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The body of a New York City mother of two who was killed in Turkey while on a solo vacation is expected to return to the U.S. Thursday.
Sarai Sierra's remains are expected to arrive Thursday, the New York Daily News reported. Turkish Airlines is providing the transportation for free.
A funeral home on Staten Island has offered free services, but the owner said it's unclear whether the family is accepting the offer.
Sierra's husband, Steven, went to Istanbul after she went missing, and he returned to New York on Wednesday to finalize arrangements.
After landing at Kennedy Airport, Steven Sierra went directly home to his sons on Staten Island, a relative told NBCNewYork.com
On Monday, Sierra's mother said the two sons, ages 9 and 11, were unaware of their mother's fate, and the family was waiting for Steven Sierra to return to inform the children about her death.
Turkish authorities concluded that 33-year-old Sarai Sierra was killed with a blow to the head. She had been in regular contact with her family on Staten Island during her three-week trip, which included a pre-planned excursion to Amsterdam and a stop in Munich before she returned to Istanbul.
Read more stories at NBCNewYork.com
She disappeared Jan. 21, and her body was found 12 days later near the remnants of the city's ancient walls. She was still wearing her jewelry, but her iPhone and iPad were missing.
Turkish police and the FBI are investigating her death. Prosecutors on Monday got a court order to take blood and DNA samples from 21 people questioned in the death, according to Turkish state media.
Her family says she was on her first trip abroad pursuing a newfound hobby of photography. She posted some of her work on the photo-sharing website Instagram, and her page there has attracted thousands of new visitors since news broke of her disappearance.
Her family subsequently set up a separate site where her photos were put up for sale. A post from someone who identified himself as her brother, David Jimenez, said any received funds will go to her children.
Steven Sierra told the Daily News earlier this week he was heartbroken after his wife's death.
“You have so many plans, so many dreams with the person you deeply love. You look forward to many years together and there are so many things you haven’t fulfilled with that person, and now those won’t be fulfilled," Steven Sierra said.
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Sorry for their loss but if you are traveling to this country of animals you have to expect this.
SO that make you an animal too, since you bleed red blood as well and stand up the same way they do. just sayin.
George-388802
Hate to burst your bubble there George but there are FAR more "animals" in this country than turkey. Murder rate per 100,000- US- 4.8, Turkey- 3.3
You do not travel in any country by yourself. Double so as an American!
I've done it and I'm a chick. I've even done charitable work in a third-world country.
Another "sorry for their loss BUT" comment. Great.
People just have to feel superior to others.
If this really happened, I pray for her children. I hope it's not a hoax. Some people will do anything to get money and we have seen it many times before with people claiming to have cancer.
Hoax?? Did you even read the story?
Of course I did. AND yes I said Hoax. How many times has a story been published only to later find out it was a Hoax. Have you read my previous rants? We have people setting themselves on fire and claiming to be attacked or have some form of uncurable cancer, they pull at our heart strings only to later find out the situatin was self inflicted or did not happen. That is the definition of a Hoax. If I am wrong, then I am sorry, but I have to say it lite it is.
You are a moron. Hey, I have to say it like it is.
Of course it's a hoax, she fatally hit herself on the head and then stole her own iPhone and iPad. Duh.
"Are you familiar with my previous rants?" LOL.
@Renee You sound like the people that posted comments, thinking she disappeared on purpose! You have no real concern for the family as you are projecting "your assumptions" with no reason or proof and are actually hurting a family that is in grief! You do know the comment about the word Ass/U/Me, don't you!
I am not sure who you are call a moron, but I would recommend you look at yourself first with a user name of skibum609. No need to call anyone names you pipsquit
Katie-88227 how many times have stories been reported as true and then were undone. How about the women who set herself on fire?? She blamed it on white ppl??? Just because it's on the Internet does not make it true. Have you not seen the state farm comercial?
Yes Jenny, I used the term rants. This is a form of social medial, so of course people are going to say things as they please. Meaning it's not meant for educational purposes.
After reading this article, how are you able to call this a hoax? They found her body, which is being flown back to the US. The examples you gave involved living people either blaming fictional people for a misfortune or having deadly diseases. This has none of that. How was this self-inflicted or did not happen if the woman's body was found with head trauma? When was there any asking of donations? This woman's family never claimed anything but that she was missing.
Yes, Renee: it's a real news story!
You've clearly wasted too much of your life reading bull**** fairy tales from the Bible; and, therefore, you have no intelligence and no concept of reality.
