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

[Yellow]

I haven't seen this article before, but it has a very comprehensive detail of how she spent her last day, which I believe was pasted together through footage from the CCTV cameras.

It also includes some images for people who have not been to Istanbul if you need help visualizing it.

[LINK]

This was posted the other day. It was also talked about last night if you want to look. Some people (the locals here) commented on how the times differed from what was previously reported.

 

[Herat]

This reminded me of Taman Shud case.

oK alp-

now you've got some 'splainin' to do ......

 

[Herat]

It was a fantasy, sort of like The Bachelor is a fantasy falling in love in foreign lands

Yup

There is an element of escapism and fantasy in this visit of hers.

 

[Herat]

I think the local phone thing is probably fairly common for younger, more tech-savy travelers and maybe not so common for older travelers

*ducks to avoid incoming blows*

 

[Herat]

Usually they wouldn't add layovers if you change a flight. It involves more taxes, landing fees, and a bigger headache to organize. That's not to say it could never and would never happen, but it's likely the same flight, but different day that was rebooked.

I agree, I just raise the issue.

I think the re-booking becomes more difficult in the peak tourist or travel times when the desireable direct flights are full. Late January is not one of the times when it would be difficult to find open seats.

 

[Meri]

Since they had declared bankruptcy, they may have had no credit cards.

She declared BK in 2005, well within the time now for her to have credit cards, loans, etc. Also, I do believe it was mentioned that she did have a credit card on her but I have no idea where to find that.

 

[Herat]

I have to keep remembering that we know nothing about her contacts with at least 2 and possibly 3 other IG or other internet contacts in Istanbul, whom we are led to believe are some of the 5 being more heavily investigated by LE.

Big big parts of this story are missing.

 

[Herat]

There appear to be at least one Photography Club in Istanbul, whose page is in English and who have several female photographers. The last blog was in Feb 2012, when they were photographing all over Belogu, with comments made about the architecture and places that have subsequently mentioned in reference to SS.

There are several other Istanbul photography blogs that I can't get access to.

I would think that for a visit of 3 weeks, she would have reached out to other photography clubs for friends to accompany her and give ideas.

So far, the limited information we have seems to paint here as a solo, rather lonely figure, by herself unless in the company of TK. That just seems depressing and not much fun.

I wonder if it's worth contacting any of these clubs to see if they had any contact with her?

 

[Herat]

She declared BK in 2005, well within the time now for her to have credit cards, loans, etc. Also, I do believe it was mentioned that she did have a credit card on her but I have no idea where to find that.

If she had a credit card, why did she need cash to change her flight?

It's expensive to wire money.

(Hey guys, it's quiet and lonely in here)

 

[SophieRose]

If she had a credit card, why did she need cash to change her flight?

It's expensive to wire money.

(Hey guys, it's quiet and lonely in here)

She probably filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005 which stays on an individual's record for ten years.

 

[zarra30]

I do not know what Steven can do. The investigation is in Turkey, and I think he has alot of confidence in both Turkish LE and the FBI. They want this solved.

Remember too he has two small children whose mother was murdered, 1st priority is them. If much of what has been in the press is wrong, it has to be extremely hurtful to hear rumors about your wife. And to know that your children will read those rumors one day.

Artixle indicates that hostel owner met him and was compassionate.....

NYTimes: "He visited the building where his wife had stayed, in a gritty part of the city, and spoke with the man who had rented a basement apartment to her. “He was very apologetic,” he remembered. “I could see it in his eyes that he was broken.” Mr. Sierra did not go inside...."

Interesting take. The NYTimes is usually (and thankfully) pretty careful to quote their sources and let people draw their own conclusions. Maybe you got compassion from that. Maybe someone else saw a hug. I didn't. I just got "very apologetic" and "broken"
and didn't come up with 'compassionate'.

I am also curious about something else. Nowhere could I find any quotes from Taylan or any reliable source saying "I had sex in the bathroom of a club, etc", (if there is a source, please feel free to correct me and provide a link) but I believe his lawyer is quoted as saying (or being with him when he said) they met twice and had tea. And I believe he said something about only being guilty of sending a text. I can probably find the link if necessary.

I also notice that after the newspapers ran amuck with the bathroom sex story which made a woman tourist (who may have actually had tea twice with a friend) effectively look immoral, trashy, or fun loving, instead of backing up their claims with any reputable source, they just reported that other papers reported that he did it or that he "denied having sex"

So it's a lose-lose if the guy Taylan is innocent. His reputation is now effectively trashed. The guy is probably afraid to say hello to a woman tourist now.

 

[Meri]

She probably filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005 which stays on an individual's record for ten years.

