GUILTY Turkey - Sarai Sierra, 33, NY woman murdered, Istanbul, 21 Jan 2013 - #1

[Walker]

I understand what a mule is and that women are usually mules b/c they are unsuspecting. What I'm talking about is the fact that many women go missing yet I hardly see such negative comments about them. The fact that she is Latina is causing people to make uneccessary derogatory comments about her. For example, a few months ago when a woman named Robin went to Aruba with a man she didn't know I didn't see anyone posting that she may probably be an "escort". Everyone was commenting on the "bad man who took the blonde girl". But, with SS I am reading all over the internet that there is a drug angle. This is bothersome. I promise you if she was a blonde girl no one would be using this mule angle. You would only see postings that a "bad Turk took the blonde girl". This is very irritating.

Not true. Please read more WS threads. Almost every disappearance of a college or univerity student will bring up a suggestion of drugs.

 

[GinaSeikwa]

The friend backing out at the last minute does give me pause. What was their plan when they booked their trip together? Why Turkey specifically? It is a peculiar choice as a first overseas destination. Was it always planned as just flying to Istanbul, staying there for three weeks and flying home again? Did her friend already pay for her airfare? Do you even get your money refunded for the airfare if you cancel? Look I am not one to go for the wild cloak and dagger theories either but like a previous poster so eloquently stated when you put ALL the scenarios that occurred on this trip together as a whole there is a lot of things that don't necessarily make sense.
I have not seen all of SS IG photos from her trip but 3 weeks in Turkey is an awfully long time. Did she travel within Turkey extensively while she was there? There are so many must-sees if you are travelling there. I backpacked to Istanbul by myself for a week a few years ago. In 7 days I was able to travel to Izmir, Ephesus, and Pammukale as well as spend time exploring Istanbul. If SS did not even visit other parts of Turkey...(especially Ephesus which is a once in a lifetime experience to see) than this too becomes an aspect of the trip that is odd.
As an aside, I am a fair skinned blonde and I never once felt threatened for my safety while in Istanbul. Yes the men do leer and do this annoying "pssst" "psssst" sound with their mouths when you pass by but I generally found them to be extremely respectful of female tourists. I sincerely pray that Sarai voluntarily left for whatever reason. Maybe she is frightened if there is indeed any truth to the mule aspect and is hiding out somewhere. As or this Taylan guy I hope answers will be forthcoming soon.

 

[necco]

(Forgive me, I don't know how to quote multiple posts)

Someone said that drugs would not be smuggled by air between Amsterdam and Turkey because you could drive without hitting a border. Amsterdam is in the EU. Amsterdam is within the Schengen passport area. Turkey is in neither. And there is a wide swath of non-Schengen countries before you get to Turkey. There would be border checks for vehicles.
(Schengen is an international agreement that eliminates border crossings in participating countries because basically they trust the other Area countries immigration checks when entering them.) Schengen Area - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That being said, I'm not on board with the drug mule theory. However, if we're considering smuggling, there are other types that go one. Currency smuggling, gold smuggling and particularly out of Turkey, antiquities smuggling should all be considered if drugs are. In fact, I'd be more likely to believe a non-seasoned traveler could be tricked into one of these than drug smuggling. Everyone knows drug smuggling is illegal. One might not know that the guy paying for you to have a walkabout in Amsterdam simply for delivering a vase or something is up to no good.

As for "Why Turkey?" There could be a whole host of reasons why this was her choice. Some people like to be able to say they've been someplace most people haven't. Maybe she read something as a child about Turkey and has dreamed of going there. Maybe she really liked the TMBG cover of Istanbul. People I know have gone to "random" countries for sillier reasons. Perhaps it was a flight of adventurous whimsy. She's in her 30s. Married young. Never left the US. Maybe she just decided it was time to do something that was completely hers.

 

[looking4answers]

I am starting to agree with the drug theories, but not on her end..maybe that too many people in society are doing them, and it is affecting their decision making in general. I think this is a serious problem, and just as much as people should not drink and drive, they should not do drugs and be online..I think this too is very dangerous.:floorlaugh:

 

[ToutCa]

WHAT WE KNOW: Sarai was supposed to meet up with some guy at Galata Tower called "Taylan" the day she was leaving. Instant messages have her on her way, and she's never seen again after the planned meeting. Reports claim "Taylan"'s identity is known to LE and that he will be interviewed soon.

