NEWDradio Friend Sarai Sierra Found Dead in Turkey
February 12, 2013By Tiffani Knowles

Longtime friend of NEWDradio personality Andre Harrison, Sarai Sierra, found dead near the remnants of ancient city walls in Turkey, will be honored at a wake on Valentine's Day in Staten Island, New York where she and her husband were raising their two sons.


The body of Sarai Sierra was flown back to the U.S. by Turkish Airlines on February 7.


Two viewing periods are set for Feb. 14 at the Christian Pentecostal Church, 900 Richmond Road, where Harrison served as youth pastor. They will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.


While the costs were almost prohibitive for Sarai Sierra's body to be flown back to the U.S., the family sold photos from her collection of photography in order to defray the costs.


The 33-year-old woman was found dead 12 days after she disappeared in Istanbul. Police said she was killed by a blow to the head. No arrests have been made.


The grieving husband of Sarai Sierra, Steven, said that the reports that she flew to Turkey and had multiple affairs while abroad do not change his view on the murder for him.

"Even it were true, it wouldn't matter to me, I would marry her all over again," Steven Sierra said.


Sarai Sierra allegedly met up with at least two men during her trip abroad, including one Dutch national who she connected with via Instagram and a Turkish man who claims he had sex with her on the night before she died.


The funeral will be Feb. 15 at Christian Pentecostal Church, where she met and married her husband, Steven. Burial will follow at Silver Mount Cemetery, a few blocks from the family's Staten Island apartment building.


Steven Sierra and his wife's brother, David Jimenez, returned to New York from Istanbul on February 6 after flying there to help in the search and investigation. Jimenez said Steven informed the two boys, ages 9 and 11, of their mother's fate when he returned.


Sarai Sierra's parents said earlier in the week the family was waiting for Steven to return before telling the boys what

happened to their mother. They had been told their father went to get her after she missed her plane home on Jan. 21.


"With children, it's very difficult," said John Rocco Carlo, the pastor of Christian Pentecostal Church, who said he advised the family on how to talk with the youngsters. "Fortunately, they have a wonderful family to lean on."


Jimenez said the remaining photos will be up for sale on the photo-sharing site Instagram to continue to raise money for her sons' education and other future needs.


Sarai Sierra is survived by her husband, two sons, her mother, father and brother.



Visitor Comments (2)
My Response to Paris2013
Posted By PASTOR_DRE on February 15, 2013
Its hard to determine the truth when the public is following stories given by journalist who are all writing to sell papers or gain readers. Many of them put their own speculation in writing and portray it as fact.

Facts:
Sarai is a Child of God who received Christ as Savior and has been saved for years.
Sarai is a loving wife
Sarai is a loving mother
Sarai had a love for photography that lead her out there to pursue her passion.
Sarai is not the type to associate herself closely with the wrong element unless she was helping them or sharing Christ with them.
She will be missed

R.I.H.
My views on this horriffic case
Posted By PARIS2013 on February 14, 2013
I have been following this very sad story from the beginning, and with everything I have been reading, I have been convinced all along,that Sarai had gotten wound up with the wrong people before and during her trip(s)abroad...More than just a trip for photography, things she became involved with taking her"into dark waters;" as trusting and naive as she was during it all, it lead to her unfortunate demise. I am praying the Turkish police are seeing what I see here....
Loading...
Related Articles · More Articles
There is a Senate investigation into Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Josh Hawley due to their alleged acts that may have contributed to the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Here's an open letter to Senator Hawley.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration agency changed the Civics section of the Citizenship test on December 1, 2020 as part of a decennial update. Here is a copy of the new test
In less than two months, an exorbitant fee increase for some of the most common immigration procedures in America will go into effect on Oct. 2. Here is a list of the fees that will increase.