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Man Claims He Had Liaison With Slain Tourist

Sarai Sierra said to have met up with man in Turkey

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 7, 2013 7:03 AM CST

(Newser) – Stories about Sarai Sierra's time in Turkey keep getting darker. The latest claim: A man identified as Taylan says he had a tryst with the murdered New York mom in the days before her death. He apparently initially denied having a sexual relationship with Sierra, but later told police he met her via Instagram last fall and met up with her in Istanbul on Jan. 13; they had sex on Jan. 19, he says, but she didn't reply to any messages he sent her after that.

Reports arose yesterday that Sierra may also have been spending time with criminals while in Turkey. Federal agents are now investigating whether Sierra may have been involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, or jewel or currency trafficking, the New York Post reports. Meanwhile, Sierra's body will be flown home to New York today, the Daily News reports. A worker who saw her body describes brutal injuries. "Only someone like an animal could do this," he says. Click for more on the case.

People carry the casket of murdered New York woman Sarai Sierra from the Surp Yerrortutyun church to an ambulances in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013.
People carry the casket of murdered New York woman Sarai Sierra from the Surp Yerrortutyun church to an ambulances in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013.   (AP Photo)
In this image from files provided by the family, Sarai Sierra is shown in an undated family photo, in New York.
In this image from files provided by the family, Sarai Sierra is shown in an undated family photo, in New York.   (AP Photo/Family Photo, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Boon
Feb 7, 2013 9:17 PM CST
Both the husband and the girlfriend that bailed out of the trip at the 11th hour know more than they are saying. And if the husband was unaware of the instagram inspired rendez-vous later, Sarai's girlfriend and/or mother may have known.The girlfriend's bailout from the trip suggests advanced knowledge,and perhaps fear, of foolish and extreme risk-taking in something sinister like adultery and/or planned future drug dealing. I'll bet that Sarai's marriage was probably on the rocks too or that she was very unhappy in it. An electronic dig could perhaps easily and quickly ascertain Taylan's claims of an Instagram connection with Sarai.
ariadeer
Feb 7, 2013 7:37 PM CST
The husband knows more than he's saying.  It never rang true to me when she was missing and he was interviewed that he said that she just wanted to go to this foreign country to take pictures...like that was the most normal thing in the world for his wife to go alone on her first trip out of the country leaving him and the children behind.  I know my husband wouldn't agree to that.  And, I wouldn't want to do something that unsafe anyway, jeez!
Ivan_the_Gypsy
Feb 7, 2013 2:01 PM CST
Many of us know of women who go off to strange places looking for thrills of a different kind.  Maybe she was one of them. It does seem strange that a woman gos alone to a foreign city to roam the streets "taking pictures."  It would seem that there is much more to the story.

 
Turkey • murder • Sarai Sierra

 
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