GUILTY Turkey - Sarai Sierra, 33, NY woman murdered, Istanbul, 21 Jan 2013 - #4

[SandyP]

I am new here but I have read through quite a bit of the posts here and have read just about every article that has appeared in the "legit" press. I have also looked at social media accounts of some of the principals involved.

Something is not right about the family. We all knew they were sugar coating SS and the trip from the start, but since then they lost no time trying to profit from her disappearance and death. First their church raises money for Steven and David to go to Istanbul. Ok. Then they are selling photos on Instagram to "bring the body home." But oops Turkish airlines is doing this for free. Then they are still selling her photos to pay for funeral. But funeral home is doing it for free too. Then they say funeral has been paid for and any new photo sales are "for the sons." Well since she didn't help support family they have lost their mom but not out any cash. I would like to know how much money has been raised selling her images since she disappeared.

News reports state SS and also her parents declared bankruptcy in 2005. She was already married, did she declare on her own or with Steven?

 

[PippaCatherine]

NY Times said they stayed w friends of friends of the brother in turkey so it does not appear they had connections, most people except if they are Turkish do not have friends in Turkey.

Of course if he had just hired a hit man to kill his wife, he would not want to broadcast it that he had Turkish connections bc he would want to hide it

We can only judge him on media appearances bc none of us know him. Sometimes the husbands, like Scott Peterson, look guilty on TV, they act too suave and like they do not even care. Steven is not acting like Peterson acted. Or even Drew Peterson- he did not act too upset either. There has been a bunch of cases where husband is not upset at all.

Of course sometimes appearances can be deceiving so just bc the husband acts distraught does not mean they are not guilty. We just have had so many cases where the husband does not even appear to care that the wife is dead and then they are found guilty of her murder...

How reliable is the NY times? Why would you say most people don't have friends unless they live in Turkey? I have family that have many good friends there, and they do not reside in that area. I wouldn't make assumptions based on someone not being from an area. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?
Also, just because one person acts a particular way can't be a measure on how others will behave, when guilty. However I'm not focused on the husband, again, it was just a thought that I put out there.

 

[Yellow]

I am new here but I have read through quite a bit of the posts here and have read just about every article that has appeared in the "legit" press. I have also looked at social media accounts of some of the principals involved.

Something is not right about the family. We all knew they were sugar coating SS and the trip from the start, but since then they lost no time trying to profit from her disappearance and death. First their church raises money for Steven and David to go to Istanbul. Ok. Then they are selling photos on Instagram to "bring the body home." But oops Turkish airlines is doing this for free. Then they are still selling her photos to pay for funeral. But funeral home is doing it for free too. Then they say funeral has been paid for and any new photo sales are "for the sons." Well since she didn't help support family they have lost their mom but not out any cash. I would like to know how much money has been raised selling her images since she disappeared.

News reports state SS and also her parents declared bankruptcy in 2005. She was already married, did she declare on her own or with Steven?

I think we have to remember too there appeared to be some confusion on who was going to donate stuff. I think they announced the photo selling before they got the donations. Turkish airlines, etc. maybe had no idea they could not afford, them when they heard about photo selling only then did they say they will pay. I imagine same w funeral, the publicity of the case spurs donations, and once they got what they needed they said it would go to sons

I do not think this family is seeking to profit. If that is what they wanted, they could sell an exclusive interview to tabloid or pictures to tabloid. They are not over the top asking for donations, it seems. Some people in similar situations moan they cannot pay bills, etc. I do not see Steve asking for donations in any of the TV interviews

 

[necco]

Life insurance is usually through work so I would think there would not be much in her

That said, sometimes you have a friend or contact that is LI salesman and they rope you into buying a policy even though technically you do not need it

Unless it was that scenario, it would be odd if she had a big LI policy bc it would not be needed to replace lost income since she only worked part time if at all

Family could not afford funeral or bringing body back so I think that signals there was not big insuramce on her. Church and donations covered it but they were selling her photos to pay for funeral

Actually, a lot of people I know have as much life insurance on the primary caregiver of the children as the primary breadwinner. Childcare is obscenely expensive and losing the caregiver would be equally damaging in most lower and middle class families as losing the breadwinner.

And some employers offer life insurance on spouses.

 

[SandyP]

Steven stated in an interview that Sarai did not have life insurance.

Too bad because life insurance played a part in a theory of mine In which the body IDed as Sarai was not her (what proof other than Steven said "it's her.") She wanted out of her life and family agreed because of Insurance money.