PS: Praying for the children of the slain mom is a waste of time--because God does not exist, just like a brain does not exist in your head. Prayer is the biggest waste of time ever. (It's the same as when a child goes missing and, instead of neighbors promptly volunteering to form a search-party or hand out and post info-fliers with the kid's description or maintain a phone information hotline for leads in the case, they tell the parents "I'll pray for his/her safe return!" and then they sit on their dumb a$$es and do nothing!
You're hopeless, Renee.
God and the Bible do not need your approval to exist and speak truth. Thanks for sharing your misguided opinion, though.
Renee-2441789
Show me just one example of a hoax that included the authorities actually finding and identifying the victims body. Common sense easily eliminates the possibility of this woman's death being a hoax.
Not sure why I would post to a username garbageman anyways, I had to cross my eyes to make sure I was seeing it right. Ass/U/Me. Let's see If you ask ME/THe Only Ass/ I see is U.
I did not say the family was asking for donations. The article said her photo are being posted on a newly created site for sale and is gettinglots of traffic. Before you start making it personal, read! I have only stated my opinion and not once called anyone outside of their name (with the exception of skibum609).
FYI - According to Nationmaster.com (vg stat site) Turkey had the highest homicide rate at 184 murders per million population. The USA wasn't even in the top 37 countries.
Does that mean you are on "ME/TH", that explains your behavior! I see that you couldn't help yourself as you did respond to my post, I hear ME/TH will do that to you as it takes away your self control and makes you delusional. Always glad to help remove the trash!
Perhaps she was killed by one of obamas drones? don't give up your God or your guns!
NamVet68-70, Excellent idea not to give up your God. I would suggest that you include the Bible also, maybe even find time to read it.
Roger I've never really met God so all my learnings have been from the Bible; did that satisy your insinutation? Don't give up your guns either unless you don't have any then don't get any!
it seems you haven't learned a thing vet.
Very sad story. I think Turkey is a wonderful country but still wondering why a mother of 2 young children spent $12,000 in two weeks in an overseas adventure, meeting men she had never met. Now the family needs money for a funeral?? Something does not seem right. I do not think I will make a donation.
Jenn, maybe my reading comprehension is 'off' today, but where in the article does it state she was meeting men? If the husband were the one who went traveling, would you be complaining that he was meeting women? Further, a funeral home offered a free funeral but the article says the family may not accept the offer. Which article did YOU read? And I thought foxes were smart.
Eileen-2117949
This is MSNBC so don't expect to get the whole story, just enough to generate interest and grab some ad revenue. Apparently she was hanging around with a "criminal element" and authorities in Turkey believe she may have been having an affair.
Jenn, she was going to meet a man who was going to show her a bridge to photograph, not men.
However, if she could afford the "vacation" for her hobby, how can they not afford a funeral?
Some days earlier after the story first broke commenters here said something does not add up in this story. Now the media is picking up on the reason for her trip may not have been photography. Photography may have been a cover. Did her friend smell trouble and that is why she opted out on the last day? There has been many days and stories, this is not the whole story.
I've traveled alone within the US but I always check out places before I go or I meet friends that I know. Also since when is taking photos with an IPAD considered amateur photography. Personally I use a camera for that because I would be afraid to lose the IPAD if I had one.
Horrible tragedy, but how do you go out to that part of the world by yourself with a family back at home. I understand Germany and Amsterdam, but Turkey? The same people we send billions to will kill us for a penny.
Obama just sent $175,000,000.00 to Turkey to help with the Syrian refugees---The President should not have sent a dime while Americans are living in tents--abandonded buildings--reall sad---$113,000,000,000.00 spent on illegal immigrants --2012
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the fact that they still owe us $20 billion would be enough reason not to send any money. Liked it when Bush asked to use their air space in the beginning of Iraq the Turks told us no unless we give them $20 billion and Bush said nope will go another route you still owe us that much. lol
This does not pass the SMELL Test to me!!! Now the family has set up a site to sell her pictures and now dozens are flocking to the site. Who would allow their wife to go to a foreign country by herself for three weeks and if she is just taking up the hobby, why would one spend so much money on an excursion of this type? Now you are raising funds for the children? Seems a little odd. This world has gotten to the point where you can't trust anything. We had a NY officer give a homeless guy shoes and guess what...he was not homeless, you got some college dude claiming a fake dead girlfriend, some dork on American Idol claiming to have been injuried in Afgh. .
Renee, dial back on the paranoia. I'm old, and took many expensive vacations alone. I would be interested in doing something or visiting someone in whom my spouse had no interest, so I went solo. Why does a woman traveling alone raise your hackles?
