we had tremendous resources out there searching. We found the bag of clothing less than two days after she was reported missing, and our search and rescue team found that two miles from her house. A two mile radius is a huge radius to search, and it was that clothing that was really instrumental in identifying the subject.
Off of her property in the bag, we found DNA from- um, Antolin Garcia-Torres. It was that DNA that was placed into the system that- that revealed the identity. We received those lab results on March 28th, and from March 28th until present time- we had 24 hour a day surveillance on Garcia. We needed additional information and we were continuing the investigation. We were hoping that he would lead us to where Sierra was. Our surveillance efforts were around the clock because public safely was our primary concern.
We also have information that we just recently developed that there were three assaults in Morgan Hill about three years ago, in March of 2009. We have linked one of those to our suspect through forensic evidence. He was booked last night for murder and kidnapping.
The family is here. We're not certain if the family will come down and talk with you. I believe that they will. This is a very very difficult time for them and we just really wish to express our deepest condolences to the family. I will take some questions.
Q: Laurie, what prompted the arrest now?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We had additional D-we got the initial DNA from her property that we found two days after. That led to the suspect. We seized the suspects vehicle on- on April 7th. At the time we did search warrants, we have physical evidence linking Sierra to his vehicle.
Q: Any possible motive? Why did their worlds collide?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We don't know that. It's my belief that this was purely random. It was an absolute stranger abduction. There is no information that we have of any type that the two know each other, have had any contact. We believe that this is the worst kind of a crime. A stranger abduction of a young girl.
Q: The DNA that you found in that bag- what- what was it on the clothes, in the bag- what was that?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: I'm not sure what item it was on. It was found in multiple places on her property. And we're not going to comment-
Q: - was it saliva?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: -anymore on the type or the nature of the DNA. But it was enough DNA to link him within the CODIS system identifying him as the person.
Q: You've had the car since April 7th. Did you ever have contact and interview him and did he know he was under surveillance and *inaudible*
Sheriff Laurie Smith: I believe that he may have believed he was under surveillance. We don't know that for sure. Um, we've talked to him multiple times. Last night after his arrest was the first custodial environment interview that we've had with him.
Q: Can you talk about that conversation? Has he admitted to the crime? Is he going to take you to the body?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We have gained some value from our interviews with him but nothing substantive and we hope at some point he does tell us more than he's telling us now.
Q: What makes you think that she's dead? What gives you that proof?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Sierra was a very social girl. She had a lot of friends. She communicated with her friends all the time through social media outlets, through telephoning. From the time that she was reported missing, there was absolutely no contact. There has been no contact with any of her friends. We have no reason to believe that she ran away. We now have a stranger who we identified through DNA on her property. Also, her property- she threw away- or discarded- she did not throw away. Discarded was her property that she would have taken- that she would have taken with her including medication.
Q: Do you know if he ever took part in any of the community searches for Sierra?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: I don't believe he did. But, but I- we haven't confirmed that.
Q: Can you tell us if there were any other suspects linked to this person? Anybody else who knew or participated in the kidnapping?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Early in the investigation we had many many suspects. We did additional surveillance other than with him. Right now, we believe he is the only person responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Sierra.
Q: How do you know she is dead? You said the items we're there- he could have thrown them out- he could have her stashed away somewhere, hidden somewhere? These are possibilities.
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We have a lot of direct evidence. We have a lot of circumstantial evidence. We believe that the facts that we've-I've just talked about lead us to believe this. These are very very difficult cases. Um, to prosecute a homicide when you have not found the victim. But it has been done, and I think that we have adequate facts- in fact, strong facts to believe that she has been murdered.
Q: Is he a Morgan Hill resident?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: He is a Morgan Hill resident.
Q: Has he lived in that neighborhood-
Sheriff Laurie Smith: He doesn't live that close in the neighborhood but he's familiar with the area. He's spent most of his life, if not all of his life in that area. And he is a resident.
Q: Does he have an alibi?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Again, he has not been totally disclosive with us in it and so we haven't had an opportunity to test any alibi.
