Police Find Purse Belonging To Missing Morgan Hill Teenager
MORGAN HILL (KCBS) -- The purse 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was carrying when she disappeared has been found with clothing neatly folded inside, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Sgt. Jose Cardoza, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said a Juicy purse had been found on Sunday, and authorities delayed announcing its discovery because of the ongoing investigation.
LaMar remains missing. She was last seen leaving her home near Palm and Dougherty avenues on Friday, March 16 and did not show up to school that day.
Cardoza also said civilian volunteers would help investigators do another search around LaMar's home and the surrounding properties in unincorporated Morgan Hill.
Her cell phone, found intact in a field near the house on Monday, has not yielded any clues to her whereabouts. It has since been submitted to the Santa Clara County Crime Lab for further testing.
An FBI spokesman confirmed Monday that federal agents were also helping with the investigation.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Team was ordered to visit all registered sex offenders in the area.
The girl's father, Steve LaMar, is a registered sex offender who lives in Fremont. Investigators said they do not consider him a suspect in Sierra's disappearance.
Although there was no evidence of foul play, interviews with her family and students at Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill and Washington High School in Fremont have not uncovered any evidence suggesting Sierra was unhappy at home or that she ran away.
Police describe Sierra as 5 feet 2 inches tall with has a thin build. Sierra was last seen carrying a Juicy brand black and pink purse located on Sunday.
Anyone with information about Sierra or her whereabouts should contact Santa Clara County Communications at (408) 299-2311. During business hours, tipsters can call sheriff's investigators at (408) 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.
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