Family, friends seek closure as jury selection begins in Sierra LaMar's murder case
POSTED:OCT 18 2016 02:11AM PDT
UPDATED:OCT 18 2016 02:32AM PDT
KTVU's Azenith Smith spoke with Sierra LaMar's family, best friend and volunteer searchers who have been waiting for her jury selection. That day has come but it's been four years since the 15-year-old girl disappeared from Morgan Hill.
MORGAN HILL, Calif. (KTVU) - Its arguably the most high-profile criminal case in Santa Clara County; one the district attorney has called his top priority.
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We spoke to Sierras family, best friend and volunteer searchers who have been waiting for this day. Also, a father who knows their agony far too well.
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Tucked in the farm land at the intersection of Palm and Doughtery Avenues pink ribbons still cling to poles, tattered but still intact. They symbolize the search for Sierra
"There's a sadness here that you feel, that you can't help but feel as you drive by, says Roger Nelson a volunteer search coordinator.
The spot marks where the 15-year-old girl would catch the school bus. But on March 16, 2012 she never made it. A desperate search for the girl followed.
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The majority of searchers never met Sierra.
Theres been over 1,150 searches, over 55,000 person hours involved in this from the beginning, Nelson says.
I just put myself in their shoes. Its a horrible feeling. No parent should have to go through that feeling, says Renee Figueira.
This group, among the original searchers, come from different walks of life, yet theyre united and motivated to find the Sobrato High School sophomore with a smile as big as her glowing personality.
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Sierras father Steve saw Garcia-Torres for the first time in August for a preliminary hearing.
Its kind of grief, overwhelming grief along with being in limbo, her father says.
The most difficult part for him were grand jury transcripts where prosecutors reveal Sierras hair was found on rope in the trunk of Garcia-Torres car and markings on Sierras clothes that indicate she had been dragged.
Steve Lamar says he has a hard time looking at Garcia-Torres in court.
I just focus on whats happening in the courtroom. I dont look over there very often, he says.
Recently though, he says he has been able to watch home videos of Sierra, even though he may never know what happened to her.
Ive come to terms with maybe I will never know that, but Im still trying to find out, says Lamar.
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"It's so sad it's horrible he would come to that. He would have to conclude that, but he's absolutely right. Steve and I belong to a club no one wants to belong to, says Klaas who founded KlaasKids Foundation.
Klaas daughters case took three years to go to trial with a change of venue.
"Am i shocked by the glacial pace of the criminal justice system? No. I think it's pretty obvious we have a broken criminal justice system, says Klaas.
A justice system that he says plays to the defendant.
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A committed group of a dozen volunteers meet once a month to search for Sierra. All of them are searching for answers.
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As for Sierras father Steve, his hope is for justice, although he says he lost a part of himself the day Sierra was taken.
Its never full closure. It will only be helpful answers, he says.
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Sierras family says if he is found guilty, they want the death penalty and that the penalty fits the crime. Jury selection begins two days from what would have been Sierras 20th birthday.
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http://www.ktvu.com/news/212159310-story
RBBM,
I have been aware of these quiet, ongoing searches, led by this amazing group of people. This is the first time the #SierraSearchTeam has gone public. I've never known of a more dedicated group of searchers in the history of a missing child/persons case! They are truly incredible, and I hope that they are able to one day #FindSierra and #BringSierraHome, where she belongs....
:candle:
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