Well she has two small children and I would think most women are the caretakers of their kids. You did say that you are older and I assume you took those vacations after you raised your kids. The only traveling most women do alone is TRAVELING TO THE MALL TO BUY SOME SHOES OR A PURSE. Heck there are lots of places in the states to take some pictures of. Like I said, I am sad if it is a true strory. Eileen you can send in your money if you want to but I'm buying me a POWERBALL ticket with mine.
Renee-2441789
So... what?? Do you think the Turkish authorities are in on the potential "scam"?? You think the State Department is involved also?? You think the airline in Turkey is flying home an empty coffin?? Give me a break!
YES! YES. NO -
I travel without my husband all the time. I am the primary care taker of my kids and as such I sometimes need a break. Sometimes I take the kids with and sometimes it is just me. Not every woman feels the need to have someone take care of her all the time in fact none of the time do I need someone to take care of me. I am an adult and as such make my own decisions and do what I want. Women who give up all their hopes and dreams for life to focus on their families as society wants to say we should often pass their unhappiness around to their entire family.
Yes and the American Embassy got involved just to make sure you looked as ignorant as possible. For the sake of humanity don't breed. I am happy for your husband not havingto spend time with you, but sad your children have an idiot for an egg donor.
DC-317321 - I am all for womens lib - hell I don't wear bras sometimes either, but rest assurred, my husband would not allow me to go to a foreign country (maybe to Oklahoma to play BINGO) by myself. He would be cheching on my all the time and not wait 12 days after I disapeared to come and retrieve my body. Like I said, I hope this is a misfortunate tragedy. And for all you independent women out there who want to travel, I am sure Turkey will welcome you with open arms. As me for, I'm keeping my i need a man by my side butt here in Dallas TX
Skibum609, find some new words. You seem to be so pathetic that you say stuff other people have used. Maybe if you were not a bum and your name ended in 69, you could chill a little. I guess you needed to reafirm your worth with the 0 in between the 69 - zero!
Jenny Jenny, if you need to the def of rant, check out Skibum609. Now he is ranting talking about not breeding and donor eggs. He wishes a donor egg would want to breed with him.
@Renee, this woman's family was checking on her every day she was there. It states that in the many articles about this situation. They contacted authorities when they were no longer able to contact her because she had gone missing. Her body was found 12 days after she disappeared, and her family did not wait 12 days to retrieve her body, as you stated.
Also, many women travel alone for many more reasons than going to the mall for a purse or shoes, without their husband's permission. If you were not aware of this, you truly don't understand the women's rights movement.
DC, give up hope and dreams. Really girl become a real mother. When you have children they are your hopes and dreams not keeping yourself happy but focusing on them. They are the ones who bring true happiness not going on a vacation because you need a break. You run to the mall alone to take a break not on a vacation. Maybe that's what is wrong with parents today instead of focusing on the children it's all about "me".
As for Renee, I can see where you are coming from and agree there are way too many people going around trying to make the quick buck and getting 15 minutes of fame.
As for the idiots who say: just because she was chatting with a man on the internet doesn't mean she was having an affair, please like you wouldn't think that of a man.
DC-317321
But as is evidenced here, some people actually do need their spouses to take care of them because they obviously lack the common sense to function on their own.
Ive lived and worked in a lot worse places than Turkey it is what I do for a living. You learn how to be careful. None of us know what really happened or why, there are 2 kids with out a mother, I am sorry for them. RIP
Why didn't I think of this!!! The schemes
get more elaborate all the time. A funeral home offered free services, but the
family has not accepted?? Would not surprise me if there were some casual
connection there too.
I think it is perfectly clear by this point that nothing would surprise you. That tends to be the case with people who have wild imaginations.
Like I said, you can send in your money but I am going to buy me a POWERBALL tciekt with mine.
Unfortunately the world is not filled with honest people such as yourself backcountry.
I'm not claiming that this woman was honest or that we know the whole story your speculating is utterly ridiculous. If this was some prearranged plan to sucker people into buying photos taken by a dead woman perhaps you could explain why the hell they spent all of the money to go all the way to Turkey when Mexico is right next door??
As Renee said, this definitely does NOT pass the smell test. Just a middle class wife and mother from Staten Island going to Istanbul to take photos using an Ipad and cell phone? Going to Istanbul first, then to Amsterdam, then to Munich and back to Istanbul? A unaccompanied woman meeting up with unsavory types? All that money to blow on a "photo trip" but poor enough to beg for donations? C'mon. I hope our news outlets report the follow up story and not shy away because it will reveal some inconvenient truths about someone from a "sympathy group."