I know it's always said that it's on your credit for 10 years, but no one I know that had a BK has said that. I actually had a BK and was able to get credit within about 4 years.

 

[bourne]

I do not know what Steven can do. The investigation is in Turkey, and I think he has alot of confidence in both Turkish LE and the FBI. They want this solved.

Remember too he has two small children whose mother was murdered, 1st priority is them. If much of what has been in the press is wrong, it has to be extremely hurtful to hear rumors about your wife. And to know that your children will read those rumors one day.

Artixle indicates that hostel owner met him and was compassionate.....

NYTimes: "He visited the building where his wife had stayed, in a gritty part of the city, and spoke with the man who had rented a basement apartment to her. “He was very apologetic,” he remembered. “I could see it in his eyes that he was broken.” Mr. Sierra did not go inside...."

Interesting take. The NYTimes is usually (and thankfully) pretty careful to quote their sources and let people draw their own conclusions. Maybe you got compassion from that. Maybe someone else saw a hug. I didn't. I just got "very apologetic" and "broken"
and didn't come up with 'compassionate'.

I am also curious about something else. Nowhere could I find any quotes from Taylan or any reliable source saying "I had sex in the bathroom of a club, etc", (if there is a source, please feel free to correct me and provide a link) but I believe his lawyer is quoted as saying (or being with him when he said) they met twice and had tea. And I believe he said something about only being guilty of sending a text. I can probably find the link if necessary.

I also notice that after the newspapers ran amuck with the bathroom sex story which made a woman tourist (who may have actually had tea twice with a friend) effectively look immoral, trashy, or fun loving, instead of backing up their claims with any reputable source, they just reported that other papers reported that he did it or that he "denied having sex"

So it's a lose-lose if the guy Taylan is innocent. His reputation is now effectively trashed. The guy is probably afraid to say hello to a woman tourist now.

Why would her husband be apologetic to the landlord anyway? Maybe the translation is wrong.

 

[Yashim]

A duck walks into a bar and asks: "Got any Bread?"

Barman says: "No."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, we have no bread."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, we haven't got any ******ing bread."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, are you deaf?! We haven't got any ******ing bread, ask me again and I'll nail your ******ing beak to the bar you irritating bast**d of a ******ing bird!"

Duck says: "Got any nails?"

Barman says: "No"

Duck says: "Got any bread?

-----------------------------------

There was no second phone!

 

[NewYork625]

Why would her husband be apologetic to the landlord anyway? Maybe the translation is wrong.

Maybe the landlord was apologetic because he didn't check on her when she missing for several days.

 

[bourne]

There appear to be at least one Photography Club in Istanbul, whose page is in English and who have several female photographers. The last blog was in Feb 2012, when they were photographing all over Belogu, with comments made about the architecture and places that have subsequently mentioned in reference to SS.

There are several other Istanbul photography blogs that I can't get access to.

I would think that for a visit of 3 weeks, she would have reached out to other photography clubs for friends to accompany her and give ideas.

So far, the limited information we have seems to paint here as a solo, rather lonely figure, by herself unless in the company of TK. That just seems depressing and not much fun.

I wonder if it's worth contacting any of these clubs to see if they had any contact with her?

Well, if you're going to get yourself involved, why not go after the #1 prime suspect, Taylan? See if you can get him to take you to bar or tea club and spill his guts.

If you're female, see whether he pays for your dinner or goes double-dutch as he did with Sarai. Not very chivalrous this Taylan. In fact, cheap and low class if you ask me.

 

[bourne]

A duck walks into a bar and asks: "Got any Bread?"

Barman says: "No."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, we have no bread."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, we haven't got any ******ing bread."

Duck says: "Got any bread?"

Barman says: "No, are you deaf?! We haven't got any ******ing bread, ask me again and I'll nail your ******ing beak to the bar you irritating bast**d of a ******ing bird!"

Duck says: "Got any nails?"

Barman says: "No"

Duck says: "Got any bread?

-----------------------------------

There was no second phone!

Alrighty then. :great:

 

[bourne]

Maybe the landlord was apologetic because he didn't check on her when she missing for several days.

I thought it read that the landlord was describing Mr. Sierra as being the one who was very apologetic. :waitasec:

 

[NewYork625]

I thought it read that the landlord was describing Mr. Sierra as being the one who was very apologetic. :waitasec:

I see what you're saying. Strange...

 

[Herat]

We only have information about SS going out photographing in the company of other people, in NYC, maybe Washington, DC and at least in Amsterdam.

It seems another aberrant pattern that she would spend a lot of time solo photographing in a strange city where she has likely been warned about certain areas.

It's just a thought. The spiders are making cobwebs over the feed from LE and from Turkish news sources.

Just kickin the dirt and diggin around waiting for something to happen.