Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Investigators have arrested Antolin Garcia-Torres, 21, of San Martin in connection with the disappearance of Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar.
Garcia-Tores was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on one count of murder and one count of kidnapping Monday night, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Cardoza wrote in a prepared statement.
Detectives reportedly took Garcia-Torres, who owns the , from the Safeway on Tenant Avenue in Morgan Hill where he works at around 6 p.m., and questioned him for two hours before booking him, KTVU reports.
Garcia-Torres' DNA was reportedly found on clothing items belonging to Sierra that were located in her backpack, a KTVU article states. However, it’s not clear where the backpack came from.
A was found shortly after her disappearance and was sent to the county crime lab for forensic testing, but investigators wouldn’t disclose whether any DNA traces had been found.
Authorities will provide details about the arrest during a news conference Tuesday morning. Patch will have an update once more details are available.
Sierra, 15, disappeared after she left for school on the morning of March 16.
Investigators later found Sierra's cellphone off of a roadway near her home around Dougherty and Palm avenues as well as her black, Juicy-brand purse.
Earlier this month, investigators located a red Volkswagen Jetta believed to be linked to Sierra's disappearance. Hundreds of volunteers have been scouring the area surrounding Sierra's home since the sheriff's office reclassified the case as an abduction.
For previous coverage of the Sierra LaMar case, refer to the Sierra LaMar Disappearance: Comprehensive Updates and Information page.
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—Bay City News contributed to this report.
