FREMONT, Calif. - She vanished into thin air almost a week ago. On Wednesday, a second community comes together to say they won't stop searching for Sierra Lama until she returns home. It's the second vigil for the missing 15-year-old girl in two nights.
Dozens of people gathered at a candlelight vigil to pray for Sierra Lamar to come home. It was organized by her former dance academy in Fremont. And along with the prayers, there was renewed hope and comfort from people who understand what this family is going through.
"As each day goes on, it's just heartbreaking," says Sierra's mother Marlene. "I'm not going to give up my faith, my hope. As each day goes, it becomes longer and longer and more real."
Another emotional plea from Sierra Lamar's mother, a mother who won't stop looking for her daughter, after she vanished last Friday on her way to Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill.
Midsi Sanchez didn't know Sierra but understands the family's heartache. She was kidnapped when she was eight years old, a block away from her home in Vallejo back in 2000.
"He wrapped around his arms around my mouth and my body and threw me in his car, shut the door and drove off," says Sanchez.
She lived in her captor's beat-up car for two days, before she got the car keys and escaped. The now 19-year-old survivor was at Wednesday's vigil for support.
"Just looking at the ground we aren't going to find Sierra," says Sanchez. "We have to keep our heads up. Keep an eye out for her. Keep our prayers going."
Sanchez is a volunteer for the Polly Klaas Foundation. Polly was kidnapped and murdered in 1993 in Petaluma. Her father Marc told me the foundation is helping Sierra's family with counseling services and volunteer search parties. He also plans to fly in an expert from Florida, who helped in Polly's search to do the same for sierra in the next couple of days.
Deputies will also keep searching and one thing is clear, no one is giving up on finding Sierra.
"I think my spunky attitude is what helped me free myself and looking at Sierra I know she is strong and she can do it too," says Sanchez.
On Friday, students and teachers at Sierra's old high school, Washington High School in Fremont plan to hold another vigil for Sierra.
Submitted by Azenith Smith, Central Coast News
