MORGAN HILL, Calif. -- It was an emotional day for the family of Sierra LaMar. Community members came together on Saturday to remember the missing teen, and celebrate her life with prayers and a balloon release.
Central Coast News spoke with the family who said that even a year later, the pain of losing Sierra still feels the same. Sierra's father, Steve LaMar said this was an anniversary no one wanted to wake up to. "I was hoping we wouldn't be here," said LaMar.
Sierra's mother Marlene said every day of this past year has been agonizing. "the anguish and pain is just as difficult today as it was the day of the abduction, that hasn't changed," said LaMar.
Investigators said Sierra disappeared on the way to school on March 16th 2012. Her cell phone and purse were found in a field nearby. Months later deputies arrested Antolin Garcia-Torres for her murder.
Since Sierra's disappearance Marlene said she moved out of her home in Morgan Hill to Los Gatos because the pain of losing Sierra here was just too much. "I was having some anxiety attacks and my heart was racing and I would have a flood of memories of possibly what happened that day," said LaMar.
It still doesn't seem real like it really happened. We're not going to stop looking we're not going to forget, we're going to find her, said Sierra's best friend Mariah Ross.
Even a year later every Saturday dozens of volunteers have been walking through the doors at Burnett Elementary School continuing to sign up for searches to find Sierra. "Obviously we want to find out what happened to our daughter, with me as a parent I am sticking with finding her alive and bringing her back home," said Steve LaMar.
Marlene said to remember her daughter she keeps a piece of Sierra with her wherever she goes. "I have a key chain and it has Mickey and Minnie Mouse on it and on the bottom it says 'I Love you Mom.' I have it all the time," said LaMar.
During the ceremony, founder of the Klaas Kids Foundation, Marc Klaas took issue with the way the District Attorney's office is handling the case against the man accused of murdering Sierra."I want the DA to charge this guys with the death penalty and to put it on the table and be very clear to him, we're going to take your life for what you did to this young girl. You're going to spend a miserable life in prison for what you've done to her and what you've done to the others."
Antolin Garcia-Torres still hasn't entered a plea for the kidnapping and murder charges of Sierra Lamar.
Marc Klaas created the Klaas Kids Foundation after his daughter Polly Klaas, who was kidnapped and killed 20 years ago.
Klaas Kids works with several missing children's groups throughout the United States. More than 100 people showed up on Saturday to show their support for Sierra Lamar and her family.
The memorial was followed by a community event to raise money for the Sierra Lamar Search.