Q: In regards to the three assaults that happened in March 2009, were they sexual in nature or were they physical assaults?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: They were physical assaults that, um- were not completed if you will. And I know it's been widely reported in the media. One was where a tazer was involved- but the victim managed to get away. Another one was where the victim had a knife and it had been used against her. And the other one was he was not able to get into the victims car, she locked it. Those have been reported by the media and one of those we've linked through evidence to- um, our suspect.
Q: Which one? The tazer, the knife or -?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Yeah, I don't remember which one it was.
Q: Did you locate blood in the red vehicle that matched Sierra LaMar?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Um, we have not located any blood but we're not commenting on really any of the physical evidence. We want that to remain confidential. Our focus right now is continuing to search and look for Sierra and we hope that we reach a successful prosecution on the person who did this.
Q: Why was he in the database to begin with? What had he done?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: He had- um, he has a prior conviction for interfering with an officer. That's a misdemeanor. He has a prior felony arrest for an assault- that's what got him into the database, but that was not prosecuted.
Q: If you believe that she is dead, do you have any sense of how long she lived?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We don't know that. We don't know that. When we look at these types of cases, and when I mentioned and thanked the FBI for their assistance- early on in the investigation we had their team of their child abduction experts from all over the country come. We had their behavioral analysis unit from Quantico, VA who talked a lot to us about these types of cases- what to expect, and it's based of their research of these kinds of cases. And, what we're finding now that we have a suspect- we're finding that much of what they thought could have occurred really is. He's not an RSO, that is one thing that they told us right away. We were actually surprised because the first- one of the first things that we did was to look at all the RSOs. They said, in these cases, it's a very small percentage. Working with them was really important in the beginning and the probability of homicide is also very very strong for these types of cases that have been studied and researched by the FBI.
Q: I think a lot of people are concerned about- you have not found Sierra. Do you have a weapon or do you know how- if you believe, she was killed?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Um, we don't have a weapon and we don't know. We don't know.
Q: What made it important yesterday versus the days and weeks before?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: We had received, um- the forensic evidence back on the vehicle that we seized earlier. Lab takes a long time, there are many many more things that are currently are with the lab. We are expecting results. We knew that we had probable cause and we had a strong case to arrest him for homicide and kidnapping. And, public safely was our primary concern. Even though we had been surveilling him, surveillance is not perfect. We wanted to make sure that this didn't happen again and public safety- again, has been our concern all along on this and to make sure that we had a good, viable case.
Q: I think this is going to come up later, Sheriff- and I want you to address this now. If you had this person under surveillance since March 28th, are you confident in the way that you have handled this case in terms of disseminating the information and protecting the case against the suspect, but with all the community and the volunteers and all of the searches that have put so much into this- and you obviously had a suspect early on, had evidence from the car early on-
Sheriff Laurie Smith: Um, I'm absolutely confident in what we've done. Our detectives have done amazing jobs. The community outreach has been wonderful and we were communicated with the community. The community in this has come together to search for her. What you have seen publicly has been our search- our search and rescue team, our Sheriff's office searchers, our underwater dive team. What you haven't seen because it's not as visible is our bigger operation- the investigation surveillance. That's not as visible to you so that's not what you saw. What the volunteers have been doing, what the search and rescue team have been doing is searching for Sierra- not investigating the case.
Q: The felony arrest for assault, was that tied to one of the March incidents?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: No. No. Those were never solved. The three assaults in Morgan Hill were not solved. Let me mention one other thing that I think is very interesting. Since January of 2011- so a little bit over a year, in Santa Clara County alone, there are- let me get the number- sorry, guess I should have this first- uh, I have it on my- I think there is 43 missing juvenile females reported since January of 2011 that have never returned home. It's- it's- you wonder if any of those actually were abductions also. Our detectives have done a great job. Our investigators from the very beginning- our patrol people that initially went to the call have done an extraordinary job and we put a lot of resources into it but these resources were important. This is a missing little girl.
Q: What was the felony arrest for?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: It was an assault.
Q: Was that a sexual assault?
Sheriff Laurie Smith: No. Um- and- and I know you've all met Sierra's mother and Sierra's father. And I think Sierra's mother, Marlene, would like to talk for a few moments.
