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

[Yashim]

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

The landlord makes no mention of how she spent her time, let alone she liked walking around Sultanahmet. At least not in that very footage.

 

[lucky181]

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.

Has it been determined that she was leaving the 22nd? There would be no time to go out to party in heels if her flight was leaving the 21st as was originally reported.

 

[ThinkHard]

:what:

I have a question about what Hurriyet wrote today, they said he said: “Tek suçum bir mesaj atmak” or "My only crime was to send a message" - where did he say this? Can't find it anywhere...

Taylan didn't say that, another man by the name of Tarkan who had an istagram account as well and who's istagram account was @tarkan1973 or something like that said it. Two separate people similar names. Not the same Taylan/Tarkan that was questioned by police. The Tarkan who said that quote never met sarai in person.
Confusing I know,

 

[Meri]

So it sounds like we don't know much more except the Turkish press is using this forum as a source. Oy vey!

As for Taylan and her relationship, I personally believe there was a sexual element but he wasnt involved in the crime. But I was right about him not being married!

Since I'm beginning to wonder if the press even talk to the police instead of printing Internet theories, I have no idea what really happened to her or even the time or the place.
Just hoping this doesn't become a Lifetime movie with John Stamos or Rob Lowe.

BBM: Well, that explains why the Turkish press keeps coming up with different stories! LOL

 

[ThinkHard]

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.

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.

I don't really suspect the bnb guy at all. Nothing I've seen has given me reason to. As for the 20th Taylan has claimed to have been with her that evening at a club, where they had sex in the bathroom.

As far as the story with the guys is concerned, if it is true it could be something really innocent where someone asked her if she needed directions, and they said they would walk her there. If that story is true it sounds more like guys trying to flirt with her more then anything. In my opinion just because she was seen walking with them doesn't mean she was really willingly walking with them, but rather she acknowledged them and they took that as I sign she was open to talk to them. If you don't blatantly ignore some Turkish men they can be quite persistent. It's quite possible they saw her openness as an invitation to walk with her.

I'm not saying its impossible that these same men couldn't have hurt her. But I have a feeling the exchange witnessed had more to do with flirting. If the story is even true anyway. And if like one report said, this incident happened on the 21 at topkapi I call bluff. Because based on the times the cameras saw her, she quite frankly wouldn't have had time to be there.

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.

 

[Rolandred]

Not at all. Depends on if it one of those large, very lavish bathrooms, or a unisex one where there is plenty of eye candy and curious eyes wondering if anything is going on..but no one knows..and the anticipation of being caught. Also depends on if it is with a stranger..then I concur more, but if with your sig other and just being adventurous..I am all for it. I would prefer a large lavish bathroom at some haute restaurant or club. To each their own.

I highly doubt that in Istanbul - this is not South Beach or NYC - more likely a brothel bar. Or putibar (Spain) - She was also taking photos in the Taksim neighborhood known for prostitution - she may have unknowingly gotten involved in some kind of seedy thing - scammed - and or blackmailed.

 

[Darkman00]

I read something on Google .. about possible affair that SS had in Turkey with a man, who was being questioned...

Just a question: Did she or did she not have an affair in Turkey? .. Was it confirmed by now .. or was it found to be a lie?

 

[SeaEclipse]

Sorry, Yashim, I completely disagree with this.

I would never naively assume I could bring non-American citizens with impunity into my country.

And it's not naiveté to not carry a passport in Turkey. It is the practice of many sophisticated international American travelers there (like me). It is the practice recommended by the US Dept of State officially.

And it's what SS did. It was NOT naive and NOT unusual.

That said, I have no idea why she didn't carry it. Maybe she read the US Dept of State recommendation. Maybe some pontificating jerk like me told her she shouldn't carry it. Who knows?

But it's definitely not a sign of her naiveté or shadiness. It's not a sign of much of anything. We don't know her motives.

I work for the State Department and I would never carry my passport around with me while abroad (unless I had some reason to think that the place I was staying was particularly dodgy). We can agree to disagree on best practice, but I promise you that I am neither a naive nor infrequent traveller.

ETA: By the way, the best reason to carry a photocopy of your passport on you/keep an unlabelled copy in a web-accessible email inbox while abroad isn't the unfounded (and likely incorrect) belief that it'll be accepted by foreign authorities or you'll be able to travel on it (keep another form of ID on you showing you're American just in case ID is demanded by authorities), it's the (correct) belief that it would make it much easier for you to get an emergency replacement passport at a US Embassy/Consulate if needed.

