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

[PippaCatherine]

PippaCatherine, thanks. I expected to be wholly slammed by everyone on the board.

I guess some things just don't sit right with me about Steven Sierra. This is partially influenced by my own experiences, but I was raised in a very devout, evangelical Christian community and any and everything possible under the sun, including the most devilish things you can think of, happened within that community. So the statements of him being Christian don't even register with me - people can do things and show no outward signs of having the inclination.

I do think that Steven Sierra had motive, but admit that it's hard to imagine putting all of that effort in. However, people do kill their wives and husbands all of the time, and it takes effort.

There was a story here of a woman who was plotting with a man she was having an affair with to have her husband killed. The police set up a sting and caught her instead, but by faking the husband's death. I guess it's just that even the most outlandish situation can and does happen, so I wanted to throw my crazy theory out there for all to jab.

Again I agree with you. People can put on any type of front, behave a certain way, associate with a community that is highly regarded, and still be anything but. We treat people and judge them on how they look. Just because Steven was or is church going, and never had a background of the sinister nature, doesn't mean much MOO. I'm not suggesting that he in fact is guilty, however I've had the thoughts run through my mind as well.

 

[english]

These comments about SS are mild compared to the multitude of comments about her following articles in NY newspapers. This is why it is so necessary that this crime be solved and hopefully Sarai's reputation "restored."

As it stands now, the children of SS and her religious parents have been left with a legacy of shame and embarrassment. Should people be more open minded, certainly. But the community in which they live is not one who sees all this as some great romance, no...quite the opposite.

If the stories are untrue, let us pray that this damage will be undone and these children can grow up proud of their Mother. As things stand now, they face a cruel situation.

I second that about the children and also hope there is an outcome which satisfactorily exonerates anyone else who may have been innocently (morals aside) caught up in this.

 

[KivaSupporter]

The fact that her face was disfigured and her clothing partially removed is what makes me think it was an attempted rape, and that she knew the attacker (crime of passion due to the extent of her injuries).
Since her handbag and coat were missing, perhaps she was attacked in someone's apartment. That someone would not have had robbery as a motive (hence she still had her jewelry), and he may have kept the handbag with the ipad and phone in it, and her coat, either out of sloppiness, or as momentos.
Also, I still think it's possible that she sustained some of the injuries as her lifeless body was thrown down the hillside by the walls or over the wall she was found next to. The attacker may not have had the strength, or it may have simply been easier than trying to carry her down the steep hillside shown in the crime scene photos.
Assuming her body was placed where it was found after the apartment attack (and I'm not saying it wasn't a stranger or another IG member she met up with later) I still hope that Taylan's apartment has been searched.
ETA The attacker must surely, at the very least, have scratch marks somewhere on his body from Sarai fighting back. I hope the Turkish media/Turkish LE has alerted the public and hospitals/doctors to the fact that they should report anyone with unusual and unexplained wounds.

BBM

That makes sense to me.

Let's say she went to someone's home. Once inside, she would take off her coat and put her bag down. Also, she would take off her shoes. The shoes were also missing.

MOO

 

[Herat]

BBM

Also, she would take off her shoes. The shoes were also missing.

MOO

Is it traditional to take off one's shoes in winter when visiting a Turkish home?

 

[NewYork625]

BBM

That makes sense to me.

Let's say she went to someone's home. Once inside, she would take off her coat and put her bag down. Also, she would take off her shoes. The shoes were also missing.

MOO

Good point about the shoes! I had forgotten about that!

 

[NewYork625]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293974-i368-k4233522-Turkey_Tips_Advice-Istanbul.html

"Since you will be staying with a Turkish family it is a good idea to understand that Turkish people do not wear shoes inside a home. They remove their shoes as soon as they enter a house. Sometimes a host may supply a soft slipper, or you may just walk around in your stockings."

 

[Rolandred]

These comments about SS are mild compared to the multitude of comments about her following articles in NY newspapers. This is why it is so necessary that this crime be solved and hopefully Sarai's reputation "restored."

As it stands now, the children of SS and her religious parents have been left with a legacy of shame and embarrassment. Should people be more open minded, certainly. But the community in which they live is not one who sees all this as some great romance, no...quite the opposite.