Marlene: I would like to thank the community outreaching to find Sierra, and all their time and efforts that have gone into this and their prayers. We continue to pray until she's found. Our search still is not going to end. You know, as a mother, I still- I'm hopeful, because her- her body has not been found, and that gives me hope. And just what I've heard, you know, as far as certain things not being found in the vehicle also gives me hope. And I- again, I am so grateful for the response, for law enforcement. I have a- I do have a plea to the perpetrator to please, please give the information that you have- that you have to lead us to Sierra, to help end this nightmare. I would like you to come forward and say where she is and end this nightmare for us as a family. I'm not giving up hope, you know. Her body hasn't been found. And, you know- so many people have- you know- record breaking numbers showed up at the search center, like, thousands of people. And law enforcement, you know- doing it simultaneously. I believe there's a reason why she wasn't found. So I'm not- we're not giving up on that.
Steve: Good morning, everyone. I just want to say just a couple of words. The main thing would be that we want to thank, you know- everyone for all of the support we've gotten. So far, we still need your support. We need to bring Sierra home. So we still need to find her. So we're looking for everyone to help us do that. And- and we're- we want justice served. So that's what we're looking for. Thank you.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/morgan-hill-dna-evidence-key-in-breaking-sierra/vHQHq/
May 22 from video @ link
Sgt. Jose Cardoza: We have Garcia-Torre's DNA on some of Sierra's property that was located early on in the case.
Reporter: Deputies say Sierra's DNA was found in the suspects red VW Jetta. Investigators say they matched Garcia-Torre's DNA with a stun gun attack on a Morgan Hill woman in a Safeway parking lot three years ago. I talked to the victim then.
Victim: He kept pulling my hair, and punching me. So, that- I saw sparks coming from the side. They looked like little-uh, electrical lines.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/san-jose-authorities-release-more-details-in/vHP8t/
May 22 from video @ link
Victim: He kept pulling my hair, and punching me. So, that- I saw sparks coming from the side. They looked like little-uh, electrical lines.
Sgt. Jose Cardoza: We do have forensic evidence linking Garcia Torres to that case as well.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/loca...s-Tied-to-2009-Assault-Sheriff-152745265.html
May 22 more @ link
In two of the cases, the suspect, who was never caught, allegedly entered the women's' car from the rear driver-side door of their cars.
In at least one of the instances a woman said her attacker used a Tazer gun to stun her. At the time authorities said they believed the attacker was the same in all three cases.
http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=18600093
May 22 more @ link
Sgt. Troy Hoefling says these crimes happened back to back and he believes they are all connected. "All three of these incidents happened within a 7 day period," said Hoefling.
On March 19, 2009, a woman was attacked with a stun gun at Safeway on Dunne Ave. Minutes earlier at the same parking lot a man followed a woman to her car and tried to break in. Then days later, on March 26th another attack occurred, but this time a woman was assaulted by a man with a knife at the Safeway on Tenant Ave.
Investigators say Garcia-Torres is a suspect in one of these cases and a person of interest in the other two.
http://www.ktvu.com/ap/ap/crime/sheriff-suspect-linked-by-dna-to-missing-ca-teen/nPCJB/
May 22 more @ link
The incident involved a Taser, and the victim managed to get away, Assistant Sheriff Pete Rode said, declining to provide more specifics.
Garcia-Torres declined an interview request by The Associated Press, and it was unknown if he has retained a lawyer, said Sgt. Jose Cardoza, a sheriff's office spokesman.
http://www.mercurynews.com/portal/c...case-was-watched-constantly-weeks?_loopback=1
May 22 more @ link
Garcia-Torres worked at Safeway on Tennant Avenue in Morgan Hill as recently as 2010 -- the same Safeway where he was arrested at gunpoint Monday night. With evidence in the Sierra case, police have also linked him to a 2009 Taser assault of a woman in her car in that Safeway parking lot.
