The Guy They Should Have Fired: Former Safeway Employee Arrested in Connection With Child Abduction Case
- Posted on May 22, 2012 at 6:22pm by
Mytheos Holt
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Two months ago, on March 16, 15-year-old Sierra Lamar of Morgan Hill, California, unaccountably vanished while walking to her school bus stop.
Sierra Lamar
Two days later, Lamar’s clothes and cell phone were found neatly folded near her house. Deputies, learning that Lamar had no history of runaway attempts, and that Lamar, in fact, showed no warning signs of running away, ruled the case a kidnapping. Missing Posters in both English and Spanish went up almost immediately.
Since then, a fullscale search has been mounted for the missing teen, including volunteer searches and police work.
Volunteers comb Morgan Hill looking for clues
However, as time dragged on, the police began to suspect that Lamar was dead, even as her parents held out hope. Nevertheless, one positive development did come out of the long process – a suspect was discovered. Meet Antolin Garcia Torres:
When Torres first became a suspect on March 28, police did not directly approach him, but instead kept him under 24 hour surveillance in the hopes that he would lead them to where Lamar was hidden. However, after nearly two months of this, it became clear that the tactic would not work, and that an arrest was necessary to keep Torres from hurting anyone else. He was arrested today in his former workplace, a Morgan Hill Safeway.
What is it with this store?
Watch this ABC News report on the arrest for more details:
Torres is now in custody, and so far no progress has been made on uncovering whether he was, in fact, responsible for the disappearance of Sierra Lamar. However, at least one (admittedly biased) person has come forward suggesting that Torres is not responsible after all – his sister. The Los Angeles Times reports:
The sister of a Northern California man accused in the kidnapping and killing of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar said Tuesday that authorities have the wrong person.
Lucero Garcia, 26, told the San Jose Mercury News that the arrest of her brother, Antolin Garcia-Torres, 21, was “unfair.” She acknowledged that family members often defend criminal suspects but says she is standing by her brother.
“It’s not him,” Garcia said. “I honestly feel they don’t have enough evidence to convict him.”[...]
Isovet Martinez, Garcia’s boyfriend, told the Mercury News that authorities suspected Garcia-Torres “because of his image, but image isn’t anything.”
Garcia-Torres' mugshot
Readers can make up their own mind as to whether the sister’s defense sounds plausible, but it’s unclear that a defense that blames his arrest on police racism will fly with the legal system. Especially considering that the police found Lamar’s DNA in Garcia-Torres’ car:
In any case, the whereabouts of Sierra Lamar remain a mystery. As already stated, police believe her to be dead, though her parents are convinced there‘s still a chance she’s alive. Lamar’s school, though, has opted for the hypothesis that the former student is dead, and hundreds of pink balloons to commemorate her in a vigil last month.
The Associated Press has a lengthy report on the story’s developments thus far, excerpted below:
A man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of murder and kidnapping after his DNA was found in the bag of a missing girl whose abduction was believed to be a random act of violence, authorities said.
In addition, the DNA of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was found in the red Volkswagen Jetta of suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.
The victim and suspect did not know each other, Smith said.[...]
Garcia-Torres, 21, was linked to the case after his DNA — taken during a previous assault arrest — was linked to clothing found in the bag. authorities said. He was not charged in the previous case.
Garcia-Torres was arrested Monday — more than two months after Sierra’s disappearance prompted hundreds of volunteers to turn out for searches and authorities conducting more than 12,000 hours of investigation.
Sierra was last seen leaving her home in Morgan Hill to go to school on March 16. Authorities believe she was kidnapped while walking to a school bus stop.
Her mother, Marlene LaMar, said the family is holding out hope that the teen is still alive. She pleaded with Garcia-Torres to disclose her whereabouts.
“Please, please give the information that you have to lead us to Sierra to help end this nightmare,” LaMar said.
Garcia-Torres, also of Morgan Hill, had been under 24-hour surveillance since March 28. His vehicle was seized on April 7. The DNA evidence used to arrest him also links him to at least one assault in March 2009, Smith said.
So there you have it. Looks like a classic case of the bad guy getting caught.
