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

[Yellow]

Who was the kids staying with while she lived with her parents? Maybe she was interested in maybe meeting a guy there since her and her husband were seperated.

The news reports the kids are now staying w family friends so maybe it was the case they were w them before

 

[CMac2]

Article with a new interview with her husband also



http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...d-dead-turkey-article-1.1255469#ixzz2K38VTbq9

Not sure if it's relevant one way or another, but the article says SS was found wearing a ring. I'm curious about whether or not it was her wedding ring or just another piece of jewelry for fashion purposes.

The 33-year-old mother of two suffered a fatal blow to the head. She was still wearing a gold ring, a gold bracelet and a necklace — but her iPhone and iPad, which she used to take photos, were missing, authorities said.

 

[KrysJP]

Hey there all, I have been following all of your posts from page ONE. I have been trying to setup an account but some reason was not able to so I contacted the people from Websleuths and they finally set me up.

First I would like to say that I personally know Sarai. I used to watch her 2 boys when they were a little younger. I would like to start off by saying Sarai is a sweet,caring,outgoing,selfless woman and was very caring and nurturing to her two boys.

When I first heard about this I was shocked and couldn't believe it. From when I found out, till this very moment, I have been online hours and hours a day just researching into finding out whats been going on. It sickens me. Im heartbroken for this family. I reached out to her sister a few days ago telling her I was going to help her with getting donations to help for the search and an hour after our last conversation is when I found out Sarai was found dead.

I have so many thoughts and conclusions on what i think happened but none will know until it comes out.

- My first thought was everything went fine with her trip. the people she was in contact with and places she went all went smooth and she went about her vacation smoothly and carefree until her last day when she disappeared. One of my thoughts was she went to the wall(where she was found) to take a picture and as she was taking the picture maybe the drug addicts/homeless people that were in the walls spotted her. They were known for that. Known for targeting tourist woman and letting one another know when one was spotted. They saw her with her phone and iPad and attacked her for them. She put up a fight and they killed her.

I do not for one believe the woman claiming to have witnessed what she saw. She might be involved some way or another and is using this story to through everything off. How in the world if YOUR DRIVING by in your car at night claim you see a WOMANS hand. I don't buy it. Thats one conclusion.

- Second. I am starting to believe because of Tylans selfish actions, that he very much can be a target. He showed no concern or tried to lend a helping hand once this was brought out. Obviously he and SS must have had some sort of respect for each other being that they have been communicating with one another for about 4 months. They even met up while on her trip out there. So if you are hearing of her being missing, wouldn't you want to try to help being that you were the main one in contact with her? RED FLAG I hope he was one of the many that were brought back into questioning and they really dig hard on him.

 

[CMac2]

Interesting information about the tracking device that is installed on an ipad. Seems you CANNOT disable the tracking component, but you CAN take action through your iTunes account to make it more difficult for people to access your data should the device become lost or stolen.

http://www.reputation.com/reputationwatch/articles/how-disable-location-tracking-ipad-and-iphone

 

[ThinkHard]

I really hope the gmail search is revealing. That could tell us so much.

Perhaps
-why her plans changed, and what they were
-who else she has been in touch with
-the nature of those communications

 

[CMac2]

Welcome, KrysJP! It's great to have someone who knew Sarai personally onboard to give us some perspective.

 

[KuriousKev]

Interesting information about the tracking device that is installed on an ipad. Seems you CANNOT disable the tracking component, but you CAN take action through your iTunes account to make it more difficult for people to access your data should the device become lost or stolen.

http://www.reputation.com/reputationwatch/articles/how-disable-location-tracking-ipad-and-iphone

You can do a factory reset (simple to do) which will remove ALL 3rd party apps including the tracking app.

 

[Wanderlust]

Agree, no tourist would want to go there unless they were accompanied by someone they trust, or their dead body was dropped off there. I hope LE finds out whether she was actually killed in that location or was placed there in the aftermath.

I kind of disagree. As I have written before, I went to take photos of the walls myself a couple of years ago when I was in Istanbul as a tourist. The place is not remote. It's so close to all the major sights, such as Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi palace etc. Most of Istanbul is known to be safe and those walls are in the most touristy part of the city.

In my case anyway (I'm in my 30's, well-travelled, used to living in a large city) it didn't even cross my mind that the city of Istanbul would let the ruins of the ancient city wall, a historical attraction in itself, in the middle of that historical peninsula, to be inhabited by drug users and other criminals. I have never been to any city (excluding the so called third word, which Turkey is not) where that would've been the case.

Well, now I know that's the case. Glad they're installing security cameras at least.

 

[necco]

Thanks, I'll make it neater.