Interrogating Garcia-Torres for several hours Monday night failed to reveal further clues to Sierra's whereabouts. But teams continued to search Uvas Reservoir and other south county waterways Tuesday, and a previously scheduled volunteer search will go forward as planned Wednesday.
http://gilroy.patch.com/articles/sierra-lamar-murder-kidnap-suspect-had-violent-past
May 22 more @ link
The young Morgan Hill man Santa Clara County Sheriff's investigators say kidnapped and murdered missing teen Sierra LaMar had been convicted of two misdemeanor crimes in 2009, court records reveal.
They also indicate Antolin Garcia-Torres had been arrested June 16, 2010 for felony battery and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor between Oct. 1, 2009 and June 9, 2010.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/vi...ge-in-lamar-disappearance/#.T7v26Y-t22g.email
May 22 from video @ link, more @ link
Reporter: We have learned that the crucial DNA evidence in this case is not blood or semen, as it is in many cases like this- but, skin fragments that were somehow embedded in Sierra LaMar's clothing- clothing was found inside her Juicy bag that was discarded.
~~
Reporter: There is a lot of evidence that the investigators are going through, and obviously they're looking at a link to those 2009 cases. What we found out about those 2009 cases is that one of those cases has been positively linked to the suspect in this case through forensic DNA type evidence. And, the way that came about is that once the Sheriff's department got the information from the crime lab about the Juicy bag evidence, DNA- they went around and started asking local law enforcement if they had any attempted kidnappings in the area.
Morgan Hill police then came forward with that information about the 2009 case. From that information, they were able to match the DNA from that 2009 case to the suspects present day cases and so that is now positively tying him- there were two other cases involved in that area, and incidentally the reason that they started asking local law enforcement is that was a tip from the FBI - the crime lab people from the FBI were here early in the case and they basically told the Sheriff's department not to- you know, put too much attention on the sex crimes database people, but to look for other attempted type kidnappings or assaults of young women and that is exactly what they did and so they are able to strengthen their case now as a result of that investigation. We've also learned that the suspect in this case who was questioned for about two hours here last night is now invoking his constitutional rights to remain silent. He is at the Santa Clara County main jail.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/#!/news/local/Antolin-Garcia-Torres-Family-Speaks-Out/152622415
May 22 from video @ link AGT family speaks
Lucero Garcia: -evidence. Ever since- ever since we found out what- you know, that he could be involved or- it's just, it's a shocker to all of us. He of course didn't do it, he did not do it. I know everybody says that. I know everybody says that but I know him. I know he didn't do it. He's not capable of that. There's no motive, like was mentioned at the press- there's no motive. It's- I - I feel- they don't have physical evidence. There is no physical evidence at all.
Q: They had her DNA in the car.
Lucero Garcia: Not in the car, actually.
Q: In her purse-
Lucero Garcia: It's not - yeah.
Isboset Martinez: Every time you ask the Sheriff something, you know, you could tell the way she cuts people off by her questioning- and I'm his brother in law but you know what honestly, like they said they haven't found a body yet. They haven't found- things that leaded them straight to him. If they already know it's him, why do they have him in custody, you know? Cause I don't understand why that is. I think that's really unfair just because they have to point fingers right now it's because they do that. I don't know, because, you know why? Because his- his car was going around there at that time. Maybe it's the wrong time, maybe, you know. But - if they had- if they had- if they have the evidence like they say they did, they would do it right there, right then.
Lucero Garcia: He's been followed.
Isboset Martinez: Like, exactly, if they were concerned about the town why--
Lucero Garcia: He's been followed for two months. They should have done it since the very beginning had they- if they thought that it was really him. I mean, I feel- I feel all of this- I feel that they need to go deeper into this investigation because-
Isboset Martinez: Before they judge him-
Lucero Garcia: Yeah.
Q: Tell us about you brother.
Lucero Garcia: He's sweet. He's- not - totally - he, I mean, he has a baby on the way. You know, he has a 1 1/2 year old. They're very happy. There's no motive for him to be doing any of this. I mean, I don't know. It's a mistake, I feel.
Q: They're connecting him to other attacks in Morgan Hill-
Lucero Garcia: Right. I mean-
Q: Do you know anything about that?
Lucero Garcia: No. No. It's just- I - I don't know. And, every new thing that's been coming up- it's like, they're trying to link it to him. I mean- they- I don't know.