 

[Trino]

I am new here but I have read through quite a bit of the posts here and have read just about every article that has appeared in the "legit" press. I have also looked at social media accounts of some of the principals involved.

Something is not right about the family. We all knew they were sugar coating SS and the trip from the start, but since then they lost no time trying to profit from her disappearance and death. First their church raises money for Steven and David to go to Istanbul. Ok. Then they are selling photos on Instagram to "bring the body home." But oops Turkish airlines is doing this for free. Then they are still selling her photos to pay for funeral. But funeral home is doing it for free too. Then they say funeral has been paid for and any new photo sales are "for the sons." Well since she didn't help support family they have lost their mom but not out any cash. I would like to know how much money has been raised selling her images since she disappeared.

News reports state SS and also her parents declared bankruptcy in 2005. She was already married, did she declare on her own or with Steven?

When the church offered money, Steven & David, most likely, did not have funds to go. When they began selling photos, the airline had not yet offered to bring the body home (as I recall). Finally, the same is true for the funeral.

Knowing that people have purchased photos and donated, what should be done with the money? I believe they are doing the most logical thing - saving it for the sons. Steven is going to have a difficult time raising two children, as well as working full-time. Give the guy some slack.

 

[PippaCatherine]

I am new here but I have read through quite a bit of the posts here and have read just about every article that has appeared in the "legit" press. I have also looked at social media accounts of some of the principals involved.

Something is not right about the family. We all knew they were sugar coating SS and the trip from the start, but since then they lost no time trying to profit from her disappearance and death. First their church raises money for Steven and David to go to Istanbul. Ok. Then they are selling photos on Instagram to "bring the body home." But oops Turkish airlines is doing this for free. Then they are still selling her photos to pay for funeral. But funeral home is doing it for free too. Then they say funeral has been paid for and any new photo sales are "for the sons." Well since she didn't help support family they have lost their mom but not out any cash. I would like to know how much money has been raised selling her images since she disappeared.

News reports state SS and also her parents declared bankruptcy in 2005. She was already married, did she declare on her own or with Steven?

Excellent post. I don't know the validity of this, but I remember reading that she declared bankruptcy and stated she was single? Her father refuted that, suggesting otherwise. A lot of discrepancies involved in this case.

 

[necco]

I think we have to remember too there appeared to be some confusion on who was going to donate stuff. I think they announced the photo selling before they got the donations. Turkish airlines, etc. maybe had no idea they could not afford, them when they heard about photo selling only then did they say they will pay. I imagine same w funeral, the publicity of the case spurs donations, and once they got what they needed they said it would go to sons

I do not think this family is seeking to profit. If that is what they wanted, they could sell an exclusive interview to tabloid or pictures to tabloid. They are not over the top asking for donations, it seems. Some people in similar situations moan they cannot pay bills, etc. I do not see Steve asking for donations in any of the TV interviews

Good post. Also, they changed the writing on the instagram photo buying site very quickly from funeral expenses to going to the children. They've been open and honest about where the money was going and I applaud them for selling her art rather than just asking for donations. And, if it's like any church I belonged to, the church was raising money before Steven even knew they were doing it.

 

[belimom]

Hi there - checking in after a long day at work. It doesn't seem that there is anything new. Or did I miss something? TIA!

 

[SandyP]

There were some news reports that David and Steven stayed with"friends of friends" in Istanbul. So family did know someone even if indirectly

If money was so tight you have to wonder why Sarai chose to stay in rented $17 a night room in rough part of town rather than contact same family friends.

 

[Yashim]

I think they've got him.

 

[PippaCatherine]

There were some news reports that David and Steven stayed with"friends of friends" in Istanbul. So family did know someone even if indirectly

If money was so tight you have to wonder why Sarai chose to stay in rented $17 a night room in rough part of town rather than contact same family friends.

How was she able to fund the trip, sorry if I missed that vital piece of information.

 

[necco]

There were some news reports that David and Steven stayed with"friends of friends" in Istanbul. So family did know someone even if indirectly

If money was so tight you have to wonder why Sarai chose to stay in rented $17 a night room in rough part of town rather than contact same family friends.

I'd pay $1,000 a night rather than stay with some of my brothers' friends. Maybe Sarai just didn't like the friends. Not to mention, Steven and David were there because of a tragedy, not for a vacation. Crashing on someone's sofa for 3 weeks is a lot more of an imposition than staying with someone when your wife and sister is missing.

