Antolin Garcia-Torres' Sister Says He Didn't Kidnap And Kill Sierra Lamar

Police Find DNA But Kidnapping Suspect's Sister Says 'They Don't Have Enough Evidence'

Relatives of a missing California teenager and the suspect arrested in connection with her disappearance and probable killing said yesterday that they hope police have made mistakes in the investigation.

A day after the Santa Clara County sheriff arrested Antolin Garcia-Torres on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering Sierra Lamar, his sister said police busted the wrong man. She's certain he didn't do it.

"It's not him," Lucero Garcia said to the San Jose Mercury News, about her 21-year-old brother.

Garcia-Torres' DNA allegedly matched evidence recovered from a bag that belonged to LaMar and was found on the side of a road after the 15 year old vanished in March.

"I honestly feel they don't have enough evidence to convict him," Garcia said to the Mercury News.

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Sierra LaMar

Sierra LaMar

LaMar's mother, meanwhile, said during a press conference Tuesday that she thinks her daughter is still alive, contrary to authorities' conclusion that she's died.

"Her body hasn't been found," said Marlene LaMar, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I believe there was a reason she wasn't found. We're not giving up on that."

At times overcome with emotion, LaMar's mother publicly begged Garcia-Torres to reveal where he's hiding her daughter.

LaMar was last seen leaving her Morgan Hill home to catch the bus to school. She didn't arrive for classes, leading authorities to conclude she was kidnapped on her way to the bus stop.

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said there is "direct and circumstantial" evidence that LaMar was killed. She added that it appears Garcia-Torres picked her at random and acted alone, according to the Associated Press.

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