Families move every day in this country. The adults are the ones who have to make these decisions, not the kids. Teenagers have to learn how to handle changes and hurdles in life. They need to know that there will be bumps in the road, and to either go around them or step over them and move on. I don't think Sierra having to change schools had a lot to do with her going missing. And if this move caused her mom a little less time with her, why would that be such a big deal? Most teen girls don't want to be close to their moms every minute. They love having a little freedom, a little more time to be on their computer or their Iphones, chatting with friends. I know very few 15 y.o.'s who want to hang with their moms all the time.
This is not directed at you, but I'm sensing that some are wanting to blame the mom because she had to leave for work an hour or so before Sierra left for school and probably didn't make it home for an hour or two after she got off the bus. I know of 5th and 6th graders who have to get themselves off to school every morning because both parents have to go to work early and get home late. There are 10 and 12 yr. olds known as latchkey kids, they get off the bus or walk home from school 2 hours before the parent(s) get home from work. A 15 yr. old should be capable of being by herself without Mom having to be there. What happened to Sierra had nothing to do with her mom's hours of work or drive time. Someone came along and took an opportunity to grab a young girl, and the rest is history. Whether it was someone she knew or a stranger, we don't know, but I don't think the mom should be blamed. This is not about her, it's about Sierra.