Turkish Airlines Chairman Hamdi Topcu, said they are ready to send Sarai Sierra's funeral to her country for free. He posted that on twitter and asked her family or an official to make contact with his secretary.

I've actually seen some people commenting on news links why THY is not offering that.

That's fantastic. I know I was emphatic earlier about the State Department being unable to help financially, but this is the perfect solution. It doesn't set a precedent for the government to take care of these things. The airline gets lots of free press. The Sierras get their Sarai home. Well done, Chairman Topcu, well done.

 

[ThinkHard]

Hey there all, I have been following all of your posts from page ONE. I have been trying to setup an account but some reason was not able to so I contacted the people from Websleuths and they finally set me up.

First I would like to say that I personally know Sarai. I used to watch her 2 boys when they were a little younger. I would like to start off by saying Sarai is a sweet,caring,outgoing,selfless woman and was very caring and nurturing to her two boys.

When I first heard about this I was shocked and couldn't believe it. From when I found out, till this very moment, I have been online hours and hours a day just researching into finding out whats been going on. It sickens me. Im heartbroken for this family. I reached out to her sister a few days ago telling her I was going to help her with getting donations to help for the search and an hour after our last conversation is when I found out Sarai was found dead.

I have so many thoughts and conclusions on what i think happened but none will know until it comes out.

- My first thought was everything went fine with her trip. the people she was in contact with and places she went all went smooth and she went about her vacation smoothly and carefree until her last day when she disappeared. One of my thoughts was she went to the wall(where she was found) to take a picture and as she was taking the picture maybe the drug addicts/homeless people that were in the walls spotted her. They were known for that. Known for targeting tourist woman and letting one another know when one was spotted. They saw her with her phone and iPad and attacked her for them. She put up a fight and they killed her.

I do not for one believe the woman claiming to have witnessed what she saw. She might be involved some way or another and is using this story to through everything off. How in the world if YOUR DRIVING by in your car at night claim you see a WOMANS hand. I don't buy it. Thats one conclusion.

- Second. I am starting to believe because of Tylans selfish actions, that he very much can be a target. He showed no concern or tried to lend a helping hand once this was brought out. Obviously he and SS must have had some sort of respect for each other being that they have been communicating with one another for about 4 months. They even met up while on her trip out there. So if you are hearing of her being missing, wouldn't you want to try to help being that you were the main one in contact with her? RED FLAG I hope he was one of the many that were brought back into questioning and they really dig hard on him.

Welcome to the board. I am so sorry for your loss. It is an incredibly difficult ordeal her friends and family are facing. And no one should have to go through it.

It chokes me up and I was not even privileged enough to know her personally. Such a beautiful life cut short. Your heart must be so broken thinking of how her children will handle all of this, especially since you were at one time their caregiver. That part must hit you especially hard because I'm sure you must feel some what protective over them.i hope God blesses them with strength and peace.

I suppose it is possible that she could have been the victim of junkies/ homeless people. But knowing the area and knowing the culture, if she was targeted by those type of people, I doubt murder would have been their motive. They would have more likely targeted her for a robbery. And would have been able to accomplish that without the level of violence that was reported. I also doubt junkies/ homeless people would have left her with her jewelry.
Furthermore I find it highly improbable that she would have ended up in that specific location; due to its distance from anything else, the evidence of its homeless resdents, and that she had to fly home that day. It wouldn't have been an impossible choice that led her there but I would venture improbable.

 

[ThinkHard]

I kind of disagree. As I have written before, I went to take photos of the walls myself a couple of years ago when I was in Istanbul as a tourist. The place is not remote. It's so close to all the major sights, such as Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi palace etc. Most of Istanbul is known to be safe and those walls are in the most touristy part of the city.

In my case anyway (I'm in my 30's, well-travelled, used to living in a large city) it didn't even cross my mind that the city of Istanbul would let the ruins of the ancient city wall, a historical attraction in itself, in the middle of that historical peninsula, to be inhabited by drug users and other criminals. I have never been to any city (excluding the so called third word, which Turkey is not) where that would've been the case.

Well, now I know that's the case. Glad they're installing security cameras at least.

Those walls are long, and there are many parts that I would be more inclined to believe a tourist would venture and would want to do so. However the particular location of where she was found along those walls is not one of those places.

The location she was found is actually quite a distance from sultanahmet where the blue mosque and Hagia Sophia are. It is behind topkapi but not in an accessible way from topkapi. You would have to go around quite a distance from anything touristy to get to that specific location. Either by serkeci along Kennedy cadessi, or through one of the road opening by aya Sofia district and them along Kennedy cadessi. Either direction she could have approach that area from, still would have been a good and healthy walk. There is an excellent photo a few pages back that illustrates the location quite clearly.