 

[Darkman00]

Probably was posted already .. but here is a couple of latest headlines from Google:

-----------

Revealed: The 'secret lover' of New York mother murdered in Turkey 'who had sex together in bar restroom the day before she was bludgeoned to death'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-lover-bar-restroom-day-bludgeoned-death.html
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

-----------

Body of New York mom murdered in Turkey being returned home

Published February 07, 2013

FoxNews.com

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/07/body-new-york-woman-killed-in-turkey-being-returned-home

 

[ThinkHard]

I highly doubt that in Istanbul - this is not South Beach or NYC - more likely a brothel bar. Or putibar (Spain) - She was also taking photos in the Taksim neighborhood known for prostitution - she may have unknowingly gotten involved in some kind of seedy thing - scammed - and or blackmailed.

There are plenty of very upscale clubs in Istanbul actually. Some of the most well known in the world for upscale night clubs are in Istanbul.

And it is just my opinion that I doubt she accidentally came upon prostitution in Istanbul, though it exists, I doubt its something she would have just walked in on.

Do you have a lot of personal experience with Istanbul?

 

[Darkman00]

Turkey is not the World Safest country to travel, to start with ... and especially if the travel involved plans for an affair

 

[Rolandred]

Why were 20 people (according to various news outlets) detained, questioned and very important - DNA taken from all? Who are they? Where from? How did they find them? Why so many? Why has only Taylan's name been released? So strange. Such a weird case.

 

[Meri]

Umm just my opinion but I don't think his pedigree means that a man with a sex drive is above doing it just about anywhere.

It's a very classless thing to do, in my opinion.

ETA: I would think a man with class would at least rent a nice hotel room for the occasion.

ETA (again!): Corrected wrong word.

 

[ThinkHard]

I work for the State Department and I would never carry my passport around with me while abroad (unless I had some reason to think that the place I was staying was particularly dodgy). We can agree to disagree on best practice, but I promise you that I am neither a naive nor infrequent traveller.

ETA: By the way, the best reason to carry a photocopy of your passport on you/keep an unlabelled copy in a web-accessible email inbox while abroad isn't the unfounded (and likely incorrect) belief that it'll be accepted by foreign authorities or you'll be able to travel on it (keep another form of ID on you showing you're American just in case ID is demanded by authorities), it's the (correct) belief that it would make it much easier for you to get an emergency replacement passport at a US Embassy/Consulate if needed.

This was a long discussion. I think you are just catching the tail end of it without having seen the entire dialogue....easy to do on this board as there is a lot of dialogue.

Yes most people would say carry a copy and we all agree that the state department does recommend that. However in Istanbul in particular and based on personal experience, Turkish authorities don't care about your photo copy and much prefer that you carry your passport at all times.

This is what worked for me in Istanbul, and I wouldn't have done it differently. But I always kept a copy at my residence so that if it ever was lost I could just go to the consulate down the road, and it would be much easier to replace.

 

[Darkman00]

It's a very classless thing to do, in my opinion.

ETA: I would think a man with class without at least rent a nice hotel room for the occasion.

That costs, lol

.. and possibly, the man wasn't made out of money :blushing:

 

[zarra30]

The landlord makes no mention of how she spent her time, let alone she liked walking around Sultanahmet. At least not in that very footage.

Thanks! I appreciate you translating and I'm glad to know he didn't say it. Too often what people say is misquoted:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ho...n-20-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40002&NewsCatID=341

 

[looking4answers]

It's a very classless thing to do, in my opinion.

ETA: I would think a man with class without at least rent a nice hotel room for the occasion.

With a stranger perhaps, with your long term sig? Not necessarily. One of my ex's was into pushing boundaries, and this was one of her goals for us to do..I also recall she wanted to in an airport before we left for somewhere. She was just adventurous and had a high sex drive like me. It made it more interesting then always doing it on a bed. A bed is for sleeping btw..since when did it become the defacto place to have sex, because what, it's comfy? Rather boring if you ask me, but to each their own.

 

[necco]

I get that. But what US Department of State is trying to do is to aviod the cost of printing a new passport in case an American loses it (I mean the passport).

Sound advice on what to avoid in Istanbul would have been more useful for SS than the passport advice.

Sorry, this is total BS.

The consulate (or embassy if you're in a city with an embassy) charges you for your passport. They are NOT trying to make things easier on themselves. There are PLENTY of countries where they tell you to carry your passport at all times. I HATE it when people whine about consulate or embassy protocol when there are vital reasons they are set up the way they are.

 

[nursebeeme]

:werk:

discuss the case not the country

 

[ThinkHard]

It's a very classless thing to do, in my opinion.

ETA: I would think a man with class without at least rent a nice hotel room for the occasion.

You'd think, but remember money and class do not always go hand in hand.