My actual question is how much more they know? Is there anything that is not been revealed?
Maybe its the hostel guy. They were talking, he knows the area etc.
I wondered about that, too. And sorry if if it's been discussed and answered as I haven't had time to read all the posts.
The last person to see her alive (alive being the key word) seems to be the Airbnb host. He says she was alive on the 20th. It's only texts after that, which anyone can send, (ala Catfish).
We also know she was alive on the 20th at the mall and perhaps she went there to upload her pictures (she seemed to be taking out what looks like an IPAD) because she didn't have wireless, or it didn't work, at her rented room.
So far I believe the videos of a person they believe to be Sarai walking around on the 21st haven't been released. Anyone can don a coat and a hat- how clear were the images? I'm guessing the police must have a good reason not to release them.
In the landlord's Jan 28th TV interview (which is in Turkish) a translation states that he claims he knows nothing about her, yet the press states that he offers this comment “She said she liked taking walks around Sultanahmet.” Perhaps Lavy or Tashim can interpret if that is what he actually said. Also, did he say what time he saw her?
http://gundem.milliyet.com.tr/cekti...em/gundemdetay/28.01.2013/1661571/default.htm
Doesn't an unnamed tipster's call come a day or two later suggesting the same area?
I believe Landlord also says in the interview that she paid 'online for 13 days in advance', but I'm pretty sure her family says she changed her plans after she arrived.
More confusing is that in a written statement which was shown on Channel 7 the day before, 'the landlord' states she was his tenant from the 7th to the 27th.
ABD İstanbul'da kaybolan Sarai Sierra'yı arıyor. - YouTube
(seen at 1:31)
He also states that he couldn't contact her because “her devices were off” and "I don't know any person who might know where she is and I don't know know any friends." Perhaps he just didn’t want to get involved in a missing person search or was being cautious, or advised not to talk to the press. Because clearly she was an attractive woman all by herself, new to the country and he was a host, close to her age and living in the same house. From all I've read and heard, Turkish people are usually friendly and helpful to foreigners on vacation, especially as Airbnb hosts. So I doubt he was totally clueless to her comings and goings and associations, especially as it was his apartment and he would have had rules.
This doesn't mean I think he was involved or had anything to do with the case, because maybe the guy is just a nervous young man, having been thrust into the spotlight, and maybe Sarai did tell him that. Sarai, Taylan and Ammer have been slandered in the press and I would hate to see yet another person, if totally innocent, go through the wringer but I hope the police are investigating everyone's actions not only on the 21st but on the 20th.
But I have to say the renter's Sultanhamet comment bothers me -as afterward seems a flurry of activity centers on that area of Istanbul and then her body is found in the area. But hey, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. It just seems too convenient. Maybe she made a comment to him about going to someone's place near there and he didn't want to be specific? I read somewhere he has a lawyer, so we may never know. He may a nice person who just answered a question, so I hope one of the Turkish speakers can please translate.
Did any average person talk to her on the 21st? Americans tend to find a local cafe and have coffee, stop in stores to buy souvenirs before coming home. Did any regular person, bus driver, airline operator, waitress, storekeeper ever come forward saying she asked for directions or the price of any item on the 21st? What about the 20th? Did any Turkish papers cover that?
About the extra pair shoes. If they were heels, I agree with others that she intended to go out later, somewhere too far from her rented room to return. The last night before leaving it's normal to want to party. Again, who did she meet on the 19th and 20th who might have invited her? I imagine the police are checking all that out or already have. The Turkish police seem to have been excellent so far in this case. Just MOO.
And lastly, I find the tipster comment kind of ridiculous. Sarai was a born New Yorker and a grown woman. She strikes me as savvy. She might trust an IG guy she’d corresponded with for 4 or 6 months or a host, but I doubt she’d go blindly walking off with 5 male strangers near a mosque who handed her a card. New Yorkers (especially females) don’t tend to get hustled that easily by mobs. Any NY'ers on this board, love your opinion on the suggestion that a 5'2" girl gullibly wanders off with 5 strange men because they hand her a card.
