Search for Missing Teen Begins in Gilroy Thursday Morning

County search and rescue personnel are beginning their search in Gilroy for missing Morgan Hill Teen Sierra LaMar today at 9 a.m.

Twenty search and rescue members, along with three K9s that are specially trained in human remain detection will lead the search, which is expected to conclude  at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Authorities will be concentrating on refined areas not only in Gilroy, but in San Martin as well, and will be searching for possible crime scenes and items of evidentiary value in Sierra’s case, Sgt. Jose Cardoza of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a prepared statement.

In addition to Thursday’s search, the Sheriff’s Office is also maintaining confidential tip lines that are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Investigators are continuing to followup on any leads and tips that continue to come in, Cardoza wrote.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office has received over 1,000 tips via phone and email, and has invested over 6,000 hours on the case.

More searches for 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, who was last seen more than 20 days ago on March 16, will take place over the weekend and next week.

KlaasKids, the nonprofit dedicated to helping families of missing people, will be conducting a search Saturday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 11.

Individuals who would like to participate in one of the searches can join KlassKids and others in the cafeteria at Burnett Elementary School in Morgan Hill between the hours of  8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on those days. More details on how to help are available .

Tips can be relayed by calling (408) 808-4500, the anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431 or via email at tips@sheriff.sccgov.org.

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

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