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

[ThinkHard]

I think you read it too quick my friend, I actually had a /= between the Money /= Class thing, and only stated (True) to tell you I am in agreement with your statement. Everything else..was just to distinguish the sex/class money argument..which we also seem to agree with. ;-)

Your absolutely right I did misread it thank you for the clarity.

 

[Darkman00]

Yashim,
If you have a daughter, you can name her "ThinkHard" ... but if you have a son, name him "Darkman", OK?

 

[zarra30]

Hmmm. Curious questions but I'm not sure where some of your information is coming from as it doesn't seem to match a lot of what we have read in other places....
The I image clarity on the cameras is quite good. I'm sure they know for sure that it is her on those cameras. But as the rest of this case there is no guarantee with the accuracy if anything being reported.


Thank you Thinkhard,
The questions about the landlord I posed were based on links I put in as well as much of what I've read on this board, (which is an excellent conversation by the way). I've followed this story since she went missing. I'm a New Yorker and a woman who has traveled in my younger days through many different countries. I think the press has been hard on Sarai but I am trying to remain objective. I do admit I haven't read every post here, but I've tried to follow as much as I can.

I've never been to Turkey, but I've learned so much about it from this board and other links that I think it must be a wonderful country and I'd hate to see young women scared off by thinking it isn't safe.

The 'ala Catfish' I referred to is an HBO program where people who have fooled people for years by pretending to be other people online are exposed in person.
I agree about the clarity on the airport and mall footage but wasn't sure about the clarity of the footage from cameras on the 21st.

 

[ThinkHard]

Thank you, Yellow
I came here for that specificaly .. just to see if there is anything latest on this.

-----

Yashim
Sorry if it sounded like I offended the country of Turkey ... I surely didn't mean to do it.

On a lighter note ... If you ever have a son (or another son) .. you can name him "ThinkHard" as well, pretty sure

There was a big discussion about that earlier today, if you went to go back and read through some of the earlier posts you might find the updates your looking for.

 

[ToutCa]

But i was talking about single attractive woman vs. travelling to foreign country (with possiibility, at the least, of those travel plans involving some sort of affair etc .. among regular travel pastime of course).

You d have agree US would be somewhat safer (for that particular reason) ...

Disagree -- far upthread we pointed out Ms. Sierra was over EIGHT TIMES likelier to be murdered at home in NYC than in Istanbul. This is according to official crime statistics.

Affairs are risky for many reasons no matter where you carry them out.

 

[Darkman00]

Thanks ThinkHard .. but i just wanted to hear from some of you the latest on that... Didn't want to go back to previous pages and read up on earlier posts (as i am not really following this case TOO closely).

 

[looking4answers]

Don't you hate it when you have a typo and then it's quoted? LOL

But, a TOILET?? That's just plain gross.

:floorlaugh:

I understand the reaction, it is not my preference, believe me, not at all. To be honest, I have never done this, and am not drawn to it at all.

If it is a bathroom with a nice counter, or a large tub and shower, then yes. The actual toilet, well I would prefer a chair. Yes..not my preference at all.

That being said, with what the news article quoted and knowing the little we know about Sarai, I highly doubt she did this. I just don't see it. It is possible, but I doubt it.

I actually somewhat doubt she had more than platonic friendships, and think she is just very easy to get a long with, and has many guy friends. I know many women like this. In fact most of my closest friends are ladies, and I enjoy only their company and nothing more. It happens.

 

[ThinkHard]

Ya.. US is far from perfect .. and very corrupt .. i AGREE ...

But i was talking about single attractive woman vs. travelling to foreign country (with possiibility, at the least, of those travel plans involving some sort of affair etc .. among regular travel pastime of course).

You d have agree US would be somewhat safer (for that particular reason) ...

As a single women who traveled and lived in Turkey in my in my mid 20's (and only 4 years ago) I don't think it is unsafe to travel to Turkey especially Istanbul at all. So I do not agree with that.

I do agree that trusting people you meet online is risky, but I would not say it is any less risky to do so in the US then it would be to do so in any other country.

It was her choice to meet up with strangers that was risky, not the country she chose to do it in.

 

[ToutCa]

Thank you Thinkhard,
The questions about the landlord I posed were based on links I put in as well as much of what I've read on this board, (which is an excellent conversation by the way).

From our research we believe the landlord is being investigated by Turkish LE and has submitted DNA. Reports in the press suggest his DNA did not match the killer.

Since he is one of many subjects of investigation, if he was involved, hopefully it would come to light.

 

[Darkman00]

Disagree -- far upthread we pointed out Ms. Sierra was over EIGHT TIMES likelier to be murdered at home in NYC than in Istanbul. This is according to official crime statistics.

Affairs are risky for many reasons no matter where you carry them out.

Yes.. It's better not to have affairs .. It's best to stay loyal to one person....
Or get a divorse first .. then think about about getting involved with someone...

But i hear you ...

After all i DID say "somewhat" (safer) ...

But you are SURELY entitled to your opinion on that .. and so am I.

 

[necco]

I wonder if she had any guidebooks. If she did, I wonder if she was the kind of traveler that highlights, dogears and post it notes.

If so, that could provide some SERIOUSLY good information, like if she had an interest in the wall where she was found.

 

[ToutCa]

Yes.. It's better not to have affairs .. It's best to stay loyal to one person....
Or get a divorse first .. then think about about getting involved with someone...

But i hear you ...

After all i DID say "somewhat" (safer) ...

But you are SURELY entitled to your opinion on that .. and so am I.

If crime statistics prove you are more likely to get murdered in NYC than in Istanbul, nobody's "opinion" on the matter is relevant.

(By the way, I'm from NYC).

