GUILTY Turkey - Sarai Sierra, 33, NY woman murdered, Istanbul, 21 Jan 2013 - #2

[KuriousKev]

I have latino relatives. You're correct, they tend to be possessive and get jealous easily. So I don't know why Sarai's husband would have permitted her wife of two young sons to wander off on a solo trip overseas for 3 weeks except for the fact that her female friend had said she was supposed to accompany Sarai on the fantasy trip.

According to early versions of the story, the friend had "at the last minute" backed out due to financial constraints. But recent news articles quote the female friend as saying that she had backed out several MONTHS ago.

Which version is correct? Last minute backing out or months ago?

If it's months ago, it would likely be before payment was made on finalizing the airline ticket for Sarai. So Sarai could have also backed out then and I would think her latino hubby would want her to do so for her own safety. If the friend canceled last minute, well, the money was already paid, and since Sarai's family aren't wealthy, her hubby would probably not have minded as much her decision to visit foreign country solo.

All very curious questions..

 

[necco]

True. Why not take the trip in the summer when her children are out of school.

Precisely because they ARE out of school and therefore need more time and attention.

 

[bourne]

It appears that many have chosen to romanticize Sarai Sierra in the extreme, and in doing so have lost all objectivity.

Suddenly the NY Post, which is #6 of the top 50 newspapers in the USA, is now the bad guy. Talk about kill the messenger! Whether the Post sensationalizes their headlines or not, is not the issue here -- and like it or not, the NY Post is one of the best newspapers in the country. It's best to stay focused on the facts and stop focusing anger at a newspaper.

There has always been something VERY off about Sarai Sierra's story. It never made sense -- and it's clear that she always had an agenda that had little to nothing to do with just her first trip traveling on her own abroad.

It's neon-glaringly obvious that this women had secrets -- and that the true intent of her trip was being camouflaged and cloaked in this silly story of picture-taking nonsense.

The different theories being postulated are all worthy of deep analysis by law enforcement. No one knows the truth at this point in time -- but it is obvious that this is NOT just some sweet mom on a photo-journey.

Moms of young children do not just take off for Turkey alone for 3 weeks. People who are financially modest at best, do not take 3 weeks trips to Turkey. Happily married women do not travel alone to Turkey for 3 weeks. This has been the red flag from day one.

And her side trips are interesting to say the least.

Her online "friendships" are interesting to say the least.

Her judgement in general is interesting to say the least.

Unlike those who've become remarkably infatuated with their self-created sainted Sarai Sierra fantasy figure ... it just does not ring true. Her choices, decisions, actions and ultimate tragic fate bespeak quite a different reality.

I sadly think that when the truth is discovered a much darker version of SS will be revealed.



http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/Top50/Top50-CurrentUS.htm

Actually I'm conflicted here. On the one hand, I could see a healthy, fit woman, mother no less, wanting some freedom to explore and travel while she's still young. I don't see anything wrong with visiting a foreign country solo as long as you take precautions. I also don't see anything wrong with staying in a male friend's home as long as you trust them and they you, and there's an understanding about what behaviors you find acceptable in your relationship with each other.

When I was younger and fresh out of college and unwedded yet, I traveled to Europe, Asia, Australia on my own and visited relatives, friends and colleagues I knew there and even stayed in their homes -- to save expenses. Nothing strange about that.

I've not stayed with strangers I've met over the internet though except once and that was only because he knew two good friends of mine real well. So I felt I could trust him because he'd be accountable to not only me, but my two friends as well. And my two friends vouched for his affability and repute.

So IDK what Sarai was thinking. I tend to give her the benefit of the doubt though. I think she was just an innocent woman who wanted to see the world and take some nice photos and share them with the world while she was still young, and before she started school. She may have been a bit naive, but it's a hit-and-miss if you meet someone online. Even the most gentle, kind-hearted person online can turn into a monster when you meet them in real life. You just can't tell via the internet alone.

On the other hand, perhaps she was involved in something -- inadvertently and perhaps even intentionally. Perhaps there was something to be gained financially, etc. in her trip overseas. No one knows for certain. We'll just have to wait for the full investigation.

It's extraordinarily sad that a young life has been taken away, and that she leaves behind two very innocent little boys.

 

[Yashim]

Are the flights to Turkey cheaper during the "off season"? Is winter even considered "off season"? Better yet, is there such a thing as an off season in Turkey? I guess I shouldn't assume it's like taking a trip to Myrtle Beach or something.

Summers are really hot and humid. And during winter time, the sun sets around 17:00. For example, sunset was 5.06 PM on January 20th. No a great season to take photos or shoot movies.

 

[tardislass]

No its what CMac2 said they check the all the conversations during that day in that area. If they can't find anything obvious they contact people and ask what they were doing around.



To be honest I found it odd for Turkey too. However they used in few big and complex cases before and it worked. It is only used as last resort in unsolved cases. I don't know why they want it in this stage.