 

[Yellow]

How reliable is the NY times? Why would you say most people don't have friends unless they live in Turkey? I have family that have many good friends there, and they do not reside in that area. I wouldn't make assumptions based on someone not being from an area. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?
Also, just because one person acts a particular way can't be a measure on how others will behave, when guilty. However I'm not focused on the husband, again, it was just a thought that I put out there.

NYTimes is Probably the most reliable newspaper we have in the USA. It is considered by far the good standard. Not to say every single thing in the Times is correct but it goes through a very thorough fact checking process. It is by no means a tabloid. The Times had an interview w Steven.

I never said most Americans don't have friends unless they lived in Turkey, i said most Americans don't have Turkish friends. If you surveyed all Americans, most of them (probably over 90%) do not have friends in Turkey, in fact, most Americans probably do not have friends in any overseas country. I could say the same thing about France or Germany. Most Americans could not simply call up a friend in Turkey (or any country) and ask to stay in their house, let alone know someone well enough to trust them to kill someone.

most Americans have never been overseas and less than a quarter I think even have a passport. Of the Americans who know people overseas, most of them are probably family connections or else they met them in college or work or something. there are more Turkish people living and working in NYC than say Kansas, so it makes is slightly more likely he might have known someone from Turkey, but still pretty unlikely that he would have known someone so well to be able to arrange a hit.

Also given the fact that he relied on friends of friends of the brother for hosting in Turkey, I think it is safe to say he did not have much contact w Turkey, (though he could be lying)

 

[Yashim]

There were some news reports that David and Steven stayed with"friends of friends" in Istanbul. So family did know someone even if indirectly

If money was so tight you have to wonder why Sarai chose to stay in rented $17 a night room in rough part of town rather than contact same family friends.

They said she paid for a month. So she paid $510 to sleep in that matchbox?

What a ripoff! That's not cheap at all.

 

[Herat]

I think they've got him.

YASHIM

Tell us tell us tell us

What is going on?hwow:

 

[ThinkHard]

Stratford,
I don't think your theory is crazy, really, but in this situation, I do not think it is what happened. It is not because I don't think her husband is capable, frankly, I don't know him. However, given their economic situation, I doubt he would murder his way into the poor house. A hitman, transporting the body, he and his brother-in-law flying to Turkey, emergency passports, etc... we're talking upwards of 15k, at least, and that's if the hitman is cheap. I think if he was going to hire someone to kill his wife (which I totally do not think he would or did) he would have done it closer to home.

Though I will say this, hiring a hit man on your wife while she is 6000 miles away from you, certainly would provide a way better cover.

I'm still not totally sure how he'd arrange it all....but I do think his motive would be significantly stronger then many other motives proposed on this board.

 

[Yashim]

YASHIM

Tell us tell us tell us

What is going on?hwow:

Sorry I thought I heard a knock on my door.

 

[PippaCatherine]

NYTimes is Probably the most reliable newspaper we have in the USA. It is considered by far the good standard. Not to say every single thing in the Times is correct but it goes through a very thorough fact checking process. It is by no means a tabloid. The Times had an interview w Steven.

I never said most Americans don't have friends unless they lived in Turkey, i said most Americans don't have Turkish friends. If you surveyed all Americans, most of them (probably over 90%) do not have friends in Turkey, in fact, most Americans probably do not have friends in any overseas country. I could say the same thing about France or Germany. Most Americans could not simply call up a friend in Turkey (or any country) and ask to stay in their house, let alone know someone well enough to trust them to kill someone.

most Americans have never been overseas and less than a quarter I think even have a passport. Of the Americans who know people overseas, most of them are probably family connections or else they met them in college or work or something. there are more Turkish people living and working in NYC than say Kansas, so it makes is slightly more likely he might have known someone from Turkey, but still pretty unlikely that he would have known someone so well to be able to arrange a hit.

Also given the fact that he relied on friends of friends of the brother for hosting in Turkey, I think it is safe to say he did not have much contact w Turkey, (though he could be lying)

most people except if they are Turkish do not have friends in Turkey.

I respectfully disagree with much of what you mention, however I don't want to hijack a very important thread. You've somehow misunderstood what I posted in response to your previous comments.

 

[Yellow]

:what:

Actually, a lot of people I know have as much life insurance on the primary caregiver of the children as the primary breadwinner. Childcare is obscenely expensive and losing the caregiver would be equally damaging in most lower and middle class families as losing the breadwinner.

And some employers offer life insurance on spouses.

That is true, but what I meant is that I doubt any life insurance would be millions of dollars. It would be commensurate w the lost income needed to raise children, in most cases, rather than millions of dollars to go out and buy jewelry.

The latter case is when it gets suspicious.