(Updated) Sarai Sierra’s family last heard from the 33-year-old NYC mother of two young children on Jan. 21, the day she was supposed to board a plane and return from travels abroad to Istanbul, Turkey. Sierra never made the plane ride home; and a frantic search for her has been underway since.
Today the Turkish media reported that the body of a slain woman was found near the remnants of the ancient walls in Istanbul. The body was later identified as Sierra.
Sierra's husband and brother had traveled to Istanbul from New York in the hopes of finding her.
Police reports state that nine people who were in the vicinity where Sierra’s body was discovered, along with Sierra’s driver's license, have been detained according to CBS News. Two of those detainees are reported to be women.
Authorities believe that the woman whose body was found was probably stabbed elsewhere and was then left at the city walls …
Sierra was originally supposed to make the trip to Turkey with a friend who ended up backing out. Sierra left on her journey alone on Jan. 7, always keeping in constant contact with her family, right up until the day of her disappearance.
Sierra leaves behind two young children, ages nine and 11.
Feb. 3 update: following an autopsy on Sierra, police in Turkey announced the NYC mom died from a “fatal blow to the head.” More than ten individuals had been detained and questioned in connection with her murder.
Steven, Sierra’s husband, positively identified the body as being his wife.
Also see:
- Imprisoned Pussy Riot band member now hospitalized
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