If the stories are untrue, let us pray that this damage will be undone and these children can grow up proud of their Mother. As things stand now, they face a cruel situation.

I know, I've read a lot of comments in NY newspapers about this and I am amazed if not shocked at how closed minded and terribly judgmental many persons are - it is an eye opener for me to know there exists such small minded ignorant negative thinking. Many people think vacations are going with the whole family to Disneyland - or maybe to a weekend spa with a girlfriend. Or not even traveling until one is retired.

This woman did not deserve an awful tragedy - I hope for justice to be done and the person (s) who did this found. This forum is quite different and very positive for the victim.

 

[Rolandred]

The fact that her face was disfigured and her clothing partially removed is what makes me think it was an attempted rape, and that she knew the attacker (crime of passion due to the extent of her injuries).
Since her handbag and coat were missing, perhaps she was attacked in someone's apartment. That someone would not have had robbery as a motive (hence she still had her jewelry), and he may have kept the handbag with the ipad and phone in it, and her coat, either out of sloppiness, or as momentos.
Also, I still think it's possible that she sustained some of the injuries as her lifeless body was thrown down the hillside by the walls or over the wall she was found next to. The attacker may not have had the strength, or it may have simply been easier than trying to carry her down the steep hillside shown in the crime scene photos.
Assuming her body was placed where it was found after the apartment attack (and I'm not saying it wasn't a stranger or another IG member she met up with later) I still hope that Taylan's apartment has been searched.
ETA The attacker must surely, at the very least, have scratch marks somewhere on his body from Sarai fighting back. I hope the Turkish media/Turkish LE has alerted the public and hospitals/doctors to the fact that they should report anyone with unusual and unexplained wounds.

Yes - so much agree the scenario of being thrown down the hillside by the walls since that is where she was found and her injuries would coincide with that -

 

[Herat]

BBM


Let's say she went to someone's home. Once inside, she would take off her coat and put her bag down. Also, she would take off her shoes.

So this does provide some information:

She was in someone's home/residence.

She was not in a restaurant, or a bar, or a shop, or climbing the walls, or photographing sights.

Next question: Which of SS's Istanbul aquaintances have access to a car?

She was aquainted with her killer.

So maybe she got into a car and went to the killer's home. The killer leaves her near the last place she is seen alive, and a remote place not likely to lead to early discovery.

 

[Yashim]

These comments about SS are mild compared to the multitude of comments about her following articles in NY newspapers. This is why it is so necessary that this crime be solved and hopefully Sarai's reputation "restored."

As it stands now, the children of SS and her religious parents have been left with a legacy of shame and embarrassment. Should people be more open minded, certainly. But the community in which they live is not one who sees all this as some great romance, no...quite the opposite.

If the stories are untrue, let us pray that this damage will be undone and these children can grow up proud of their Mother. As things stand now, they face a cruel situation.

I know you mean well. And what you pray for is very noble.

Nonetheless, I fail to understand: What is wrong with Sarai's reputation?

She is the one who is dead. The perp is out there.

Sarai no longer cares about her reputation.

And, LE explicitly stated that so far they have not found any evidence that may implicate Sarai's involvement in anything illegal, whether espionage, drug trafficking, or anything else.

I believe it's those who come up with such accusations are the ones who should be worried about their reputations. They should be seeking forgiveness from both God and Sarai's family.

 

[Herat]

How common is it for people to have cars in Istanbul? Is it like NYC where few people would go through the expense and hassle of paying for the insurance and parking or is it more like Paris?

 

[Herat]

It's looking like a failed sexual assault gone awry in someone's home, again.

 

[NewYork625]

So this does provide some information:

She was in someone's home/residence.

She was not in a restaurant, or a bar, or a shop, or climbing the walls, or photographing sights.

Next question: Which of SS's Istanbul aquaintances have access to a car?

She was aquainted with her killer.

So maybe she got into a car and went to the killer's home. The killer leaves her near the last place she is seen alive, and a remote place not likely to lead to early discovery.

This makes sense, and I think we're on to something...

If not an acquaintance, could she have willingly entered someone's shop on the way to meet up with Taylan and then been talked into going that person's adjacent apartment to see something? Could she have been talking with a stranger and been too trusting and lured into that person's apartment?