This is a paragraph from a article about a case this was used:

After the Engin murder police carried out a detailed investigation to find the murderer(s). They watched surveillance records, Temel's phone calls. Questioned over 200 people. However no result came out of it. The most important trump is the phone call records from the base station. Police asked the permision from the court. It was denied three times because of "secrecy of private life". It was accepted and court asked TIB to give the recordings. Than TIB denied because of secrecy of private life. Than they went to a senior court etc. And it took 15 months to be ready.

Rotahaber http://haber.rotahaber.com/5-bin-telefon-gorusmesinde-katilin-izi-aranacak_89804.html#ixzz2KADaTtVS

So assuming they use this method, it seems they can't trace anyone in the same area as she was from the CCTV. Hmm. You would think the perpetrator would have to walk back after he killed her

 

[KuriousKev]

This was something that I saw earlier that I just wanted to post. Everyone says that Sarai's friend backed out at the last minute. I haven't found a quote from her friend directly saying that, \

I distinctly remember SEEING this interview on NY1 here in NYC. It was an interview in the early days of SS missing. There are many news reports of this including her very own words broadcasted on network news. I too am curious of the new reports of the friend NOW saying she told her early during the trip, unless her most recent interview with the news didn't actually happen.

 

[ThinkHard]

Fares are cheap. I saw a $393 round trip fare to Istanbul in Feb last week. Kind of upsetting as I'm paying about 800 dollars for mine.

In addition to it being cheap. I also think it had to do with her school break.

I went to Paris in January. Not the ideal time but it was to visit a friend who was studying there for a year, when we were all in college. and it winter break was the only time another friend of mine and I could go together.

 

[KuriousKev]

Precisely because they ARE out of school and therefore need more time and attention.

I would think a mom would want more to be there for her children while school is in. Make sure they're in the books, studying, help with homework etc. Summer vacation is easy...send them to the grandparents like she did on this trip.

 

[bourne]

I really, really don't think we can generalize the motives of the Sierra family based on their ethnicity. From the "vibe" I can get from his interviews, he was proud of his wife. He and her brother, both latino men, bragged about her strength and independence (the triathlon story). This was not a repressed woman. Also she'd met up with several New York IGers for photo walks. Her husband seemed pretty 'in the know'. When her husband spoke of her Amsterdam connection, he said he'd been very helpful. I didn't get jealous angry man vibes from him at all from that, even knowing his wife hung out with him and spent the night on his couch.






I totally agree with this. I think the "last minute" statement was more a media device to imply that Sarai's life was *almost* saved by the presence of her friend. Just at the last minute, Sarai was doomed - that sort of message. The friend herself has been pretty open about it. I didn't hear her say 'last minute'. She may have, but I haven't heard it.

I agree we shouldn't overgeneralize. But in order to understand the facts, we have to make some categorizations of what went on and the people involved. I am speaking about the husband as an individual within a particular cultural context. I don't think there's anything wrong with basing my evaluations of what I think happened on what I perceive him to be. How else would we judge if not by our own observations and experiences and knowledge?

 

[necco]

I wonder if her friend could have told Sarai a few months ago, but Sarai asked her to pretend like she was still going until the last minute so that Sarai's husband and family wouldn't try and talk her out of going alone.

 

[Yashim]

This was something that I saw earlier that I just wanted to post. Everyone says that Sarai's friend backed out at the last minute. I haven't found a quote from her friend directly saying that, and we all wondered how you could plan a trip then back out at the last minute because of funds - that you would know what it costs up front and not at the last minute.

This article says her friend never planned on going and told Sarai "early on" that she could not afford to go. We still don't have a quote from the friend but it makes more sense. It also puts the whole trip under a different light --- instead of choosing to continue alone at the last minute, she knew well in advance and chose to go alone anyway.

Did her friend have a job when they started planning? If she was unemployed even then, then her reason to back out was that she was scared. She might have thought it's not worth the risk. Too much speculation?

 

[CMac2]

I distinctly remember SEEING this interview on NY1 here in NYC. It was an interview in the early days of SS missing. There are many news reports of this including her very own words broadcasted on network news. I too am curious of the new reports of the friend NOW saying she told her early during the trip, unless her most recent interview with the news didn't actually happen.

Maybe the friend was cool with going along with it, saying she backed out at the last minute until she realized she was being crucified by John Q. Public for abandoning her friend to die.

For the record- I don't blame the friend whatsoever- but I've seen comments on MSM articles that seem to indicate that some people do.

 

[Yellow]

Just a thought... if Sarai had her own (non-photography oriented) reasons for this trip, could she have talked her friend into saying she was going to go on the trip, knowing all along she wouldn't be? I could sell a girls trip to Turkey to my husband a lot easier than I could sell a solo trip to Turkey, I'm afraid. Like Sarai, I have 2 young children and sadly, despite my wildest fantasies, am on a budget as well.

