Deceased/Not Found CA - Sierra LaMar, 15, Morgan Hill, 16 March 2012 #4 *A. Garcia-Torres guilty*

[cluciano63]

Gosh, maybe it is just me, but I have a feeling that LE still doesn't have anything that points specifically to one thing or another, i.e. stranger abduction vs. left with a "friend", vs. runaway, etc...JMO

 

[gngr~snap]

Hi Guys

Would someone mind explaining to me telephone pings please?

Because I was just wondering - She sent the text just after 7 from her home. Would they know this because of what was in the text message or the actual location of the phone?

Would the police know by now how long the phone had been where it was found? and would they be able to track where it had been in between the text and the phone being found?


Thank you

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...-your-droid/&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13328591596321
It might not have been pings?
Samsung smartphones have GPS locators. You can use another cell phone and txt the cell asking for it's location. The phone sends an sms msg back with the GPS coordinates.
That way it can be located if lost or stolen.
The phone can be located quicker this way.

The pings triangulate towers and can tell LE how long the phone had been there and if it had left the area prior to being tossed.
It takes a little longer to get this info from the carrier.

 

[calamityjane831]

After driving the area today, I really don't think it was staged. I think they were tossed from the get go. JMO though.

I have driven that area too and I felt the same thing. Yes it is just a gut feeling but being there somehow puts it in a different perspective then cases that I can only read about and study on paper so to speak.

 

[houndstooth]

The bag and phone are still the only substantial evidence at this point, and it seems like there are a few different opinions as to how they got there.

a)They were "placed" there, which implies they were purposely put in those locations for misdirection of some sort.

There are an endless number of options as to why/who would do this. So many that its hard to speculate based on this. The only option that really stands out to me is that Sierra would have placed them there to either runaway or fake a kidnapping. That just doesn't seem very likely to me.

Also, these areas are out in the open, and not that "rural". It would be pretty risky for someone to stop their car, get out and go place the purse in a "secreted" manner, when they could just as easily throw it.

b)They were thrown from a moving vehicle.
I still think the location of the items, and her normal path are very telling. She was likely picked up at the end of her driveway by someone she at least knew somewhat. (The reason I say this, is that a perp would rather wait until she is away from home in case she gets away so she cant run back in the house and lock the door. Also, neighbors would potentially see a struggle. And her scent was lost at the driveway).

They then traveled toward her bus stop. They made a right (I couldn't tell which direction the bus normally went to school, but it makes sense that it would go the oposite direction toward Monterey Rd.)

At this point Sierra would have known the driver wasn't taking her to school. (Unless the driver convinced her to go elsewhere before school, maybe for some food/coffee? The options are endless. Or its possible she wanted to skip school that day)

And then about 1/2 a mile further her phone was thrown from the car. (Ok, its possible this didn't happen until a later time between then and when the phone was found on saturday, but most likely it happened right then, around 7:30am) Most likely Sierra realized something was not right, and tried to call the Police or her parents. The perp didn't want that to happen, so he/she/they through the pone out the window.

They then made a right on Santa Teresa, and would have been struggling with Sierra at this point. They subdued her after a short while, and then threw her purse out the window.



Thats my opinion at this moment. I dont think the items were placed there at a different time.

I have a second possible opinion though, that I hope is not correct.

The above path of travel and chain of events would lead you to believe that whoever took her would either travel west on Bailey or East toward Highway 101 and Monterey Rd.

Does anyone know if they've spent much time searching West on bailey back by the reservoirs?

If they haven't put much of a search on back there, and the fact that they narrowed in on the area around the house so much leads me to believe the contents of either her purse, phone, or computer suggested to them that a crime may have occured close to home.

I dont like this option, and the first scenario seems more likely, but at this point, its stills seems as if anything is possible.

And yet, by merely turning to the left at Palm Ave., they could have been on the Monterrey Hwy and GONE completely from the area!

But, we find things right there in her neighborhood instead.
This is the strongest indication of non-stranger involvement, and staging
of the items found.

