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

[KuriousKev]

I still can't wait to visit NYC and the States though

Make sure it's during the holiday season! NYC is magical during that time Every time I plan to leave NY I end up finding a reason (or two) to stay.

 

[KuriousKev]

My guess is that this tragedy really has little to do with where it took place, culture or nationality. I think that putting her photos on Instagram...just fourmonths ago...and finding praise and acclaim for her very real talent...opened up a new exciting world to this young wife and mother. Suddenly, she was "meeting" and being praised by artistic young men in wonderful cities around the world. Her hard working husband of 14 years may have suddenly seemed dull to her.

IMO, this trip was as much about meeting these artistic new friends...enetering into this "artsy" world where she suddenly fit in and found praise and excitement. She thought she "knew" these people, but , in online relationships, how much can you really know? I think she decided to meet the most fascinating of these online friends in their cities, even if she had to sleep on a couch in a strangers home. I think this may be why the friend backed out.

This is amazingly the most probable scenario. Internet fame for a newly discovered hobby in such a short period of time sparked her curiosity while softening her NYC sensibility.

 

[SurfieTX]

My guess is that this tragedy really has little to do with where it took place, culture or nationality. I think that putting her photos on Instagram...just fourmonths ago...and finding praise and acclaim for her very real talent...opened up a new exciting world to this young wife and mother. Suddenly, she was "meeting" and being praised by artistic young men in wonderful cities around the world. Her hard working husband of 14 years may have suddenly seemed dull to her.

IMO, this trip was as much about meeting these artistic new friends...enetering into this "artsy" world where she suddenly fit in and found praise and excitement. She thought she "knew" these people, but , in online relationships, how much can you really know? I think she decided to meet the most fascinating of these online friends in their cities, even if she had to sleep on a couch in a strangers home. I think this may be why the friend backed out.

SS knew only that these were artistic young men who shared her love of photography. Sheknew nothing of their temperment, criminal history, etc. I can see the glamour of this to a beautiful young woman who perhaps married too young and never explored her own talents before. She was besotted by the whole artistic side of these men. Maybe she did not want romance, but there is "romance" in this kind of blindness.

These men she visited were the ones that probably fascinated her most...they appear to be young, attractive students. She was not meeting anyone's grandfather though surely there are some fabulous photographers in every age group.

The fact that she was coming home early may indicate she was missing her REAL life. I don't think anyone necessarily wanted to force her to stay. It might just be temper, or emotional issues etc...all things easily disguised in an online personality.

This might have happened meeting some strange artist in Kansas. She just thought that knowing they also loved photography, was all she needed to know.

BBM: MTV has an excellent show about this called Catfish. It's pretty amazing how people create online personas that are NOTHING like they are in "real life," men posing as women, women posing as men, etc... Some episodes are pretty shocking.

 

[lavy]

I've asked this earlier today but I want to bring it up again:

How do you meet with someone in instagram? You comment on each others photos and then what ??? How do you go to the next stage (e.g. how do you give your email address?) Is there a messaging facility?

 

[ThinkHard]

Ok finally caught up on reading through all the posts from overnight.

I know a lot of people still keep leaning towards Taylan, but until DNA proves otherwise, for some reason I've down graded him on my suspect list.

It's been reported that she was speaking to other Turkish men, I believe at least four. I know Taylan seems obvious because of the correspondence, but we haven't heard a thing about these other ones.

Something is leading me to the idea that it wasn't Taylan but another Turkish IGer she was in contact with.

A first I thought the IG er might be using gaining her trust to scam her, but because of the way she was murdered and the reports this all went down on the 21st, in that location, I am leaning away from that.

So my theory is that Taylan is innocent. It is another IGer. And this other IGer didn't plan on killing her. My guess is he brought her to that very isolated spot, too woo her, to be romantic, to get to make out with her perhaps, and that is why he wanted privacy, not so he could use that privacy to harm her. Just to be alone with her.

Perhaps the pair of shoes was because he said, he had a really great spot for photography but wear comfortable shoes because we have to climb.

Perhaps the violence wasnt about making a move and being denied but rather an argument started when he found out she was leaving that day. Maybe in his mind he had built a plan for them. And when she said she wouldn't, his abandonment issues kicked into high gear, and the fight escalated to physical violence. I'm not surprised in the least in this scenario the murder weapon would be a rock. Perhaps he was able to pin her down by straddling her, and the rock was nearby. Five blows to the head really sounds like "your not going anywhere, and if I can't have you no one can" kind of rage.

Lastly the report that confuses me, is why so many detainees that they want DNA from? What do they know that we don't? They could just be being cautious. Or it could be a more significant reason, which still kind of makes me wonder about some kind of group involvement.

 

[CMac2]

Huge thank you to lavy and ToutCa for the most recent information, released by Turkish media. Things are moving rapidly, and sounds like they're going in the right direction.