QUESTIONS: What was the purpose of the meeting? If it was "photography", why did she leave her cell phone (the only thing she used to take pictures) in her room? If it was not photography, what was it for? Had she and "Taylan" met in person in Istanbul before? If it was a romantic hook-up, where did they go and where did he last see her?

THEORIES: I hope she's OK, but sadly, it's hard to see how. If I had to guess, I would say 90% chance a hook-up between her and "Taylan" or a random post-"Taylan" fellow (that may or may not have started consensually) went very wrong. Please note that it would be virtually impossible to get Sarai to leave the Galata Tower area against her will: this is a major tourist attraction and local economic hub that would have been teeming with people midday. There is no way to abduct someone by force without leaving dozens if not hundreds of witnesses. She would have had to be enticed into some sort of transport to get her out of there.

Then maybe 7% on the drug angle, 2% an accidental fall into the river, 1% something none of us have thought of. As for the drugs, we have no evidence (yet), only wild speculation. In that drug speculation, it's hard to imagine any scenario that ends up with killing an American (dumbest thing any criminal organization wanting to stay in the shadows in Turkey could do, surely).

 

[ToutCa]

AMSTERDAM: The side trip is likely unrelated to her disappearance, but it does show a woman alone on her first trip ever abroad willing to take odd risks with multiple guys she doesn't know. Trusting far too easily and exhibiting extreme naiveté seem to be part of the story here. How far she was cutting loose and partying with these guys matters less than her strange willingness to put herself repeatedly in positions of vulnerability.

MUNICH: Was she there? Where did she stay? How many days? Was it 3 in Am, 1 in Mun, or 1 in Am and 3 in Mun? Why all the confusion? Was she dishonest with her family in where she was? Why? There has been a lot of fudging on this part of the itinerary. When was the side trip travel booked, and what was the purpose of that part of the trip? If last minute, wasn't it prohibitively expensive? If so, where did she get the money, given that she was visiting Istanbul on a shoe-string?

ISTANBUL: (1) Globe-trotting American tourists are not sex-trafficked, poor women without resources from poor countries are. (2) Her AirBnb digs were in a typical urban area in a poorer country, BUT ALSO literally steps from the main drag filled with embassies, government ministries and hundreds of upscale boutiques. I don't find it weird or unsafe at all to be staying there. Her neighborhood appears to have nothing to do with her disappearance.
(3) How many guys did she meet in person in Istanbul? Did she meet any women, or only men? Why? If there were hook-ups under cover of "photography" pals, where did they go? Her place or theirs? If they can uncover other adventures, her past practices shed light on what she might have been expecting from "Taylan". (4) When was her flight on Jan. 21 and did she have time to make it after a noon "meeting" with "Taylan"? (5) Did she spend large amounts of money in Istanbul (and elsewhere) or is this just rumor-mongering by the local press trying to make her seem shady?

 

[blossomfish]

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...g-turkey-hunt-article-1.1248989#ixzz2JJTiYeMW

The sixth paragraph of this article mentions that her family said she was headed to Turkey to "photograph graffiti and to meet up with strangers she met online through Instagram".

I thought it was strange to choose Turkey for a first trip outside the US, but maybe she made "friends" on the photo sharing site and they convinced her it was the right place for her trip. I wonder if she got caught up in something that was too much for her to handle, once she arrived there, due to her inexperience and possibly being too trusting of strangers...

She doesn't seem like someone who would knowingly do something wrong, but maybe being in a faraway place, alone, I could see someone get taken advantage of easier.

I am hoping for her safe return. I must say that it seems that the authorities in Turkey are working very hard and quickly, to try and track her down. The citizens there seem very willing to help and concerned as well.

 

[monkey222]

Thx Bloosomfish for link. This article states that both her Galaxy phone and Ipad were in her room, I seen other reports where maybe she had her ph with her on last day. So, the last messages to Taylon maybe were from internet cafe...?? since the first message is that she is half way to bridge..did she get another phone while there? borrow someones on the tram? what was she going to take pics w on her last day..?? Maybe borrowing Taylons???