 

[liz b.]

If her mom closed the gate when she left for work, Sierra could have seen if a vehicle was parked outside the gate, in the street. She could also have seen anyone who was loitering outside the gate,in the street,as she walked down the driveway... The gate would have protected her in that way.

And,I'm sure her mom did close the gate, it even looks like it could be an electronic gate, which closes automatically...

So, I'm thinking that if she was abducted,it had to be as she came out of the gate, into the street. And,it would seem that it had to be someone who she would not have been too surprised to see in the street... Someone whose presence there in the street did not alarm her.Because she was used to seeing this person(s) out in the cul de sac.. Otherwise, I doubt she would have opened the gate and walked out into the street... JMO

 

[Oriah]

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...-your-droid/&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13328591596321
It might not have been pings?
Samsung smartphones have GPS locators. You can use another cell phone and txt the cell asking for it's location. The phone sends an sms msg back with the GPS coordinates.
That way it can be located if lost or stolen.
The phone can be located quicker this way.

The pings triangulate towers and can tell LE how long the phone had been there and if it had left the area prior to being tossed.
It takes a little longer to get this info from the carrier.

And as sarx noted way upthread, I believe, it appears there was another smartphone available.

 

[sindydee]

The bag and phone are still the only substantial evidence at this point, and it seems like there are a few different opinions as to how they got there.

a)They were "placed" there, which implies they were purposely put in those locations for misdirection of some sort.

There are an endless number of options as to why/who would do this. So many that its hard to speculate based on this. The only option that really stands out to me is that Sierra would have placed them there to either runaway or fake a kidnapping. That just doesn't seem very likely to me.

Also, these areas are out in the open, and not that "rural". It would be pretty risky for someone to stop their car, get out and go place the purse in a "secreted" manner, when they could just as easily throw it.

b)They were thrown from a moving vehicle.
I still think the location of the items, and her normal path are very telling. She was likely picked up at the end of her driveway by someone she at least knew somewhat. (The reason I say this, is that a perp would rather wait until she is away from home in case she gets away so she cant run back in the house and lock the door. Also, neighbors would potentially see a struggle. And her scent was lost at the driveway).

They then traveled toward her bus stop. They made a right (I couldn't tell which direction the bus normally went to school, but it makes sense that it would go the oposite direction toward Monterey Rd.)

At this point Sierra would have known the driver wasn't taking her to school. (Unless the driver convinced her to go elsewhere before school, maybe for some food/coffee? The options are endless. Or its possible she wanted to skip school that day)

And then about 1/2 a mile further her phone was thrown from the car. (Ok, its possible this didn't happen until a later time between then and when the phone was found on saturday, but most likely it happened right then, around 7:30am) Most likely Sierra realized something was not right, and tried to call the Police or her parents. The perp didn't want that to happen, so he/she/they through the pone out the window.

They then made a right on Santa Teresa, and would have been struggling with Sierra at this point. They subdued her after a short while, and then threw her purse out the window.



Thats my opinion at this moment. I dont think the items were placed there at a different time.

I have a second possible opinion though, that I hope is not correct.

The above path of travel and chain of events would lead you to believe that whoever took her would either travel west on Bailey or East toward Highway 101 and Monterey Rd.

Does anyone know if they've spent much time searching West on bailey back by the reservoirs?

If they haven't put much of a search on back there, and the fact that they narrowed in on the area around the house so much leads me to believe the contents of either her purse, phone, or computer suggested to them that a crime may have occured close to home.

I dont like this option, and the first scenario seems more likely, but at this point, its stills seems as if anything is possible.

I agree. That's why I was asking the question about the phone pings. It would make sense that if the phone was there all the time then that's why they have been concentrating their search - investigation within the 2 mile radius. They have searched here TWICE.

 

[sarx]

Editing out, clearly I have not had my coffee yet. Not going down this road anymore.

 

[sarx]

I have driven that area too and I felt the same thing. Yes it is just a gut feeling but being there somehow puts it in a different perspective then cases that I can only read about and study on paper so to speak.