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Texas Chris
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 2:13pmSo Blaze has learned nothing from the Martin/Zimmerman affair? Still judging guilty before a trial I see…
Maybe he did it. Maybe he didn’t. But by all means, try him in the media…
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:37amGive me 5 minutes alone with him and a pair of pliers, and I’ll find out where that girl is
Report Post »Balladeer
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 3:36amATTN: NOBULL14..
Hey mentally challenged here’s the article..
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=8672060
NOW since you are just too plain stupid to click the link..
May 22, 2012 (SAN JOSE, Calif.) — A man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of murder and kidnapping after his DNA was found in the bag of a missing girl whose abduction was believed to be a random act of violence, authorities said.
In addition, the DNA of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was found in the red Volkswagen Jetta of suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.
LET’S REPEAT A LINE, SHALL WE..
” the DNA of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was found in the red Volkswagen Jetta of suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres, ”
NOW microbrain NOBULL14 does THAT answer your question???
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:11amHe looks like zimmerman-same psychopathic ,sadistic killer face..
Report Post »eramthgin
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 1:06amDoesn’t matter if he made the last few hours of her young life full of pain, fear and perversions the State of California will not execute him. They never do! So the next monster knows he will not pay the ultimate penality. Well no deterence there maybe he should get community service? It may take us a while but we put these monsters down in TEXAS.
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 2:53amMaybe someone at Folsom will take a strong liking to him….I hope she didn’t suffer….I hope he does.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:17am“…if you kill somebody, we will kill you back.” “Most other states are trying to abolish the death penalty, while mine is putting it in express lane.” – Ron White
Report Post »Man-On-A-Mission
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:35amThe death sentence does nothing. It takes up to 20 years to put a prisoner to death. By then most victims or their family members often die before they see justice. DNA does not lie…….he’s in big trouble and I hope his life in prison is Hell…they know how to treat people whom hurt kids.
Report Post »TheLastDon
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 2:53pmThat’s not really accurate. They executed 3 prisoners under Schwarzennegger, 5 under Davis and 5 under Wilson. So while California doesn’t execute as much as they should, you cannot say “never.”
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:01amDear God,
Please give some of these people a brain so they can learn to read and comprehend. In Jesus’ name..
Amen
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:24pmwhy is rape and pedophilia so prevalent among mexicans?? why….
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:11pmI think some people here have a serious reading comprehension problem, or they did not read the whole story. Either way you look dumb.
Report Post »HiredMind Blog
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:00pmWhat do you people have against Safeway? This article seems to go WAY out of it’s way to link a suspected killer with Safeway, even though no one at Safeway could have possibly known what he’s alleged to have done. You guys even use their logo! Frankly if I were someone high up in Safeway, I would be considering legal action for using their logo. Not cool.
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:33pmLet me make the connection for you and the Blaze.
Read this article and you‘ll understand better the connection they were ’trying’ to make. . .
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/safeway-employees-suspension-for-defending-pregnant-woman-draws-nationwide-protests/
Report Post »HiredMind Blog
Posted on May 25, 2012 at 9:56pm@Gumbercules: that’s no connection at all! That story had nothing to do with this guy, who is alleged to have abducted and/or killed someone. Are you saying that it’s okay for TheBlaze – if they have a problem with something a company does – to grab any story that mentions that company and use it to harm them?
I thought TheBlaze was going to get away from that kind of journalism. When Glenn announced TheBlaze, he made it sound like it was going to be a fair and honest outlet because he was tired of partisans on both sides. All in all, I’ve been very disappointed in TheBlaze due to this kind of thing.
Report Post »routnom23
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 10:50pmIt is obvious that about half of the posters either didn’t read the entire story, or lack the capability to comprehend what they read.
Report Post »Hill60
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:26pmWhat a horribly written story this is. Amateur hour at the Blaze?
In all fairness, many of the commenters here were completely incapable of comprehending the DNA tie-in mentioned at the end of the story – but maybe that‘s because they couldn’t be compelled to read anymore of this garbage.