I don't think the murderer planned the attack in advance. It's possible SS met up Taylan for what he thought was just another "date" or whatever, and perhaps this is the time she chose to tell him she's leaving early, preparing to go home. Maybe he tried to talk her out of it, or made some other type of advance towards her, which she rejected, sending him into a rage. If the attack had been planned, I believe the perp would have found a more secluded, less populated area to do whatever it is he had planned to do. This place seems highly risky. IMO it's the fact that it likely WASN'T planned that will get this killer caught. Sloppiness will be what ultimately rats him out.

 

[bourne]

Few things I missed from new reports (I think they updated the page)

Blood samples from 22 people was sent to forensic medicine institution. There are 3 Iranians (2 women) among these 22. Also Taylan too.

The police is continuing their search at the area. All passasges, corridors in the walls would be searched carefully and it will take at least 10 days.

Pathological samples, hair and tissue samples are in criminal labs.

LE is trying hard to find her ipad and phone. And its been expected her email archive to be sent today and tomorrow. Says normally it would take much longer but LE expedited the process.




Maybe it is still early to say this but so far Turkish LE's work is impressive and Turkish press is a huge failure.

TOUTCA, I am also very impressed your search within turkish reports.

I'm surprised LE hasn't located her Ipad already. The Ipad has an application that automatically tracks/traces and locates the device -- unless someone permanently disabled her cellular/wireless/wifi service on the Ipad. Which leads me to believe that Taylan is involved because his last words to Sarai was something to the effect of "do you have wifi where you are?"

 

[CMac2]

I know Taylan seems obvious because of the correspondence, but we haven't heard a thing about these other ones.

My suspicions lay with Taylan not only because of the correspondence, but because he was supposed to meet up with her the exact day, at almost exactly the same time, in exactly the same place where she disappeared. I know it's not be 100% verified yet, but Turkish media is claiming that she met her murderer at that spot, at that time, but just happened to do so in a blind so, so the cameras didn't pick up his identity.

Even by his own statement, he was there around that time- he just claims he couldn't find her and therefore didn't meet up with her. In addition, his behavior after SS vanished, after her husband contacted him re: whether he knew where she was. He immediately deleted his Gmail account.

Overall, it's too much to swallow for me. You know the old saying: If it walks like a duck...

Anyway, MOO!

 

[KuriousKev]

I've asked this earlier today but I want to bring it up again:

How do you meet with someone in instagram? You comment on each others photos and then what ??? How do you go to the next stage (e.g. how do you give your email address?) Is there a messaging facility?

You open an account, post photos then share them with various groups that can be located (within IG) by searching their #HASHTAG name. For example, if I uploaded a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge, I could attach #HASHTAGS such as #bridge #NYCMONUMENT #ILOVENY #IPHONEOGRAPHY ##PHOTOOFTHEDAY

Your image will enter into these groups that may have hundreds of followers within each. If they like your photos they are able to comment. If you upload a pic of yourself and you're a hottie then you will get more followers (and stalkers). If you chose to share further info such as email then that's when you can detour away from IG and have more 1on1

 

[bourne]

Could she have been deleting the more... uh... "exciting" emails/texts/IMs? Many people delete messages as they go, and don't just leave them in their inboxes for any length of time- specifically so others don't see them. I'm not saying that's what happened here, but it is possible.

Even if she deleted them from her devices, the service providers would have copies of the texts, emails, etc. on their server databases. The service providers do expunge their databases after a certain amount of time, so LE best get to serving a warrant to obtain those messages.

 

[ThinkHard]

I've asked this earlier today but I want to bring it up again:

How do you meet with someone in instagram? You comment on each others photos and then what ??? How do you go to the next stage (e.g. how do you give your email address?) Is there a messaging facility?

I checked Sarai's IG account...it's public on it it says
"EyeEm: @memyselfsarai"

So I'm guessing this is how.

 

[bourne]

I've asked this earlier today but I want to bring it up again:

How do you meet with someone in instagram? You comment on each others photos and then what ??? How do you go to the next stage (e.g. how do you give your email address?) Is there a messaging facility?

The same way we strangers are "chatting" with you here on WS by posting comments back and forth.

You set up an account on IG. You post your pics. Random people with IG accounts who can see your pics will post comments to your pics. You start chatting. You may exchange email addies. You become online friends. And you go from there.

 

[ToutCa]

Perhaps the violence wasnt about making a move and being denied but rather an argument started when he found out she was leaving that day.... Five blows to the head really sounds like "your not going anywhere, and if I can't have you no one can" kind of rage.

I agree with your theory of how the crime occurred -- excellent description of how it could have happened! I just think the most likely IG'er to perpetrate it was Taylan. After all, we know he was there and had come there to see SS.

The crime scene, if current reporting is correct, reads to me like a crime of passion by a jealous, humiliated man. Overkill, beating her on the head with more blows than needed to subdue the victim, cuts and bruises all over the body... And then the attempt to "hide" from the shame of what he had done -- severe injuries to face so that it was unrecognizable, lame attempt to "hide" the body under debris...