It really does huh? I am very familiar with the area to begin with, but not from the perspective of a MP case, so I viewed it in a totally different light.

 

[houndstooth]

If her mom closed the gate when she left for work, Sierra could have seen if a vehicle was parked outside the gate, in the street. She could also have seen anyone who was loitering outside the gate,in the street,as she walked down the driveway... The gate would have protected her in that way.

And,I'm sure her mom did close the gate, it even looks like it could be an electronic gate, which closes automatically...

So, I'm thinking that if she was abducted,it had to be as she came out of the gate, into the street. And,it would seem that it had to be someone who she would not have been too surprised to see in the street... Someone whose presence there in the street did not alarm her.Because she was used to seeing this person(s) out in the cul de sac.. Otherwise, I doubt she would have opened the gate and walked out into the street... JMO

Or she didn't walk down the drive until she saw her "ride" pull up at the gate.
There was talk of her having "plans" with someone on Twitter.
If not that, then someone she had spoken to IN PERSON.
That would leave NO text trail to follow.

 

[sindydee]

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...-your-droid/&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13328591596321
It might not have been pings?
Samsung smartphones have GPS locators. You can use another cell phone and txt the cell asking for it's location. The phone sends an sms msg back with the GPS coordinates.
That way it can be located if lost or stolen.
The phone can be located quicker this way.

The pings triangulate towers and can tell LE how long the phone had been there and if it had left the area prior to being tossed.
It takes a little longer to get this info from the carrier.

Thank you xx

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Every time I think about the "neatly folded clothes" my mind goes to military, or ex military personel. Making a bed neatly and folding clothes in a specific way is instilled in the troops from boot camp and is second nature to them. I would be looking at any RSOs w/ a military background. MOO :moo:

Neatly folded clothes still leads me to female kidnapper...of course not completely.
But Military personnel is a logical thought, and one I had not thought of! Good thinking!

 

[nutkin]

But just because some one knows the general schedule of the family it does not mean they are sure who comes home when, imo. Someone might take a long lunch break or come home early for some reason. Why chance that?

You are thinking as a reasonable and rational person. These types of people that commit these crimes are neither reasonable nor rational. BTK stalked victims for months sometimes before attacking. And he was interrupted several times by people coming home (Joseph Otero) or the phone ringing (Shirley Vian), but that didn't deter him.

 

[liltexans]

Lots of great information here:

http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/s...ice of the (ELO)/Special Units/SAFE TaskForce

UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL PREDATORS

Although some sex offenders are strangers and stalkers, many know the victim as a family member, friend or neighbor. These predators target adults, teens and children and often have well-developed techniques for luring victims. These include cautious predatory search for an easy victim and practiced assessment of the victim’s vulnerability (safety and security levels), personality, physical abilities and lifestyle.
How Do Predators Select Their Victims?

Vulnerability – 100%
Availability – 98%
Gender – 95%
Location – 66%
Race – 63%
Appearance – 39%
No special reason – 25%

Source: Hazelwood and Warren, 1995

Serial killers and sexual sadists, both predators, love to drive. It is not unusual for them to put thousands of excessive miles per month and year on their car. (5)

Predatory behavior is resistant to permanent rehabilitation: at least 50% of all convicted sexual predators will re-offend. (6)

CHILD SEXUAL PREDATORS

Because of their vulnerability, children are a favored target of sex offenders.

One in four girls is sexually abused before the age of 14. One in six boys is sexually abused before the age of 16. (7)

The median age for reported sexual abuse is nine years old. (8)

Research shows that reporting of these offenses is very low. One study reported that only one in ten child victims reports the abuse. (9)

Children are the segment of our U.S. population with the highest crime victimization rates.

Teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3.5 times more likely to be sexually abused than the general population. (10)

The U.S. leads the world in its rate of juvenile homicide victimization.

The average pedophile

will victimize between 50-150 children before he comes to the attention of law enforcement.

seeks out mothers of single parent families to victimize their children.