Also, whether or not the killer was a stranger, perhaps the witness to the white car with the hand was right. The killer may have had a white car.

 

[PippaCatherine]

How common is it for people to have cars in Istanbul? Is it like NYC where few people would go through the expense and hassle of paying for the insurance and parking or is it more like Paris?

Probably dependent on where one lives. Some of the cities I live in are what you suggested, a hassle, whereas a car is much needed in other areas.

 

[KivaSupporter]

So this does provide some information:

She was in someone's home/residence.

She was not in a restaurant, or a bar, or a shop, or climbing the walls, or photographing sights.

Next question: Which of SS's Istanbul aquaintances have access to a car?

She was aquainted with her killer.

So maybe she got into a car and went to the killer's home. The killer leaves her near the last place she is seen alive, and a remote place not likely to lead to early discovery.

Good points.

This theory would also explain why the perp did not take jewelry.

He was not interested in any of SS possessions.

He probably disposed off the coat, bag, and shoes by throwing them away or completely destroying them.

MOO

 

[Yashim]

Is it traditional to take off one's shoes in winter when visiting a Turkish home?

Depends on the weather and the family.

We never asked. I never ask. Yet if it's rainy or muddy outside, I put out a cleaning cloth so they can wipe their shoes. Being the OC I am, sometimes this process take longer at my house. So guests start begging to take off their shoes. And I say "why would I wanna see your feet?"

As you might have guessed, I don't get to make much friends.

But the house stays cleaner.

That's how I was raised. It's similar in many other homes in my social sphere.

I hear taking off shoes is much more common in other homes. But I wouldn't know since they don't let me in with my shoes.

 

[Yashim]

How common is it for people to have cars in Istanbul? Is it like NYC where few people would go through the expense and hassle of paying for the insurance and parking or is it more like Paris?

In Turkey everybody lives to buy a car. And they do, even if they don't have the means.

I think it shows how sophisticated we are.

 

[NewYork625]

I'm assuming that some shop owners live in apartments above their shops. Is this common in the area where she was walking?

If so, I wonder if any shop owners in the area have been unaccounted for recently, or if any have any unusual marks on them (like scratches).

 

[Yashim]

I'm assuming that some shop owners live in apartments above their shops. Is this common in the area where she was walking?

Very rare. The same rent (opportunity of foregone rent in case, they are the owners) will not be right for both types of uses in big cities. Either the house will be overpaid or the shop.

It's true for rural regions, though. And in poorer villages, the entrance floor is in fact used as a barn and they live above.

So what you're saying is that she goes to central Turkey and goes into a barn to milk some sheep and the farmer asks her to come up and attack her. Then brings her body to Istanbul?

Seems quite far-fetched to me.

 

[Yellow]

I've had the thought of Steven possibly being involved. You'd be surprised at how many may agree with this. Often times people don't post what they may actually be thinking, not wanting to be flamed. I've had a hard time pulling away from the mule or some type of theory suggesting illegal activity was taking place. I don't see Sarai as being a bad mom for taking a vacation minus her family. It may not be the norm or what most would do, but I do believe she had every right to take a break for whatever reason. At the end of the day, her murder disturbs us all. I haven't seen much talk about Steven being suspect, but I agree with many points you've brought up.

If this murder took place in the US, Steve would be the number 1 suspect - cheating spouse apparently, marriage on rocks, etc... Women just about to possibly leave husband for good.... We see many cases like that in the US and there are many cases on WS w a similar scenario, 9 times out of 10 it is husband

But I do not think it is husband here, it is just too complicated to go hire a hit man in a country where you have no contacts, also, usually people meet in person w their hit man at some point to get money, etc. How would Steve had arranged to transfer the money? Furthermore how would you even find a hit man in a country you have no family or friends? Also you need to trust your hit man.

It is almost like you would have had to hire hit man in USA, have them travel to Turkey and do the job there, that scenario is more realistic I think. LE probably can look at immigration records to see if there are any suspicious solo male travelers from NYC

Steven appear too distraught to me, I do not think he is involved, he is also pretty welcoming to the media, which usually the husband is not so much. I think Steven is a victim here, and he has nothing to hide. I am sure FBI here is examining him and his contacts to rule out that theory,