 

[ThinkHard]

Thanks ThinkHard .. but i just wanted to hear from some of you the latest on that... Didn't want to go back to previous pages and read up on earlier posts (as i am not really following this case TOO closely).

And I apologize if I sounded rude, my brain is exhausted from trying to make sense of this case because the info keeps changing. I just too be honest didn't have the energy to explain it all again. I hope you can understand.

 

[ToutCa]

I wonder if she had any guidebooks. If she did, I wonder if she was the kind of traveler that highlights, dogears and post it notes.

If so, that could provide some SERIOUSLY good information, like if she had an interest in the wall where she was found.

Someone upthread posted a comment of SS from Instagram or somewhere.

A friend asked her if a photo of hers was of the Hagia Sophia.

SS said she didn't know because she was "like the most uniformed tourist in Istanbul" - (she meant to say "uninformed")

FWIW

 

[lavy]

I wonder if she had any guidebooks. If she did, I wonder if she was the kind of traveler that highlights, dogears and post it notes.

If so, that could provide some SERIOUSLY good information, like if she had an interest in the wall where she was found.

I think her friend said she did her homework before traveling.
She had about 10 days of Istanbul by the end of the trip she must have seen the major attractions I think. I wonder where she have been...

 

[necco]

Someone upthread posted a comment of SS from Instagram or somewhere.

A friend asked her if a photo of hers was of the Hagia Sophia.

SS said she didn't know because she was "like the most uniformed tourist in Istanbul" - (she meant to say "uninformed")

FWIW

I recall that. That means she wasn't visually familiar with the Hagia Sophia. However, that doesn't really tell us if she scoured Rough Guides and Lonely Planets for destinations that were more suited to be good shoot locations.

 

[ThinkHard]

I wonder if she had any guidebooks. If she did, I wonder if she was the kind of traveler that highlights, dogears and post it notes.

If so, that could provide some SERIOUSLY good information, like if she had an interest in the wall where she was found.

Possible. Though I doubt it. And that opinion is only based on the fact via her IG account she didn't even know what the Hagia Sophia was.

I know I know there are a lot og mosques in Istanbul there are also a lot of skyscrapers in New York too but most visitors can pick out the Empire State Building.

 

[ToutCa]

I think her friend said she did her homework before traveling.
She had about 10 days of Istanbul by the end of the trip she must have seen the major attractions I think. I wonder where she have been...

But the friend was being asked specifically about safety.

This IS something we haven't discussed. We don't know much of how SS spent her time in Amsterdam or Istanbul.

What if the "research" was more to ensure one could travel there safely?

Maybe she really knew little or nothing about the city and its history and current life. Maybe she just thought the architecture looked cool and like it would be fun to photograph?

 

[Darkman00]

If crime statistics prove you are more likely to get murdered in NYC than in Istanbul, nobody's "opinion" on the matter is relevant.

(By the way, I'm from NYC).

I thought crime was down in NYC anyhow, lol....)))

Stats are stats, however .. but i am talking from life's experience somewhat ...

When i was still in Russia .. a teenager... and travelled to Countries (ex. Soviet republics / places) such as Armenia, Gergia, Dagestan etc ... - I saw how locals crave, say for example, "visitor women" (especially "white" woman from Russia etc, say Moscow women etc).

Single - travelling woman .. Can meet ALL kinda not ideal characters there ... with bad intention... if you know what i mean.

And i don't really care about Stats . or crime in NY etc in general .. - Even if it's MORE than in Turkey say .. i still will defend my opinion about single attractive woman travelling those places (not Turkey specifically) ... ESPECIALLY NOT for the purpose of PURE travel .. but possibly to meet up with someone there .. and visit various "common people" areas of town or cities with that someone.

My opinion only of course.. take it with grain of salt or not

 

[belimom]

I'm reading all of this sex talk and thinking about Sarai and Tarkan. I do believe they had sex - I believe his claims. If he knew he was innocent, he really had no reason to divulge that information other than LE probably asked him the nature of their relationship. And he told the truth, IMO.

My guess on their relationship: they had been somewhat 'flirting' online, commenting on pictures, etc. Who knows what their private e-mails and iMessages and Facetime (and the like) said. I'm going out on a limb and saying that the sexual pressure/interest from both sides was rising. By the time she got there, they were willing to have sex anywhere at that point. But then I think after the initial sexual encounter (or two or three), the novelty wore off, and she didn't find him as interesting. She had gotten it out of her system. The same may be true for him, but I think *she* was the one taking this huge trip, trying to branch out, 'take a break', feeling that '7-year-itch', etc. I don't think their tryst was as much of a life-changing experience for Tarkan as for Sarai, considering he is reportedly a single male and she had been married to a guy she had been with since they were teens. I believe I read that she will be buried on the 15th anniversary of her husband's marriage proposal to her. They've been together awhile. So I believe Tarkan's lawyer when he says there was no emotional investment in the relationship - probably not from either side but especially not Tarkan. I do not think that makes him a jerk. It's just probably his lifestyle as a bachelor. In other words, I don't think he had enough feelings to have a reason to murder Sarai. No anger, no rage.

I'm backing off of Tarkan. I believe whoever murdered Sarai was someone she was acquainted with, either online before arriving or someone she had met previously while there - or a contact of one of those acquaintances. It could be anyone from a fellow IG'er, to the landlord, to the carpet guy.

As for Ammar, he seems like a sweet guy. He actually wore a tiger outfit to the airport to meet her, his 'tigress'. I'm on the fence about their relationship being platonic or not. I think the underlying reason for Sarai's trip was to 'find' herself, to spread her wings, to experience a part of life that she never got to experience and felt may be slipping away from her as she aged further into her 30s.

I think photography may have been a part of her reason but I think it was more of a cover-up to her family and maybe even her friends.

Whew. Hope this makes sense.