The family of Sierra LaMar offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her safe return Saturday.
Sierra, 15, a north Morgan Hill resident has been missing since March 16. Her family made the announcement of the reward at Burnett Elementary School, where nearly 500 volunteers showed up to participate in another volunteer search effort Saturday, according to KlaasKids Foundation founder Marc Klaas.
“The Sierra LaMar Fund is offering this reward to the first person who offers information leading to Sierra LaMar being returned alive and safe to her family,” read a statement from Sierra’s family.
The missing Sobrato High School sophomore lives with her mother Marlene LaMar and mother’s boyfriend Rick Gardiner near the intersection of Palm and Dougherty avenues. Sierra’s father, Steve LaMar, lives in Fremont, where Sierra moved to Morgan Hill from in October 2011.
Sierra’s older sister, Danielle LaMar was present at the search center when the reward was offered Saturday morning.
Rewards have been effective in locating missing children in the past, Klaas said.
When Brianna Denison of Santa Barbara went missing from a friend’s home in Reno, Nev. in 2008, the case was solved when someone came forth with information in response to a $2,000 reward that was offered, Klaas said. Investigators found the body of the murdered 19-year-old due to tthe information prompted by the reward.
The KaasKids Foundation is a nonprofit devoted to conducting volunteer search efforts and other services to find missing children nationwide. Saturday was the latest of several days the foundation has been in Morgan Hill soliciting volunteers to help with the search, which entails combing mostly public open areas looking for any evidence of what happened to Sierra.
Thousands of people have participated in the search efforts so far. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement investigators have also dedicated about 6,000 personnel hours to the search, and investigated more than 1,000 tips since March 16.
Among the 495 volunteers who helped look for Sierra Saturday were San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith, Delanie Walker, Joe Staley and Scott Tolzien, Klaas said.
The next volunteer search effort is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11. Those interested in helping can show up at Burnett Elementary School, 85 Tilton Ave., from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and bring photo identification. Searchers are advised to wear clothing appropriate for walking or hiking through hilly, grassy or muddy terrain.
Sierra LaMar is about 5-feet, 2-inches tall with a thin build and dark hair.
For more information on the Sierra LaMar Search Center, call 201-6364.
Anyone with information on the case can contact Santa Clara County Communications at 299-2311, or send an e-mail to
ti**@sh*****.org
.
During normal business hours callers can call Sheriff’s Investigators at 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at 808-4431. Information or tips can also be sent via the Sheriff’s Office website at sccgov.org/portal/site/sheriff. Information can also be submitted by text at 421-6760.