If you tried to learn something you wouldn't appear to be as stupid as you do. She was going with a friend who backed out at the last moment, after the plans were made and paid for. Disgusting person please never breed.
What you have written is so stupid but I could not leave the comment without saying my piece to you. The family is NOT begging anybody for money and they have not accepted the funeral offer as well. You people are so quick to judge that you say the most ridiculous things about others that you do not even know. Get a life and hope nothing ever happens to anybody in your family.
Liz. You must be new. Much, much stupider posts have been written on Newsvine. In comparison, These actually seem to be tame
@skibum
You know these articles would be very boring if disgusting people stopped posting, and breeding
I am in agreement that there is something not being told here. how can you afford a 3 week trip abroad and not have life insurance to cover your family in the event you die over seas.
Hell I have life insurance just to live in the US.
WHy would any husband let his wife go alone. then turn around and go alone yourself...
Let his wife go? Spoken like a true ignoramus.
Stupid response again. Why don't you get a life and leave the family alone. Thank God that it was not one of your family because I am sure you would not like the comments that you and other stupid people are making without even knowing the family. If she chose to take a vacation on her own.....SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! It is none of your business........... Are they begging you for money? No!!! Then shut up!!!!!
Spicious !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay tuned for a total lack of information......
sad story, r.i.p
Who leaves their family for 3 weeks and travels alone like that!
Not anyone's place to judge.
Frankie
I can't even get life insurance and I go to Germany and Italy almost every year. It won't matter where I click out, here or there, the family doesn't get a dime!!!
Such a terrible story, but it is also a wake up call to people considering travel to a foreign land alone..
Wow, paranoid much?
ahhh did the taxpayers pick up the check to have dingbat flown to the U.S.?
Women can't be trusted to travel alone. They don't have what it takes upstairs to avoid being killed.
BHAHAHAHAHA! I mean, it's horrible that this happened and it sucks that those two little ones have to grow up without their mother, but this comment made me literally laugh out loud. Thanks for that.
I can't imagine any circumstance where I would have a desire to leave my son at home while I go on vacation, so if I ever get the travel bug, I'll have a man with me to take care of the things that require even a modicum of intelligence, like driving and/or running a country.
Jasmine, I think you misunderstood me. Why would I be paranoid about a situation that does not impact me. I said it is a HOAX. Please let me know if I need to explain the difference.
I know this family and it is not a hoax
Definitely something missing in this whole story.
Where's the rest of the story??
American's are very insultated from the extent that poor people will go to for an iphone, and ipad in places like Turkey, Russia etc... I have a friend from Chernobyl who told me that she could work six months to afford a jacket from a store like Goodwill. Her family desperately put's pressure on her to send clothes and electronics and money to them... Even American's on Welfare, food stamps and housing, make 87% more money than the rest of the world. The average world income is $7,500 per year. We are very lucky to be born American.
Some of you folks need to understand that life does not end at marriage or child birth. this lady had dreams and a life to live, just because she chose not to cease to exist because she had a family, gives no one the right to make disparaging comments. Also, the Turks are mostly Muslim yet they exhibit a level of religious tolerance that make most of you American Christians look like animals in comparison, had you ever left your own backyard you may have broadened your mind
Turkey is one of the least tolerant countries on earth liar. They even have a law making it illegal to "insult Turkishness". They sided with Hitelr in World War two and the Kaiser in World War one. They butchered Jews and Arabs in the middle east for 400 years. They committed a holocaust against Armenians. Despicable post.
Bum,Ever been there?
Theres something very strange going on with this story. Here it is, a mom with 2 kids, married..takes a vacation..overseas...alone..to a country she knows nothing about? Hmnnnn, Don't add up people. Was she persuing a lover? And how come her husband never stepped in and said, Wait a minute..its not cool for you to do this. Friend cancellation or not, Women, got no business travelling alone to these middle eastern countires. If they do, then just do the tourist trap stuff and guided tours thing. Like I said, the fish are smelling on this one!!
Here we go again. Another fool making a stupid comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ain't "buying it!" There's much more to this than an avid photographer, vacationing alone! A side trip to A-dam, when most people would have put that at either end of a trip; either before, or after the main journey,,,,,,,,,,,,nope; something ain't right with this one!
She has barely made it home and there is already a money making idea for her photos? Its just a little tacky to me.