Q: When is the last time you talked to him and how is he doing?
Lucero Garcia: We talked about a week and a half ago. He was at my moms having a barbeque. I took the kids over. He was fine. We were- everyone was normal. Like always.
Q: You guys, before this- I mean, I know this girl has been missing in your neighborhood, so she may turn up - her name might come up. Have you guys ever had a conversation about her just in passing? Did he ever say anything about her?
Lucero Garcia: No. Not with him. I mean, I followed the case since the beginning and I'm very- you know, I'm very sorry for the LaMar family. I- you know, I- I really hope that she- I really hope she comes up. I really hope she comes up, and I have nothing to say bad about them. I mean, but- just to find out that they're linking your family member- it's, it's hard.
Q: So, he didn't know her. You didn't know her.
Lucero Garcia: No. Nobody did.
Isboset Martinez: We didn't know her. It's just like, shocker all of a sudden like, seeing the news last night. We arrived home from dinner and the first thing we see is his picture. We start receiving messages out of nowhere. We're like, oh my god. And it's just because of an incident I think like- that he got arrested for. It wasn't just because- you know, they were already on him because they had proof of it. And I- just like I tell her- just like they have the right to defend, you know, the Sheriff talk- right- I think we have freedom of speech also to say what we're thinking. Because-
Q: So you think he's kind of an easy target based on-
Isboset Martinez: Yeah because they don't have any other person, like they said. You know, and without the body, without weapons, or without anything that *inaudible* you know, there's nothing they can really do about it. And I think it's just unfair that they have him in there right now when they don't even know if it's him yet. They say that there is evidence of DNA in the bag, but what were they? That's something they don't want to say. Why- why would they say, oh yeah- he's the one when they don't want to say, oh yeah- this is what we found in the bag. That's what I've been telling her. You know, we're- we're here for him. And if- you know, like- she said we feel really bad for the family also because we have our own kids. But, that's not- *inaudible* to do that, right away.
Q: What about the surveillance? Did you know or did he know?
Lucero Garcia: Everybody knew he was being- he knew he was being followed. Everybody knew. We were- there was people out here videotaping us. We knew that he was- I mean, if he had done this crime or the crime that they say that he did, if anything, because they- there's no body yet, you know? She hasn't come up. You would think that he would, I don't know- go away or try to run away or something. He's been notihng but compliant with the police. He's given them two DNA swabs. There's maybe like, two invest-um- um, interrogations. They searched the trailer, everything. I mean, he's been- you know, he's been doing everything that they've asked. Everything that they've asked. There's no- you'd think that if he had done it, he would have run away, you know? Trying to go somewhere else, right? Disappear, something.
Q: How did you all find out he was under arrest?
Lucero Garcia: Through the news. Through the news. Yeah. That's how we found out.
Q: So, did he currently work at the Safeway?
Lucero Garcia: No. No.
Q: He used to work-
Lucero Garcia: He used to work there.
Q: And he's looking for work? Is that what he-
Lucero Garcia: No.
Q: Does he work now?
Lucero Garcia: I don't know what he does now. He used to work at Tennant and- yeah, that's-
Q: *inaudible* is your mom?
Lucero Garcia: She's- she's distraught. She doesn't know what to do. I mean, everyone- we keep getting messages, calls.
Q: Have you been able to talk to him since he's been in jail?
Lucero Garcia: No. No.
Q: And he has a 1 1/2 year old?
Lucero Garcia: 1 1/2 year old and a baby on the way.
Q: And that is his wife? Girlfriend?
Lucero Garcia: His wife. Yeah.
Q: He's married with one kid and one on the way?
Lucero Garcia: Right. Yeah.
Q: Why do you think police, though- just, my other side- you know, it just makes me wonder why would police pick on an innocent man? Why would they?
Lucero Garcia: I don't know. I don't know. I feel like there's not enough evidence to convict him.
Q: Did he know what they were following him for? Did he have an idea or just-
Lucero Garcia: Since the beginning they said that they saw his car around the area. Somebody had called for the car around the area. They've had his car for two months already- doing forensics or whatever and-
Q: So did you know then why they put it out on the news that people should be looking for that car?
