Candlelight Vigil For Missing Teen Planned for Tuesday Night

Community members are planning to hold a candlelight vigil for tonight as authorities continue to search for her.

Sierra, 15, was last seen leaving her home Friday morning. A group of local parents has organized the prayer vigil at Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to the church's pastor, Mark Inouye.

Sierra's family, friends and other community members have distributed fliers with her photo and description around town since she went missing. Sierra's mother received a notification around 6 p.m. Friday from Ann Sobrato High School about an investigation into her daughter's disappearance.

Over the weekend, police found Sierra's cellphone off of a roadway near her home.

"The cellphone was intact, it wasn't broken," Sgt. Jose Cardoza said. "There's no evidence to lead to a crime after that."

Investigators are pouring over the girl's cellphone records and examining her laptop computer in the hopes of finding leads, he said.

Cardoza said that while there is no evidence of foul play, there is also nothing to suggest that Sierra ran away from home. There were no fights at home or any signs that Sierra was unhappy there, he said.

On Monday, investigators from the Santa Clara County sheriff's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force made contact with local registered sex offenders in the Morgan Hill ZIP code, according to an online national sex offender registry.

According to the same registry, Sierra's father, Steve Lamar, who lives in Fremont, is himself a registered sex offender who was convicted of charges of lewd acts with a child under 14 years old. Sheriff's officials have said, however, that Steve Lamar is not considered a suspect in the case.

Investigators on Monday interviewed some of Sierra's classmates at Ann Sobrato High to gather information, Cardoza said.

"We're all working together to get Sierra back home," school Principal Deborah Padilla said Monday. Padilla said students have been helping to post fliers and contribute information to the investigation.

Deputies also questioned students at Washington High School in Fremont, where Lamar was previously enrolled.

Sierra is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, with a thin build. She was last seen carrying a Juicy brand black-and-pink purse. Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff's investigators. During business hours, tipsters can call 408-808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.

—By Bay City News