Family and friends of missing teen Sierra LaMar, and volunteers who continue to search for her, will commemorate the one-year anniversary of Sierra’s disappearance with a press conference, balloon release and child safety event in both Morgan Hill and Fremont.
Sierra was 15 when she vanished from her north Morgan Hill home March 16, 2012. She was a sophomore at Sobrato High School, and about six months earlier had moved to Morgan Hill with her mother from Fremont, where she previously attended Washington High School.
This Saturday, March 16, at 9 a.m. Sierra’s family will hold a press conference at The Sierra LaMar Search Center in Morgan Hill, at Burnett Elementary School, 85 Tilton Ave. The press conference will be followed by a balloon release.
Volunteers continue to gather at the search center every Saturday, assisted by the KlaasKids Foundation, to search for Sierra or any evidence of her whereabouts.
“Searching for Sierra has been a long journey,” said Sierra’s mother, Marlene LaMar. “The loss and pain have been indescribable.”
Later that afternoon, Hope to Find Sierra, a community awareness and fundraising event, will be held at Niles Hall, 37270 Niles Blvd. in Fremont, according to a press release from KlaasKids Foundation. The event will feature a print-a-thon in which the KlaasKids Foundation will help you document your child’s photograph and finger prints, live music by Eddie Ramirez and Davina Joy, bounce houses, face painting, hula dancers and raffle baskets. The event will go from 1 to 5 p.m.
“I had hoped this day would never arrive,” Sierra’s father Steve LaMar said. “Thank goodness for the support and generosity of the volunteers and community.”
The KlaasKids Foundation is seeking new and returning search volunteers. Volunteer searches for Sierra LaMar will take place on consecutive Saturdays until further notice.
Although Sierra’s remains have not been found, authorities think she is dead based on her lack of contact with anyone since her disappearance nearly one year ago. Police think she was kidnapped while walking to her usual school bus stop near her mother’s home near the intersection of Palm and Dougherty avenues in north Morgan Hill.
Arrested in May 2012 and charged with murdering Sierra, with a special circumstance of kidnapping is Antolin Garcia Torres, 21 of Morgan Hill. He remains in custody at Santa Clara County Jail, and his next hearing, scheduled as a plea, is set to take place April 4 at the San Jose Hall of Justice.