Lucero Garcia: Exactly. They've had the car for two months now and everyone is out there calling for- for this. They've- and they've had the car.
Q: If we were to meet him, what is he like?
Lucero Garcia: He's sweet. He's- he's genuine, he's sweet. He's- the physical appearance that they showed on television is one image of him but I know a different image. That's all.
Q: *inaudible*
Lucero Garcia: This sweet guy. He's sweet.
Q: Does he have a violent background?
Lucero Garcia: No. No.
Q: A violent bone in his body?
Lucero Garcia: No. No.
Q: Did you watch this press conference?
Lucero Garcia: Yes I did.
Q: And, what was your gut reaction, hearing all this about someone you care about?
Lucero Garcia: It's hard. I mean, I feel like the- the Sheriff, Laurie, is just trying to-
Isboset Martinez: Push him..
Lucero Garcia: - just, yeah. Push him in there. He doesn't- I - there's not enough evidence to convict him. And that's all I have.
Q: What is your name?
Lucero Garcia: Lucero.
Q: And your last name?
Lucero Garcia: Garcia.
Q: And your name?
Isboset Martinez: Isboset. It's Isboset. Martinez.
Q: And you are the brother in law?
Isboset Martinez: Yeah. We're- yeah, I been with her for really long time. I've known Antolin since *inaudible* real little, so.
Q: We've seen his mugshot. Do you have any pictures of him as a dad you want to show us?
Lucero Garcia: I don't have any current ones, no.
Q: So you're a married couple?
Isboset Martinez: Yeah.
<cut>
Q: What did he think when someone is out there taking- following him and stuff. Did that make him mad- I mean, I would be like, what are you doing? You know, like-
Isboset: He was just like, basically like anybody else- just like, wondering why they're just talking to him- like, that's the way he would talk to us and her, saying that um- that he didn't really have nothing to do with it. That he wasn't afraid of nothing, that they had a mistake. And we just- you know, he's our family member also so we, we're with him. You know, til- til the truth comes out- we- you know, *inaudible*
Q: Was he aware that they were looking at him in connection with the Sierra situation or did he just think it was just because-
Isboset Martinez: Well-
Q: - he was public enemy number one, or whatever-?
Isboset Martinez: After- after, after they received the *inaudible*, you know, when the- when the- when the investigators came up to him and told him that he was under surveillance, but- until then, you know- everybody knew. Before that, we didn't.
Q: He knew it was specifically <video cuts off>
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/sierra-lamar-case-mother-of-suspect-antolin-garcia/vHP2S/
May 22 from video @ link
Q: What are your thoughts right now with everything that has happened right now?
Laura Torres: I feel so sad. Lost one son five months ago- and now that happens with the only son that I have. This is- it's hard. It's hard to believe all this, but - I don't know what happened. He be in the wrong place, and the wrong time. I don't know what else I can say.
Q: The sheriff said it was just something- that he just- impulse- that he just decided to do. Is that something- doesn't sound like him?
Laura Torres: No. It not sounds like he doing that.
Q: And he lives here?
Laura Torres: Yeah. He lives with me, yeah.
Q: So you live here too?
Laura Torres: Yeah, yeah. We live together. Yeah.
Q: So the two kids- his wife?
Laura Torres: Well- one- one baby because the other baby is- is- is coming.
Q: The one and a half year old girl, that-?
Laura Torres: Yeah, yeah.
Q: Nineteen months?
Laura Torres: Nineteen months.
Q: And the other baby-will be born.
Laura Torres: Uh huh.
Q: What did the Sheriff say to you?
Laura Torres: They say they used to follow all day- when they took me to- to the police station, I was laughing and I said 'Oh, I get a weekend off' and I request to get a weekend off-last day, the last day of the week- they called me over there and I laughing, I say "oh, this is like being in a movie." but-
Q: -like Candid Camera or something like that?
