US EditionMan Found Guilty in 2012 Sierra LaMar Murder Case Has Conviction Overturned
The Sixth District Court of Appeal found prejudicial trial errors and insufficient evidence of premeditation, allowing a possible retrial without prior kidnapping allegations.
- Saturday, February 28, 2026, the California Sixth District Court of Appeal reversed Antolin Garcia-Torres's 2017 conviction, possibly setting up a new trial.
- The 6th District Court of Appeal found the trial court erred by consolidating three attempted-kidnapping allegations from 2009 with the 2012 murder charge, prejudicing the jury and lacking proof of willful, deliberate and premeditated murder.
- Forensic evidence presented at trial included DNA traces in a 1998 red Volkswagen Jetta, a strand of hair on a rope, and Sierra LaMar's DNA on her pants, amid no body or murder weapon found.
- Prosecutors may appeal or re-file charges, but Garcia-Torres remains incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison while the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office decides next steps.
- Victims' advocates including Marc Klaas and Midsi Sanchez reacted with outrage and concern for Sierra's family, as more than 750 volunteer searchers and Roger Nelson led over 1,000 searches.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Man Found Guilty in 2012 Murder Case of 15-Year-Old California Girl Sierra LaMar Has Conviction Overturned
Antolin Garcia-Torres, who was found guilty of the 2012 kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, has had his convictions overturned by a California court.
Conviction overturned in Sierra LaMar murder case
(KRON) -- A state court of appeal overturned the murder conviction of Antolin Garcia-Torres, the man who was previously found guilty of kidnapping and murdering 15-year-old Sierra LaMar in Morgan Hill in 2012. The California Court of Appeal for the Sixth Appellate District concluded there was insufficient evidence against Garcia-Torres to uphold his first-degree murder conviction. The court wrote in its decision, "The judgement is reversed and d…
The Mercury news
Conviction overturned in 2012 kidnapping and killing of Sierra LaMar
An appellate court has overturned the conviction for the man imprisoned for life in the 2012 disappearance and presumed killing of Sierra LaMar, a crime that captivated the region in part because the 15-year-old victim's body has never been found.
Man convicted in 2012 killing of Sierra LaMar may get a new trial after court ruling
The man convicted in the 2012 killing of Morgan Hill teen Sierra Lamar may get a new trial. This comes after the California Court of Appeals reversed Antolin Garcia-Torres' judgment on Friday, saying, "There was insufficient evidence of willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder or a specific intent to kill."
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