Missing California teen Sierra LaMar believed to be dead

A missing California teen by the name of Sierra LaMar is believed to have been murdered, while the suspect has been arrested.

The 15-year-old girl was reported missing in March from Morgan Hill and since then, there had been no trace of hers anywhere. The suspect is a 21-year-old man by the name of Antolin Garcia-Torres, who also belongs to the same community of Morgan Hill. Antolin was booked into jail on Monday evening after being taken into custody at a Safeway in Morgan Hill. According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, the suspect had been under surviellance for a long time and the arrest was made only after it was confirmed that he killed Sierra LaMar.

“We have arrested a suspect in the kidnapping of Sierra LaMar,” said Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith, according to a report by MSNBC. “He was arrested today because this is how we thought the arrest should be done and public safety is our main concern," Smith added, concluding, "We don’t want anyone else hurt -- we don’t want any more little girls taken."

Sierra LaMar's body has still not been found, even though dozens of people have been searching for her since she disappeared. Volunteers and sheriff's officials have repeatedly searched fields, open spaces and reservoirs near Morgan Hill, but to no avail. Flyers featuring LaMar's pictures and information related to her were posted all over the community and even a Facebook page was dedicated to the cause of searching for LaMar.

According to details, Sierra LaMar was last seen on the 16th March while she was going to school. The next day, officials found LaMar's handbag with clothing and a cell-phone in it thrown along the side of the road near her home.

The sheriff said that it was a very difficult time for Sierra LaMar's family. He asked that the family be left alone on Monday night to come to terms with the sad news. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department is holding a news conference on Tuesday morning to provide the details of the case.