Laura Torres: Yeah. I said "hey- I'm in the movies". But, after- you know, that happens on Saturday, but on Sunday I went to the church, and on that day I remember the father say something that makes me put in really attention because the father say that somebody, on the- on the, you know- God's time- they say the- one person, was-um, was in jail in a cause for something that he never did, and I came and I tell Martin- my husband, I say you know what? I'm going right now, because if they follow Antolin and Antolin say that he don't do nothing, look at what happened years and years ago. That person in the Bible was in jail and he never doing nothing. That can be happens with Antolin. And I tell the police, I say- you know what? Please. Please, check a little tiny thing- check, because you can destroy one life. You guys need to be sure that Antolin doing something because if that happens- years and years ago when God- what can be right now?
Q: Did he give any indication that he was involved in this in any way, shape, or form? Did he talk to you-
Laura Torres: No. He say, no. The only thing- he passed close the other day.
Q: He what?
Laura Torres: He passed the place- the- the- the girl disappear-because he has the day off other day and he say that he left his wife and the mothers house, and then he went back to go fishing on Uvas- Uvas park or something like that. I don't know. I don't know where is that. I don't know- and, um.
Q: That's his car- the red Jetta, that is his car?
Laura Torres: Yeah, yeah. That's his car.
Q: Were you here- when they- when they- did they tell you here that they had arrested him at Safeway?
Laura Torres: Yeah. Yesterday I was hollered for them, I said- hey, it's 9:30 already, and what happen? They not coming. But when- when, um- my daughter in law came in and I hear E**** crying, that is when I came and I asked them- I said, what happened, what happened? And, they say- they arrested Antolin. And then Antolin called me about 11, 11 something.
Q: Last night?
Laura Torres: Last night.
Q: What did he say?
Laura Torres: He say he was really worried about that happens, but he say- Mom, be strong. I need you strong, Mom.
Q: So, you talked to him on the phone?
Laura Torres: Mhm, yeah.
Q: This was last night you talked to your son?
Laura Torres: Yeah. He say, be really strong, Mom. I need you stay up like that because if I see you down, who is going to take care of my kids? I need you to take care of E****, be behind E****, and worry about her and the baby that is on the way.
Q: Did you know that your son was being followed? Under surveillance?
Laura Torres: Oh, yeah, yeah. We know that.
Q: What were your thoughts then, when you knew that? What were you thinking?
Laura Torres: I say 'you let them doing whatever they are going to do and it's their job. If you don't do something, why you be scared. If you don't do nothing, you just let them do their job.' And, I tell the police- I say, 'hey, It's your job.' They say 'do you understand, Laura, everything? You don't get mad because we follow Antolin'? And I say, 'no, you're doing your job, I understand.' I know my job, if I can give like 5 minutes to one of my patients or I give one hour- it's up to me. I'm just asking for you guys- please, just try to be sure, find everything and believe that maybe it's one of your sons, one of your family that is in all that- and what do you think? You want everything clear. I want that my son be clear.
Q: What was your conversation like with Antolin about Sierra LaMar? Did you talk about the case at all? I'm sure you had to hear about it on the news.
Laura Torres: Yeah. We hear about, you know- I always working, and when I'm coming home he was in his room or- we really don't talk too much until they call and ask or they follow us.
Q: When did they tell you that they were following your son?
Laura Torres: Oh, it was-uh, two months ago? Uh, almost two months ago. It was on the-
Q: How was the conversation? What did they-
Laura Torres: Worry, and the first day we laughing- and I say, hey- they wrong. They- they losing the time- follow me, and follow us. I say- why they doing that? I say they need to follow somebody else. But, I told my son- don't worry. They going to find the person. If you be- like, worry- afraid, or all that- just like, because you're doing something. But if you're clear, just let them do their job.
Q: Did you ask him if he was involved in this?
Laura Torres: Yeah.
Q: What did he say?
Laura Torres: He say that he never see the lady. He don't have any contact with her. He say he- all the time, passing close. But the police say they have evidence in the car.
Q: They say they have some of his DNA on her property-
Laura Torres: Yeah.
Q: What do you think when you hear that?
Laura Torres: Well, now it's still the same. It's a surprise. Antolin say he don't do nothing. What I can say?
Q: And you believe your son?
