Crime & Safety

Timeline: 4 Months Into Sierra LaMar Disappearance

A chronological report of search efforts and events for the missing teen.

Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar has been missing since March 16. Antolin Garcia-Torres, 21, is being charged in her murder with the special circumstance of kidnapping.

Here's a look at the search efforts and events in the teen's four month disappearance. 

MARCH

March 16 — Sierra Lamar is last seen leaving her home near Palm and Dougherty avenues in unincorporated Morgan Hill early Friday morning. 

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March 17 — Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office . 

March 19 —  three quarters of a mile from the LaMar home. The phone is found on the side of the road at 7 p.m. at the north-east corner of Scheller Avenue and Santa Teresa Boulevard.

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March 20 — Detectives . Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement task force begins interviewing all known South County residents with a sexual assault conviction.

March 26 — Marc Klaas of the KlaasKids Foundation becomes involved in the search for Sierra, .

. Investigators review surveillance footage from nearby gas station, ultimately rule out any connection. 

March 27 —  for Sierra. Investigators , say it's highly unlikely that Sierra ran away from home.

Sheriff's Office announces Sierra was likely abducted by someone with Morgan Hill connections.

Kidnap survivor , ask the public to share ideas. 

March 28 — Sheriff's dive team begins conducting . K9s trained in human remains detection on scene. 

LaMar family sets up  to cover search costs for missing teen.  

March 31 — with goal of increasing awareness of missing teen and sending message to abductors. 

APRIL

April 1 — Klaaskids Foundation organizes , asking public to use a photo of Sierra on social media profiles for one day. 

April 2 — . 

. Gilroy police called in to assist in search efforts.

Sheriff's office has received over 900 tips and invested 5,000 hours in case. 

April 7 — LaMar family  to first person who relays information leading police to Sierra.  

April 19 — Sierra's  for the second time. 

 in Morgan Hill draws hundreds. Raised funds go toward continued search efforts for missing teen. 

April 20 — Sheriff's Office personnel from Santa Cruz, Marin, San Mateo and Monterey counties . 

Aprill 21 —  advising the public about the abduction.

April 28 — LaMar family announces  to $25,000. 

MAY

May 4 — at Ann Sobrato High School raises $1,400 for Find Sierra LaMar fund. 

May 7 — Authorities . 

May 8 — 

May 9 — Authorities announce .  

May 11 —  airs coverage of LaMar case. 

Missing teen's mother shares , reflects on motherhood. 

May 21 — Sheriff's Office  for Sierra's murder.  

May 22 — Sheriff's Office holds press conference after LaMar murder suspect is arrested. Sheriff Laurie Smith announces .

Authorities  despite missing body. 

KlaasKids Founder Marc Klaas calls .

Authorities announce that  for Sierra's presumed murder. 

The media starts to dig into Garcia-Torres' past, learns he has . 

May 23 — Police positively connect LaMar murder suspect to . 

May 24 — Antolin Garcia-Torres appears in court for first time, has arraignment waived. . 

Sisters of Garcia-Torres say , and that law enforcement lied to the media.  

May 25 — Marc Klaas says he's .

Family of LaMar murder suspect says  when being interviewed and followed by law enforcement. 

May 31 — Garcia-Torres returns to court to . Waives arraignment for second time. 

Criminologist Steve Clark says  if found not guilty on murder charge with special circumstance of kidnapping. 

JUNE

June 7 — Garcia-Torres'  and asks to be removed from the case. 

June 13 — LaMar family . 

June 19 — Sierra's . High-Tech Task Force investigates fraudulent posts. 

JULY

July 5 — Morgan Hill filmmaker  chronicling search for Sierra. 

July 12 — Media learns that Garcia-Torres' father, Genaro Garcia Fernandez, is charged with . 

July 31 — Garcia-Torres for the third time to enter a plea. Santa Clara County Deputy Alternate Public Defender Traci Owens is assigned to represent Garcia-Torres after his previous defense attorney, Ken Mandel, .

For previous coverage of the Sierra LaMar case, refer to the Sierra LaMar Disappearance: Comprehensive Updates and Information page on Gilroy Patch.


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