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

[ToutCa]

One insider feedback for you. I hardly recall LE being discrete with any detainee in any case that hit the news in Turkey. Unless they are informants. There has to be something we're missing. It can't be just that he is rich. That's why I thought at the beginning he feared for his life.

His lawyer denied that allegation.

You've cited his lawyer's statement as proof positive of Taylan's actions, status, and views.

If you want to rely on it, I think you should be consistent. And even if we can't entirely rely on it, surely the lawyer wouldn't outright lie?

Taylan's Lawyer: He's not an undercover cop, he has no immunity, and no connection to LE.

It's impossible to believe that his lawyer would outright lie on that matter in public.

 

[lavy]

Since we have nothing else to talk about right now...did you know the word for turkey the bird in Turkish is hindi

A couple other ones I think are cute

elephant is "fil" so now I think all elephants should be names Phil

Monkey is maymun (pronounce my moon)

I don't know how true but have you seen this?

Turkish, the bird we call a Turkey is called "Hindi" ("from India"). In India, it's called "Peru." In Arabic, the bird is called "Greek chicken"; in Greek it's called "French chicken"; and in French it's called "Indian chicken." The bird is indigenous to none of these places.

-"From India" part is true.

 

[Yellow]

I don't think he's guilty any more (unless the DNA reports are false), but there's a difference between feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed -- and being a total coward.

Man up. A person is missing and presumed dead. You were last to see her.

We all know what the right thing to do was. I'm not saying it was easy to do, just that Taylan is not a nice guy to hide under his bed when things got scary.

That is true, he is a coward.at the same time, he probably never thought she was dead. Most people do not fathom a bright, happy young woman running around what appears to be a safe city would be found dead. he probbaly just thought she was hiding from her husband bc she did not want to come home...I mean, if true, he knows she cheated so he might have thought that maybe she was separated from her husband or that she did not want anything to do w husband.

SS was extremely unlucky. She apparently was safe engaging what some people think was risky behavior (sleeping on strangers couch, meeting strange men (possibly, we are still not completely sure all of the strangers she met are cleared). But she ended up dying possibly because she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So you never know...

 

[lavy]

However, now that I know you'd smash your stuff to smitherings, I must make a request:

If I ever go missing, it is quite likely that one of you people here at Websleuths will have been the last to have had communication with me (because I don't have that exciting a life- although I am determined to go out tonight, so don't judge me!). Please just google me and try to find me. Do not smash your personal belongings! Help! :floorlaugh:

Promised

I was thinking the other day when we talked for 5 pages why would she have an extra pair of shoes. Can't imagine the scenarios that people can come up with if I get lost and my bag is found.

 

[Yashim]

I am not 100% sure if it's OT, but a link to a good article on where Turkey comes from.

Talking Turkey: The Story of How the Unofficial Bird of the United States Got Named After a Country
(by Giancarlo Casale)

http://www.mymerhaba.com/Mystery-Solved-in-Turkey-1975.html

 

[ToutCa]

That is true, he is a coward.at the same time, he probably never thought she was dead.

True, but she WAS missing, almost all her stuff was abandoned in her AirBnb room, and her family, Turkish LE and the FBI was pleading for info and specifically for Taylan to step forward.

In all honesty, I'd feel so bad that the person was missing, I'd step up.

What do you gain by hiding? As Taylan found out, you only make things worse for yourself because they ARE gonna track you down. And you look like a ******* for not even coming out and helping try to find her when she was missing and possibly abducted somewhere when you might just have the vital clue (even without knowing it)!!!!

 

[bellyup]

As a fellow Websleuther- why would you have assumed you'd be framed for murder in the beginning? She was missing for two weeks. At that point, my concern for my missing friend would override everything else.

However, now that I know you'd smash your stuff to smitherings, I must make a request:

If I ever go missing, it is quite likely that one of you people here at Websleuths will have been the last to have had communication with me (because I don't have that exciting a life- although I am determined to go out tonight, so don't judge me!). Please just google me and try to find me. Do not smash your personal belongings! Help! :floorlaugh:

I guess I have a bit of a different perspective on this as I HAVE been (directly/indirectly) at the center of a missing persons case before. I've posted about it in the past, but it really changes how you'd deal with things if it ever happened again. Once you are a suspect or even a person of interest ... it gets really invasive really fast. The tiniest thing sets off a storm and if you are innocent, you don't want anything that might make the lights brighter.