It just reminds me of FBI profiles of jealous lovers or wannabe lovers (a) reacting violently to a rejection of some sort and (b) bizarrely and ineffectually trying to deny their own violent act (ruining face of the victim, lame attempt to hide body, etc.).

My theory is that this was one guy and not a group. I think they're testing everyone remotely suspect not because they think it was a group, but because they have the power to do so, and they are under pressure to both be thorough and solve this quickly. But if I'm wrong, the DNA at the scene should show it and I'm more than willing to eat crow!

I believe it is a jealous, violent man whose desire was thwarted. If it was not Taylan, he is the unluckiest guy in the world. But sure, it is possible it was another IG'er or Istanbul pal she met up with if she couldn't find Taylan.

 

[ThinkHard]

I've asked this earlier today but I want to bring it up again:

How do you meet with someone in instagram? You comment on each others photos and then what ??? How do you go to the next stage (e.g. how do you give your email address?) Is there a messaging facility?

I checked Sarai's IG account...it's public on it it says
"EyeEm: @memyselfsarai"

So I'm guessing this is how.

I don't see instant messenger capabilities through IG, except to comment on pictures. But her IG account is slightly different it's @mymyself_sarai.

So I'm guessing that name is for a different application, just not sure which one.

 

[ThinkHard]

http://www.eyeem.com/u/463650

Found this

 

[bourne]

I agree with your theory of how the crime occurred -- excellent description of how it could have happened! I just think the most likely IG'er to perpetrate it was Taylan. After all, we know he was there and had come there to see SS.

The crime scene, if current reporting is correct, reads to me like a crime of passion by a jealous, humiliated man. Overkill, beating her on the head with more blows than needed to subdue the victim, cuts and bruises all over the body... And then the attempt to "hide" from the shame of what he had done -- severe injuries to face so that it was unrecognizable, lame attempt to "hide" the body under debris...

It just reminds me of FBI profiles of jealous lovers or wannabe lovers (a) reacting violently to a rejection of some sort and (b) bizarrely and ineffectually trying to deny their own violent act (ruining face of the victim, lame attempt to hide body, etc.).

My theory is that this was one guy and not a group. I think they're testing everyone remotely suspect not because they think it was a group, but because they have the power to do so, and they are under pressure to both be thorough and solve this quickly. But if I'm wrong, the DNA at the scene should show it and I'm more than willing to eat crow!

I believe it is a jealous, violent man whose desire was thwarted. If it was not Taylan, he is the unluckiest guy in the world. But sure, it is possible it was another IG'er or Istanbul pal she met up with if she couldn't find Taylan.

I think the kill was more about violence, power and control rather than romance. And I do believe Taylan is involved.

 

[ToutCa]

I think the kill was more about violence, power and control rather than romance. And I do believe Taylan is involved.

Good point. I guess it depends whether the motive was simple rape, or some weird notion they should be together. That is to say, if it was one guy.

 

[ThinkHard]

My suspicions lay with Taylan not only because of the correspondence, but because he was supposed to meet up with her the exact day, at almost exactly the same time, in exactly the same place where she disappeared. I know it's not be 100% verified yet, but Turkish media is claiming that she met her murderer at that spot, at that time, but just happened to do so in a blind so, so the cameras didn't pick up his identity.

Even by his own statement, he was there around that time- he just claims he couldn't find her and therefore didn't meet up with her. In addition, his behavior after SS vanished, after her husband contacted him re: whether he knew where she was. He immediately deleted his Gmail account.

Overall, it's too much to swallow for me. You know the old saying: If it walks like a duck...

Anyway, MOO!

I hear ya. The only thing though is he said he was waiting for her on the Eminonu side of the Galata bridge, not exactly near where her body was found. It's about a half an hr by foot from her location to the location he said he was waiting. Though not on the other side of Istanbul, I wouldn't exactly call that in the same location.

I wonder if he deleted his email because Sarai's husband was harassing him.

I think it's going to come out that their is another male in this picture.

As far as whether it was a planned attack...I don't think it was. The only other possibility, and I think it's a bit of a stretch boarding on conspiracy....is that whoever did do this to her, was highly organized and knowledgeable enough to know exactly how to make this look like it was Taylan. This biggest leak in that is what would the motive be?

 

[CMac2]

Even if she deleted them from her devices, the service providers would have copies of the texts, emails, etc. on their server databases. The service providers do expunge their databases after a certain amount of time, so LE best get to serving a warrant to obtain those messages.

I know the service providers could obtain them with a court order. I was speaking to the question of why her husband might not have seen any racy messages when he accessed her account. IF she deleted them (and I'm not even saying she did) her motivation would have simply been to keep her husband from viewing the communications. She wouldn't have had any idea people would be investigating her murder later down the road. So that's all I was saying.

 

[tresptip]

I think someone flirted with her on the street while she was photographing, maybe walked with her to the walls talking to her about her photography,then when the right place came to attack,he attacked or made a sexual advance that was rejected.