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:21pmHe better call on Jesus or bust hell wide open…
Report Post »Marsh626
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:02pmOn an unrelated note, I couldn’t help but notice that they listed her race as “White” when she clearly isn’t. The definition of “White” has been greatly expanded recently. I think it’s being done intentionally to ease White fears about quickly losing their country to “hispanics”. I guess if you can classify “hispanics” as “White”, then the census data won’t look anywhere near as shocking as it really is…
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:19pmShe looks latina to me. Maybe its kinda like a jewish thing where you go by what the mother is…maybe the mother is white but someone in her lineage clearly isn’t.
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:18pmWe need amnesty for 15-20 million more of them… That’s exactly what we need..
Here are typical murder stats by race given by the FBI.. Blacks 8500, White 6500 Other 5300. These are the numbers you see when you study the past 20 years or so of crime stats.. Of course it goes with out saying that blacks are only like 15% of the population and they commit by far the most violent crime.
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:35pmHow about you accurately define ‘white’ to me before I give you an answer . . .
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:09amMy wife is Hispanic. On her Birth Certificate(not Record of Live Birth) she is listed under the section Race as WHITE. Just the way they did it in the past. You were either White or Black. But, again the Government and their stupid diversity BS has caused the divide. Hell I’ve seen “white” people more “brown” than brown people. And visa verda(green for those gringos).. It’s the most ridicules thing we do in this country. Hey her race is White.. hahaha..that’s dumb… so dumb it‘s hard for me to even type this it’s so ridiculous. Now she’ll tell you she is American.
Report Post »Texas Chris
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 2:10pmThis is standard FBI stat-padding. If a victim is NOT black, then 90% of the time the FBI classes them as white, be they Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, even Native American.
Report Post »Sharkhaywood
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:20pmMaybe his sister who lives 4-5 hours away can explain how the girls DNA was found in his car?
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:31pmno where in this report does it say her DNA was found in his car ?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:59pmNOBULL:
Report Post »This is not the only place that is posting news. Maybe SHARK doesn’t have a problem chewing gum and walking.
COFemale
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:08pm“In addition, the DNA of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was found in the red Volkswagen Jetta of suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.”
You wan’t to recant NoBull14?
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:17pmIt sounds like the police are on fishing trip ? no evidence to prove he did it , no body . if I was him I would hirer a good ambulance chaser and sue the hell out of them !!!!
Report Post »Tryrdon
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 8:13pmDid you miss this sentence in the article, just below the picture of the balloons being released?
“In addition, the DNA of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was found in the red Volkswagen Jetta of suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.”
Or better yet…In context…
“In addition, the DNA of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was found in the red Volkswagen Jetta of suspect Antolin Garcia-Torres, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said.
The victim and suspect did not know each other, Smith said.[...]
Garcia-Torres, 21, was linked to the case after his DNA — taken during a previous assault arrest — was linked to clothing found in the bag. authorities said. He was not charged in the previous case.”
They found her DNA in HIS car, the police have stated that the victim and the suspect did NOT know each other and in the next sentence, that HIS DNA was found in a bag containing HER clothing.
How do you explain how her DNA was in HIS car or HIS DNA being in a bag containing HER clothes when they didn’t know each other. Sorry, not a fishing expedition. Around here we call that probable cause.
I’m not a big fan or defender of the Police. I will point out when I think they’re wrong and will do so with passion. But in this case, I think they have the right guy.
Report Post »antiprogressive
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:13pmWhat kind of report is this??
You say they suspect him and arrested him but he might be innocent…
We the readers can make up our own minds?
Based on WHAT??
WHY do they suspect him?
Give at least ONE detail or don’t put this in print!!!
This is garbage.
Report Post »Sharkhaywood
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:19pmThe San Jose Mercury News reported that they found her DNA in his car and his car was seen in the area of her disappearance by 3 different witnesses.
Report Post »nakedbootleg
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:08amAntiprogressive and nobull14 DNRTA. ‘Nuff said.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:10pm…
Report Post »This piece of garbage may have sold the child to an organ harvesting ring.
antiprogressive
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:19pmWhere did you get THAT information?
Is this guy in a gang?
Does he have a record for something similar?
Does he work for Find Me an Organ. INC?
Where is this crap coming from?
Is it just because he’s Hispanic?
Is he even a Legal Hispanic?
There are NO DETAILS about ANYTHING here.
The author needs be held in 6th grade an ADDITONAL year and not let into Jr High until 2014.
Report Post »