 

[michellemarls]

Missing American woman uses her US phone after disappearing

Police think there is a good chance American woman Sarai Sierra, who has been missing in Istanbul since Jan. 21, is still alive after discovering her American phone was activated twice since she was reported missing, according to daily Sabah.

Sierra reportedly made a call using a Skype application on her American phone Jan. 30, nine days after she reportedly went missing. The woman’s phone was turned on once again yesterday, daily Sabah

Last-known contact, Taylan did not meet with Sierra

One of Sierra’s last-known contacts, a man reportedly named “Taylan,” told police the two didn’t meet Jan.21, the day American woman went missing, daily Hürriyet has reported.

“We did not meet that day, but we had met before,” Taylan, reportedly said, adding that he had first met Sierra online four months ago.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mi...ring-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40232&NewsCatID=341

 

[blossomfish]

I hope she gets found soon! Interesting that she had "met" Taylan online 4 months ago, according to the above article. This is getting very complicated...

 

[monkey222]

Wow. Thx.Michelle. So SHE used her phone on Jan 30 2 days ago, after reported missing and for Skype! So..the article states used by her vs someone else. And with Skype it would be w live pic, right? Im not a Skyper but I assume who ever she called could see her and her surrounds. Am I getting this right?

 

[michellemarls]

Wow. Thx.Michelle. So SHE used her phone on Jan 30 2 days ago, after reported missing and for Skype! So..the article states used by her vs someone else. And with Skype it would be w live pic, right? Im not a Skyper but I assume who ever she called could see her and her surrounds. Am I getting this right?

Yes, it's a very interesting revelation isn't it. Yes when you Skype someone you can talk to them as you see them too. You are right, hopefuly they know who was sky[ped through an IP address or other means and they can verify if it was indeed Sarai that person was talking to. I think wether or not it was Sarai or not, that this mystery is being very quickly unravelled and authorities will find out the truth very soon indeed .

 

[ami]

Wouldn’t a first time traveler want to wait for a time that she and her husband could go as a couple, given that this isn’t the kind of trip that is likely to be repeated at any time in the near future? If you are going to go without your family, why stay for 3 weeks? Wouldn’t a ten day trip be plenty of time to explore some local culture, take some pictures, and go home? In fact, the whole idea of using photography as a key motivation for the trip strikes me as odd. She isn’t a professional photographer, she’s a hobbyist, and there are lots of beautiful places to take photos a lot closer to home.

Then there’s the question of why Istanbul. It is supposed to be lovely, and it is a fairly popular destination for Americans (tied for 24 on the US Commerce Department’s list) but still, it isn’t London, Paris or Rome. Not the likeliest trip for a first-time traveler. Even if we assume she was able to get a better deal to Istanbul than to a place like Rome, I find it hard to believe she couldn’t have taken a two week trip to a different city (and perhaps one more conveniently positioned for multi-country travel) for similar cost.
....

The friend cancelling is the final bizarre piece of the puzzle for me.

RS for space...

I know that a lot of people have been thinking how weird it was for her to travel, travel alone, travel to Istanbul, etc - however the entire reason I was so drawn to this story is because I have done exactly this (a woman with children back home traveling completely alone) many times - and one of those times was my 'first time' and my first solo trip was NOT to any of the "Big 5" destinations in Europe. In fact it took a decade of traveling before I ever set foot in Paris, Rome, London, etc. And I still travel alone to this day and ALWAYS meet women from all walks of life who find joy and happiness in traveling alone. There are entire blogs dedicated to sole female travel. One of the most popular is hosted by a woman I believe in her 50's - it's not just for 20 year old backpackers during their gap year anymore.

She wanted to take photographs and Rome and Paris et al., are some of the most (over)photographed places in the world. If she wanted culture and interesting pictures of beauty and a gorgeous skyline and a little grittiness, like she photographed and clearly loved in NYC, and if she had access to IG pictures from "friends" all over the world and saw some pics of Istanbul that really spoke her, then she chose exactly the right place for herself. And 3 weeks is a lot to spend in one city, but she really didn't spend it all there as she also traveled to A'dam and apparently Munich. But it's a nice chunk of time to immerse yourself in a culture, live in a neighborhood rather than a hotel, soak up the language and the food and the feel of the place.

