UPDATE: Divers to Verify 'Questionable' Objects in LaMar Case

Update Thursday, May 17, at 12:50 p.m.— Sheriff’s personnel have been returning to reservoirs in South Santa Clara County to verify areas of interest detected via sonar. Sheriff’s divers verified questionable objects at Anderson Reservoir Wednesday, but didn’t find anything of value.

 “So far, on any of the water searches, all they’ve come across is debris: tires, appliances—you name it and they’re coming across it down there, but nothing related to the case so far.”

Divers are either returning to Anderson Reservoir today or will move onto verify other areas of interest at Guadalupe Reservoir, Cardoza said.

Sheriff’s divers are returning to Anderson, Almaden and Guadalupe reservoirs to verify objects that divers captured via sonar last week while searching for clues in the disappearance of Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar. 

“Some images, like in prior water searches, came up that were questionable,” Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Cardoza said.

Questionable items that have appeared in past water searches include tires, vehicles, trees and large tree stumps, among other large objects. 

The divers will be returning to the reservoirs this week, starting at Anderson on Wednesday, and Almaden and Guadalupe reservoirs the following days. On Monday and Tuesday, divers returned to the Coyote Creek Watershed to verify areas of interest detected via sonar, but didn't locate anything related to the case, Cardoza said.

Although Sheriff’s personnel also searched open fields and construction sites in south Morgan Hill last week, they’re currently switching gears by focusing more on water searches—specifically on re-examining bodies of water—and less on ground searches in an attempt to make up for lost time.

“We got a late start on the water searches in comparison with the ground searches,” Cardoza said. “The purpose is to just be thorough with all the areas they’ve checked. They just haven’t really focused on the water, [but] focused more on ground searches within a 10 mile radius from the LaMar house.”

The first water search in the LaMar case took place on March 27, while the first ground search happened the day after Sierra went missing on March 17.

This week, investigators will focus solely on the continuation of water checks, Cardoza said.

In the past week alone, Sheriff’s Office personnel have canvassed numerous bodies of water in South Santa Clara County. On Friday, , located on the border of Almaden Quicksilver County Park.

Before that, early Thursday morning, detectives used side scan sonar to canvass Anderson—the county's largest reservoir—and Guadalupe Reservoir, along with smaller bodies of water, like ponds, that weren’t covered as thoroughly.

On Wednesday, May 9, divers combed small ponds and waterways on private properties west of Monterey and Bailey streets in unincorporated south San Jose, but didn’t find anything of value, Cardoza said.

Patch will have an update on the "questionable" items that need verification once more information is available. 

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

Are you Patched in? Get our free newsletter in your inbox every morning. Register here for Gilroy Patch and here for Watsonville Patch.