Suspect In Kidnapping And Murder Of 15 Year Old Sierra LaMar Indicted
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF)— The suspect in the murder of Sierra LaMar, a 15-year-old from Morgan Hill in 2012, has been indicted by a grand jury.
Prosecutors in Santa Clara County said Antolin Garcia-Torres was indicted Tuesday for the kidnapping and murder of LaMar as well as a series of violent attacks on South Bay women in 2009.
Sierra vanished outside her home near Morgan Hill on March 16, 2012.
Investigators discovered her purse, cellphone and some clothes in a nearby field days after her disappearance. Officials said Garcia Torres' DNA was found on her clothing as well as his Volkswagen Jetta.
Garcia-Torres has had a series of court appearances, but had yet to enter a plea, a fact which has frustrated Sierra's friends and family.
Prosecutors said Tuesday's indictment means the case can move forward and the charges previously filed will be replaced by the indictment.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement that his office "took this case to the criminal grand jury to expedite the lengthy criminal process, which began almost two years ago."
"Sierra's family, the surviving victims, and our entire community, deserve justice," Rosen said.
Garcia-Torres is set to be arraigned at 1:30 Thursday afternoon.