A California court has overturned the conviction of Antolin Garcia-Torres, who was previously found guilty of the kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Sierra Lamar in 2012, opening the door to a new trial.
On Friday, February 27, the California Sixth District Court of Appeal ruled that the evidence presented in the Garcia-Torres case was insufficient to support a first-degree murder conviction. According to ABC 7 News San Francisco and other local outlets, the court found that there was no clear evidence of “deliberate, deliberate and premeditated murder or specific intent to murder.”
Sierra Lamar disappeared on March 16, 2012, while walking to Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, California. His body was never recovered, but Garcia-Torres was arrested after DNA evidence linking him to Lamar was found. In 2017, Garcia-Torres was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping, as well as three charges of attempted kidnapping related to an unrelated carjacking case.
The court’s ruling on Friday pointed to a significant error during Garcia-Torres’ original trial. The jury was allowed to hear evidence about an attempted kidnapping from a previous, unrelated case, which was considered prejudicial by the court. The court ruled that Garcia-Torres was guilty of first-degree murder. Due to this decision all his commitments were reversed.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office expressed disappointment at the verdict but reaffirmed its commitment to seeking justice for Sierra Lamar. In a statement, the office said, “We will never stop seeking justice for Sierra,” and said it was in the process of reviewing the court’s opinion.
Despite the reversal, the court confirmed that there was enough evidence for a charge of felony murder. Prosecutors used DNA evidence to link Garcia-Torres to Lamar’s murder, despite his body never being found. Lamar’s DNA was discovered in Garcia-Torres’ vehicle, including on a rope and pieces of her hair inside the car. Her DNA was also found on Lamar’s clothing, which was found in a field near the location where she disappeared.
Garcia-Torres was arrested in May 2012 after DNA evidence identified him as the person responsible for Lamar’s disappearance. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office released a statement following the court’s decision, expressing respect for the judicial review process and the role of appellate courts in ensuring fairness. He also reaffirmed his dedication to the investigation and support of the District Attorney’s Office as it evaluates its next steps.
Garcia-Torres, now 34, remains in custody, and further proceedings will be determined as the case continues. Sierra Lamar’s family, who have faced years of heartbreak and uncertainty, are at the center of the case, and authorities have promised to continue working toward justice for the young girl.