Likes places where children congregate.

participates in activities with teens, seeking activities that exclude adults or offering sports expertise to parent/teens who want to excel.

seeks employment or volunteers where they will be in contact with children and teens.

CHILD SAFETY TIPS

Good communication between parents and children is the most important way to keep them safe from sexual abuse. Talk to them every day and take time to listen and observe.

Introduce safety information to children as early as age two. Even young children can understand concepts related to abuse; for example, some wrong-minded adults, even someone they know and trust, may try to touch, threaten or hurt them.

Many parents warn their children not to talk to strangers. But more often than not, the child knows an abuser or abductor: a school bus driver, teacher, relative, neighbor or family friend. Many times the molestation occurs in the victim’s or abuser’s home.

Teach your children what behaviors and situations are unacceptable and how to avoid them, such as what touches are good and what touches are bad. No one should touch them in the parts covered by their bathing suit, and they should not be asked to touch anyone there.

Don’t let anyone take the child’s picture without permission from his or her parents or teacher.

Teach children to stay away from people who call them to their car.

If someone tries to take a child, they should yell, “This person is not my father (or mother),” and run.

If lost in a store, the child should find another mom with children or go to the checkout counter. They should not wander around on their own.
Back to Top

INTERNET

FACTS:

One in 5 children from ages 10-17 who are regular Internet users are sexually solicited online. One in 4 receives unwanted sexual content online. (11)

Solicitation of minors for sex online is growing at the rate of 1000% every month. (12)

Fewer than 15% of parents feel they know more about PCs than their teenage sons or daughters, or how to trace where their PC has "traveled" online.

 

[KrazyKatLadi]

After thinking more about it, I think maybe she had changed into a different outfit (maybe one that didn't require panties or bra) and intended to change before coming home. That purse isn't really very big. If she folded the clothes up and zipped the bag, I don't think they'd unfold if it was tossed. How far from the intersection was it found? Could the car have been stopped at a red light?

I'd still like to know if books were found too or any personal items.

 

[nutkin]

A stun gun that is available to civilians doesn't carry enough voltage to cause someone to lose bladder control. It's the equivelant of shocking yourself on the light socket. IOW - civilian "stun guns" are basically useless.

LE or military personnel would have access to a taser that carries enough voltage to cause someone to lose bladder control.

That isn't correct. LE voltage for a stun gun is generally 75-200KV. A civilian can purchase a stun gun with a voltage at 4.5 millionKV.

 

[houndstooth]

I can't discount her saying she and another person on Twitter have "PLANS" (her words),
to go to LA to OF.
Posted two days before she "disapppeared".
Then, another Twitter 'friend' of hers shows up commenting on the story of OF's Grand Opening in LA. The story was from back in November. The comment just a couple days ago. Coincidence?

The comment itself seemed "stagey".

 

[liz b.]

Or she didn't walk down the drive until she saw her "ride" pull up at the gate.
There was talk of her having "plans" with someone on Twitter.
If not that, then someone she had spoken to IN PERSON.
That would leave NO text trail to follow.

Of course...but,based on the 7:11 am text to her friend in which LE says there was nothing unusual revealed, I do not think she met anyone, or left voluntarily. I'm betting LE has actually seen the text too...MOO And she was on her way out as she texted ? MOO

 

[houndstooth]

Of course...but,based on the 7:11 am text to her friend in which LE says there was nothing unusual revealed, I do not think she met anyone, or left voluntarily. I'm betting LE has actually seen the text too...MOO And she was on her way out as she texted ? MOO

Suppose the text you are referring to has nothing to do with her plans?
She would just text back an appropriate response, and go on about her
business.

I don't see the last person she texted as holding concrete significance, necessarily.

 

[nutkin]

Another thought about the clothing... I know that when I was in school a lot of girls would wear one thing from home and change into other clothes once they got to school (maybe something their parents wouldn't approve of). I'm not sure if that is an option nowadays because I know the dress codes around here have gotten much more strict.