The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s dive team spent the day Thursday searching Anderson reservoir, the largest reservoir in the county, for any sign of missing teen Sierra LaMar.
Today they plan to finish searching the rest of the lake, using “side scan sonar” detection devices, and then continue to Almaden and Guadalupe reservoirs in San Jose, using the same search techniques, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Cardoza.
“If they see anything of concern to the case, they’ll send a diver in,” Cardoza said.
The divers and investigators have not found any evidence at Anderson that might be related to the case, Cardoza said.
Meanwhile, about 120 volunteers showed up to Burnett Elementary School to search for the 15-year-old north Morgan Hill cheerleader and Sobrato High School sophomore, according to Marc Klaas of the KlaasKids Foundation which is organizing the volunteer efforts.
Sierra has been missing since March 16. Police think she was kidnapped as she was walking to her school bus stop, as she does every morning, near the intersection of Palm and Dougherty avenues.
Sierra moved to Morgan Hill in October 2011 with her mother and mother’s boyfriend, from Fremont where she attended Washington High School.
Investigators so far have reported finding Sierra’s cell phone March 17, and her purse containing some of her clothing March 18. The items were found in two different locations along Santa Teresa Boulevard, along a northwesterly route from Sierra’s home.
Volunteer efforts and community support continue to assist the effort to find Sierra.
Another volunteer search is scheduled for Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.
A fundraiser for orphaned children is scheduled for Saturday as well, at Guglielmo Winery, 1480 East Main Ave., from 5 to 9 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from a raffle will go to the Sierra LaMar fund.
A reward of $25,000 for information leading to the teen’s safe return is still being offered by Sierra’s family.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has received and investigated more than 1,600 tips on Sierra’s possible whereabouts.
Investigators have already searched some area reservoirs and ponds – including a cluster of percolation ponds, Calero Reservoir and Uvas Reservoir – with the sheriff’s office dive team using side-scan sonar technology and K9 search animals in recent weeks.