 

[Yashim]

Those walls are long, and there are many parts that I would be more inclined to believe a tourist would venture and would want to do so. However the particular location of where she was found along those walls is not one of those places.

I agree. Even if you ended up there, you would never let your guard down. Always be ready to break into sprint.

In 2003, a Navy SEAL Sargent (underwater demolition commando) was stabbed in the heart to death in Taksim Square by thinner addict who could barely stand on their feet. And he was among a group of friends (mostly Navy SEALs). That's how it is in big cities. You always have to be alert.

http://www.habervitrini.com/haber/komando-yuzbasi-tinerci-kurbani-83646/

 

[stmarysmead]

ABC news is directing readers to a site where Sarai's brother is selling her photos to defray funeral costs. I wasn't certain we are allowed to post the link.

 

[KivaSupporter]

Hi Yashim,

Thank you for joining us.

Could you tell us in general about the Instagram group in Istanbul? Is it a large and popular group?

 

[tresptip]

Agree, but in this case, the murderer(s) seem to know that there was a dead zone for cellular/wifi service and a blind spot where there are no surveillance cameras to assault and kill Sarai.

I don't think a tourist would be lurking and hiding out in that area waiting for just the right moment to kill another tourist. It has to be someone familiar with the area.

I don't think a tourist would be "hiding out or lurking" but maybe just happened to be sightseeing in the same area and started a conversation with her.It could have just as easily been someone that lives there.But I'm sure that if you've been sightseeing in an area for good amount of time ,you would know of spots that were private looking.The fact that it happened where there were no cameras could just be cooincidental.

 

[Rolandred]

video of area Sarai found

ODAKTV Karamanolay Sierra cinayetinde inceleme alanı genişletildi - YouTube


Nice article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...-in-istanbul-was-an-artist-in-the-making.html

 

[KrysJP]

Welcome to the board. I am so sorry for your loss. It is an incredibly difficult ordeal her friends and family are facing. And no one should have to go through it.

It chokes me up and I was not even privileged enough to know her personally. Such a beautiful life cut short. Your heart must be so broken thinking of how her children will handle all of this, especially since you were at one time their caregiver. That part must hit you especially hard because I'm sure you must feel some what protective over them.i hope God blesses them with strength and peace.

I suppose it is possible that she could have been the victim of junkies/ homeless people. But knowing the area and knowing the culture, if she was targeted by those type of people, I doubt murder would have been their motive. They would have more likely targeted her for a robbery. And would have been able to accomplish that without the level of violence that was reported. I also doubt junkies/ homeless people would have left her with her jewelry.
Furthermore I find it highly improbable that she would have ended up in that specific location; due to its distance from anything else, the evidence of its homeless resdents, and that she had to fly home that day. It wouldn't have been an impossible choice that led her there but I would venture improbable.

I have not seen Sarai in quite a few years. But i did know her and I am honored to have been able to know her and her family and 2 boys. They are VERY good people with very kind hearts.Last time I saw her she was at the children's museum with her two boys and we were chatting.She was always very patient and loving towards them.But I feel so terribly for those boys. They loved their mother dearly. I have 2 boys myself and I can't even imagine someone telling them that they would never see me again. I hold back tears as I write this.

I guess your right about your theory on her not having traveled to that location. At first I was thinking IF she did happen to go there. maybe she fell and had an accident (fell from the top)which explains all the bruising , debri under her fingernails, and skull being cracked open. But then why in hell was her body stuffed into a hole? I was thinking someone grabbed what they wanted from her and hid the body for some reason?a drug addict perhaps. They motive was to take what they thought could make them money and just dispose of her. Maybe the jewelry she was wearing did not seem to be worth anything(costume jewelry) IDK could make sense in a way but then again could not.

 

[Yashim]

Is this really the way to canvas a crime scene? Walking around in random directions?

 

[ThinkHard]

video of area Sarai found

ODAKTV Karamanolay Sierra cinayetinde inceleme alanı genişletildi - YouTube


Nice article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...-in-istanbul-was-an-artist-in-the-making.html

I know we have been debating this point....but after seeing that video. I 100% do not believe she was a random victim because she wondered there on her own. No way in hell!

 

[ThinkHard]

I don't think a tourist would be "hiding out or lurking" but maybe just happened to be sightseeing in the same area and started a conversation with her.It could have just as easily been someone that lives there.But I'm sure that if you've been sightseeing in an area for good amount of time ,you would know of spots that were private looking.The fact that it happened where there were no cameras could just be cooincidental.

Again this particular spot along the walls is not a location I an imagine even one tourist randomly wandering too, let alone multiple tourists.