I know a lot of people here might find that strange - we all live differently - but believe me there are thousands of wives and mothers traveling alone to every corner of the world right now as we type with no ulterior motives beyond wanting to enrich their lives in personal ways.

eta: and the friend canceling doesn't surprise me either. The friend has publicly spoken about this and says she feels horribly guilty for her cancellation (which was financially motivated she said) and is one of the main people getting Sarai's name and face out there on posters and news stories. Since this trip was in early January, directly after Christmas, I can see how it would have sounded doable in September (or whenever) but impossible during the holidays.

I hope she gets found soon! Interesting that she had "met" Taylan online 4 months ago, according to the above article. This is getting very complicated...

I think they said "met online" - or pretty much "got to know each other" via comments on pictures. That was my take on it....

 

[LJKaust]

I don't buy the smuggling angle either. Her online friends not knowing about her children may just be her safeguarding her children's privacy. I commend her on that. People should be very careful about what information they put online about their kids.

I totally agree that we need to protect our children from online dangers, but I get the feeling that she was perhaps creating an online persona for which children wouldn't have fitted and that is why none of her IG friend's knew of them. Maybe this is all of her own doing? Maybe she is having some kind of midlife crisis?

 

[stmarysmead]

There is a recklessness to this story and I can't decide if it's due to naivete or over confidence, or maybe both. I can accept that there is nothing strange about traveling alone, or choosing an uncommon first destination, but the interaction with men she met on the Internet tothe extent of staying with one of them in Amsterdam, that is an unsafe and unwise move.

Her Mother said she did not want her to go. If her Mother knew of these types of plans, I can understand why. The friend backed out. Was she concerned about what Sarai had in mind for the two of them?

I wonder if the husband and family did not "sign on" to the rather inexpensive trip to Turkey...but once Sarai got to Istanbul, she began spending money on these other trips. The husband might be the source of the $10,000 figure. I also find it hard to believe that they would not be worried about her staying on an Internet friend's couch. I wonder if there was some discord.

It may not be unusual for a woman to travel alone to an exotic place, but Sarai made some reckless choices once away. I am very afraid for her.

 

[vesa]

The man, who identified himself to Sierra on social media sites as “Taylan,” was taken into custody after being questioned yesterday by authorities. The man reportedly told police during interrogation that the two did not meet Jan. 21 despite planning to do so, daily Hürriyet has reported.

http://http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/missing-us-womans-last-known-contact-taken-into-custody.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40232&NewsCatID=341

 

[blossomfish]

My thought was that maybe he (Taylan) was the one who influenced her to take the trip to Turkey in the first place. I hope they can get some information from him.

 

[blossomfish]

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mi...stody.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40232&NewsCatID=341

Here is the article that was posted above but had a slight format error...

 

[ToutCa]

Be fore-warned, the Turkish press has been wrong about events in this case before (or at least been hotly contradicted by other sources).

The Turkish press says "Taylan" is in custody but denies meeting Sarai on the 21st. If he's in custody, it's because they do not believe him.

Then the Turkish press claims someone turned on her American phone and used Skype on the 30th, and turned the phone on again on the 31st. WHAT?! Up to now everyone said her phone was found in her room!!! If the phone was used on the 30th, who was skyped??!! And where was the phone when it was turned on each day??

If the phone story is true, there are three options here: (1) Sarai is alive and responsible for her own disappearance, (2) Sarai is not alive and her abductor (possibly "Taylan") used the phone to deflect blame, or (3) Sarai is alive and trying to get help -- but why would she not have Skyped someone close to her and gotten word out that way on the 30th?

This story turns more bizarre by the day. I really feel for people close to her, as it seems to only get harder to get a handle on what happened.

 

[blossomfish]

I think one of the previous articles mentioned that she had bought a local phone to use while in Turkey and was not using her American one, but I can't remember where I had read that. Maybe there is confusion as to which phone was found in her room.