I imagine how that's how Taylan is feeling right about now (assuming his innocence).

Side note: We didn't even KNOW the person missing. I can't imagine the feeling if you actually did know the person, may have been intimate with them, were scheduled to meet with them, etc.

 

[ThinkHard]

The do-you-or-don't-you carry your passport while traveling abroad decision can be tricky. When I was younger, I usually carried mine with me. I don't have a great explanation why, it just felt safer to have it ON me physically than to leave it in a strange hotel, especially when my hotel room didn't have a safe. BUT, in retrospect, I really wish I had followed the US authorities' advice! I had my purse stolen (with my passport in it) when I was on a weekend trip to Paris from London during college, and getting back out of France kind of turned into a nightmare with no money or ID. I had to fight to file a police report, convince the post office to let me collect money that my parents wired me, and then had to stay for an extra night alone while my friends went back to London (consulate wasn't open on the weekends). Thankfully, I was able to get an emergency passport the next day at the consulate with the help of a wonderful employee who happened to be from my home state in the US. But, the moral of that story is, I NEVER carry my passport on me when I travel anymore! It always stays safely in my hotel, apart from any other ID.

Possibly the strangest part of that whole story, is that several months later when I was back in the US, I got a letter from the French police telling me they had found my purse, with my wallet and passport still inside!! (No money or camera though.) It wasn't valid anymore, but I did finally get it back.

Totally valid points. But as an expat in Istanbul specifically,in my situation I almost gotten taken into police headquarters for NOT having my passport on me.

Walking in Taksim with one other American and 2 Turkish females, and 6 Turkish men, (2 of the Turkish guys were graffiti artists and were tagging walls), on our way to a club at about 11pm we got stopped by Turkish police, and all asked for id's. they made as sit on a sidewalk. Then they started asking were we were from and I was trying to answer in Turkish. They didn't believe us. Asked us where we lived etc etc. then 2 more cops came. Then a cop car with police with guns and bullet proof vests (I know I should have been scared but I was just thinking, well this is overkill)

They kept saying you need your passport always, where is your passport. Then they made me and the other American get into the cop car. Our Turkish friends stood in front of the car, trying to explain we were legally there, and the US embassy recommends not having your passport on it for safety reasons. They kept saying we should always have our real passport on us.

Then my friend said start crying. So I start fake crying and babbling in English that I'm sorry I forgot my passport, and i will always have it with me next time, and we really are Americans. They finally let us go.

Apparently they thought we might be Russian prostitutes there illegally.

So I say at least in Istanbul, ALWAYS have ur real passport! Because Turkish cops don't give a chit what the US embassy's recommendation are.

 

[ToutCa]

Promised

I was thinking the other day when we talked for 5 pages why would she have an extra pair of shoes. Can't imagine the scenarios that people can come up with if I get lost and my bag is found.

What's in your bag? An iPad and cell phone you recently acquired on the down-low in an Istanbul back alley???????

 

[ToutCa]

Totally valid points. But as an expat in Istanbul specifically,in my situation I almost gotten taken into police headquarters for NOT having my passport on me.

I still believe in never having my passport on me, in Istanbul included. A photocopy is OK.

But I'm a guy, so that probably has a lot to do with it. You make a compelling argument that for women, it may be worth carrying it.

My feeling is, the worst that can happen is they can take me in, but eventually they'll have to go by my address and get my passport. And then they'll be really embarrassed and maybe have to give me some free food or something.

I'd rather go through the stress of a protracted police encounter than get my passport stolen because I'm being a fool and not paying attention. Yes, I am known for that!!!

 

[ThinkHard]

I don't know how true but have you seen this?



-"From India" part is true.

Yup on sliced turkey pastrami packages in Istanbul. I had to learn lots of names of foods, cause I have food allergies.

 

[lavy]

What's in your bag? An iPad and cell phone you recently acquired on the down-low in an Istanbul back alley???????

Naw..If I had them I would be working hard on the clues and maybe even solved the case by now. Not saying this because of self-confidence but even the photos she took can tell a lot

My bag...from few things that I can remember, a bag of salt, sharp scissors, first aid kit, some dried plants, lots of keys, a list with names but nothing else is among the interesting stuff.