Laura Torres: I believe my son, but I can't say- I- you know the moon they always follow everything? Or you know the sunny that always follows everything? I'm not the sun, and I'm not the moon. I'm not his- what you call it when-you do like-shadow or what you call it?
Q: Shadow.
Laura Torres: Uh huh. I not be the shadow.
Q: You can't be his shadow?
Laura Torres: No. I can say for my person, everything- because I know my person- I know where I go, what I do and everything, but- it's my son, but I can't say what he doing. I trust whatever he say, but belief- who can say 'oh, he's doing' no, he- if I don't see he doing something what I going to say? I don't have any- and it's my son, I love my son. What can I say?
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Sierra-LaMar-Suspects-Family-Speaks/152912455
May 22 from video @ link
Laura Torres: I don't think so for him doing something bad, but it's my son. What mom believes that one of their kids doing something wrong? I don't believe that, and I don't want to see him *inaudible* but it still happens.
Reporter: Garcia-Torre's mom says after she went in for questioning, she asked Antolin if he had anything to do with Sierra's disappearance.
Laura Torres: And I talk with my son- tell me the truth, what happened? Why they follow you? Say- Mom, because I pass all the time when that happens- say I never knew the lady, I- he say he never see her before. Never.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8672935
May 22 from video @ link
Reporter: It is a family the has experienced a lot of personal pain over the years. His mother tells us that his brother was hooked on drugs and alcohol, and that he died from liver failure. His father is in jail. Now, his mother who lives with him always believed that Antolin was the good son out of the two.
Antolin Garcia-Torre's mother spoke to her son last night after his arrest.
Q: Did he ever tell you that he was involved with any of this?
Laura Torres: No, he was- he say that it was a surprise for- for him too. He say that he never see the- the- the girl.
Reporter: The suspects mother says they even put a tracking device in both their cars.
Laura Torres: And Antolin find one in my car too.
Q: Oh, really?
Laura Torres: That's why they know where he going and everything.
Reporter: Torres talked to her son last night after his arrest. She says he spoke only about his child E****.
Laura Torres: I need you to be strong because I need your help. I need you taking care- my kids. They- E****. Don't let E**** alone.
http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news...cle_0289a9b9-781f-5f41-9faf-2340d1153d9b.html
May 22 more @ link
Antolin Garcia-Torres' mother, Laura Torres, sobbed outside her home at Maple Leaf RV Park when she thought about her son being taken away and charged with the murder of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, a crime she is certain he didn't commit.
I'm the mom, I know when my sons are in trouble. And he wasn't in trouble, Torres said, wiping tears from her puffy eyes. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Torres described her son as the kind of father who cooked for his wife after a long day at work, and who changed his 20-month-old daughter's diaper without being asked.
http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news...cle_524ce604-a471-11e1-8d31-001a4bcf6878.html
May 22 more @ link
Garcia-Torres attended Morgan Hill Unified School Districts Live Oak High School, before transferring to Central Continuation High School in 2010, but did not graduate, according to Julie Zintsmaster, MHUSD executive secretary.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/morgan-hill-suspects-family-member-insist-on-his/vHQLr/
May 22 from video @ link
Reporter: Antolin's friend and neighbor at the trailer park told us they used to work together at Safeway in the deli department.
Neighbor: It's just mind boggling that he would do this. It just hurts me that my friend would be the suspect in this murder.
http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/fremont-father-of-sierra-lamar-talks-about-shock/vHQBn/
May 22 from video @ link
Reporter: Steve LaMar tells me there has been a lot of crying and very little sleep in the last 24 hours. We're here at Sierra's old high school here in Fremont where signs hang in the windows and across campus. He says support from the community has given him strength.
Steve: I'm kind of in a surreal shock state.
Reporter: The support from friends has been overwhelming. Steve LaMar says yesterday was the first time investigators told him they believe his daughter is no longer alive.
Steve: That was-uh, tough to hear. Um-we're still hoping, you know- somehow- somehow they're wrong.
Steve: Missing her like crazy. Um, hoping- you know, I'm still hoping-um, she's- she's there and we're going to bring her back alive.
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