Wondering if she could have had her friend act like it was in the cards for her to go along right up until the last minute. That way she could say, "Well, DH, as much as I WANTED this to be a girls' trip, it looks like so-and-so can't make it after all. Kind of sucks she found out at the last minute like this, after I've already booked my tickets and paid for my room. I hate it, but it looks like I'm going to have to go on without her. But don't worry! I'll be in touch each and every day."

(or something like it, anyway)

Yes, I think that might have been the case. Also, if it is true there were problems in the marriage, perhaps she just wanted to get away on her own and she had the friend story as a cover.

Seems like the friend switched stories when she realizes SS was not coming home. Probably now we are getting the truth...

 

[tardislass]

Maybe the friend was cool with going along with it, saying she backed out at the last minute until she realized she was being crucified by John Q. Public for abandoning her friend to die.

For the record- I don't blame the friend whatsoever- but I've seen comments on MSM articles that seem to indicate that some people do.

I don't think the friend had anything to do with it. I was just wonder if it was a misquote by the press .

 

[belimom]

I had not watched this video from Fox News. It interviews the friend, but does not address the question of when she decided not to go on the trip.

However, I learned three things:
1) Sarai homeschooled her sons (can't tell if the reporter says 'son' or 'sons')
2) she planned her life around the boys
3) Istanbul has a sophisticated video surveillance system throughout the city

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/20798376/staten-island-mom-still-missing

 

[tardislass]

I had not watched this video from Fox News. It interviews the friend, but does not address the question of when she decided not to go on the trip.

However, I learned three things:
1) Sarai homeschooled her sons
2) she planned her life around the boys
3) Istanbul has a sophisticated video surveillance system throughout the city

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/20798376/staten-island-mom-still-missing

I thought her sons went to public school. That the family was keeping them out of school? I thought their neighbor said her saw her taking the sons to school.

 

[ami]

Actually I'm conflicted here. On the one hand, I could see a healthy, fit woman, mother no less, wanting some freedom to explore and travel while she's still young. I don't see anything wrong with visiting a foreign country solo as long as you take precautions. I also don't see anything wrong with staying in a male friend's home as long as you trust them and they you, and there's an understanding about what behaviors you find acceptable in your relationship with each other.

When I was younger and fresh out of college and unwedded yet, I traveled to Europe, Asia, Australia on my own and visited relatives, friends and colleagues I knew there and even stayed in their homes -- to save expenses. Nothing strange about that.

I've not stayed with strangers I've met over the internet though except once and that was only because he knew two good friends of mine real well. So I felt I could trust him because he'd be accountable to not only me, but my two friends as well. And my two friends vouched for his affability and repute.

So IDK what Sarai was thinking. I tend to give her the benefit of the doubt though. I think she was just an innocent woman who wanted to see the world and take some nice photos and share them with the world while she was still young, and before she started school. She may have been a bit naive, but it's a hit-and-miss if you meet someone online. Even the most gentle, kind-hearted person online can turn into a monster when you meet them in real life. You just can't tell via the internet alone.

On the other hand, perhaps she was involved in something -- inadvertently and perhaps even intentionally. Perhaps there was something to be gained financially, etc. in her trip overseas. No one knows for certain. We'll just have to wait for the full investigation.

It's extraordinarily sad that a young life has been taken away, and that she leaves behind two very innocent little boys.

This!!! (first paragraph) - her traveling doesn't bother me in the least because I've DONE this - I have children, I've traveled alone. I've stayed with friends of friends, unknown to me before meeting. I've met up with random people while traveling and shared cabs. More importantly, I've met a LOT of other women doing the same thing. It's commonplace. Even if you (meaning the generic "you") wouldn't do it, it's still really common.

There's nothing weird, or shocking, or improbable about it - unless someone who knew Sarai and knew that this wasn't her personality to adventure that way. And by all accounts it WAS her personality.

 

[CMac2]

I don't think the friend had anything to do with it. I was just wonder if it was a misquote by the press .

I don't think the friend had anything to do with it either. I was just saying that the friend was heavily criticized by some when the news reported she'd backed out of the trip at the last second. Some people (not here at WS- elsewhere) had been blaming the friend- as in, "if she hadn't backed out of this trip at the last second, leaving Sarai to go alone, maybe Sarai would still be alive". If those comments were getting to the friend, it's possible she finally decided to come forward and let the public know that she did NOT cancel at the last second, as the media had been reporting.

I don't KNOW that this is what happened- just speculating that this is a possibility.

 

[belimom]

I thought her sons went to public school. That the family was keeping them out of school?

I think maybe we assumed that, since it had been said that the boys have been kept rather secluded to be shielded from the news.

 

[Elley Mae]

I just glanced though and didn't see it although I could have missed it, does anyone think that T.K. could be making up the consensual sex knowing that they will find his DNA since theywhere able to find and talk to him?