 

[lavy]

About the passport thing, in Turkey nationals have to carry their ID cards with them all the times. I am trying to find that if same is valid for foreigners but haven't found anything yet.

Police asking for it might not mean you are required to carry it by law.7

-If I am in a foreign country I always hide my passport in the room (and can't remember where I put it later but thats a different story) and carry my driving license with me.

 

[CMac2]

I still believe in never having my passport on me, in Istanbul included. A photocopy is OK.

But I'm a guy, so that probably has a lot to do with it. You make a compelling argument that for women, it may be worth carrying it.

My feeling is, the worst that can happen is they can take me in, but eventually they'll have to go by my address and get my passport. And then they'll be really embarrassed and maybe have to give me some free food or something.

I'd rather go through the stress of a protracted police encounter than get my passport stolen because I'm being a fool and not paying attention. Yes, I am known for that!!!

Totally worth the hassle for free donuts.

 

[ToutCa]

My bag...from few things that I can remember, a bag of salt, sharp scissors, first aid kit, some dried plants, lots of keys, a list with names but nothing else is among the interesting stuff.

"Dried plants" eh?

*cough* *drug mule!* *cough* *drug mule!*

I'm emailing your comment directly to the NY Post!!!!!

 

[CMac2]

Naw..If I had them I would be working hard on the clues and maybe even solved the case by now. Not saying this because of self-confidence but even the photos she took can tell a lot

My bag...from few things that I can remember, a bag of salt, sharp scissors, first aid kit, some dried plants, lots of keys, a list with names but nothing else is among the interesting stuff.

What's the story with the salt and the plants?

 

[ThinkHard]

About the passport thing, in Turkey nationals have to carry their ID cards with them all the times. I am trying to find that if same is valid for foreigners but haven't found anything yet.

Police asking for it might not mean you are required to carry it by law.

I don't know if you legally do. BUT in my experience police expect you too.

Also I had a copy of it on me and they just tore it up. It wasnt till I started crying and rambling in English did they believe I was American.

They did eat all my tic tacs though....bastards

 

[ThinkHard]

Totally worth the hassle for free donuts.

Yes accept my passport was all the way in Istinye, and it was the middle of the night.

Knock on wood, I have never been pick pocketed, or even so much as an attempt. I'm super aware of my surroundings and had already lived in manhattan for 3 years. So I much prefer to leave the copy at home, a d keep my passport on me.

 

[lavy]

"Dried plants" eh?

*cough* *drug mule!* *cough* *drug mule!*

I'm emailing your comment directly to the NY Post!!!!!

:floorlaugh: Please note that I prefer NY Daily News

What's the story with the salt and the plants?

Plants were needed for work related things....I'm not giving out much do I? They are not drug related stuff. (or maybe I found another type who knows)

Salt is just I keep forgetting to take it out from my bag and stupidly carrying it with me last few days.

I don't know if you legally do. BUT in my experience police expect you too.

Also I had a copy of it on me and they just tore it up. It wasnt till I started crying and rambling in English did they believe I was American.

They did eat all my tic tacs though....bastards

:floorlaugh::floorlaugh:

Turkish websites doesn't mention it but travel advice websites insist on carrying photocopy of your passport.

 

[Yashim]

Totally valid points. But as an expat in Istanbul specifically,in my situation I almost gotten taken into police headquarters for NOT having my passport on me.

.....

So I say at least in Istanbul, ALWAYS have ur real passport! Because Turkish cops don't give a chit what the US embassy's recommendation are.

Finally, that's a lot, ThinkHard. I was almost stoned to death when I was trying to emphasize this. We have lived with terrorism for so long... Standards are different in Turkey. By Turkish standard for a photocopy to be valid abroad, say in the US, it has to be translated into English by a certified translator. Then both document (original and translation) are notarized. Then you take it to the Governor (of Istanbul) which acknowledges the Notary Public, then that document with 10s of stamps on it goes to the US Consulate. After approved by the Consulate, the photocopy becomes valid in the US. And then you take it to the US, they look at it as if it is an historic manuscript, trying the figure out what the stamps are for.