Walnut Creek Linked To Vehicle in Sierra LaMar Disappearance?

Questions are now being raised about whether an attempted kidnapping in Walnut Creek is linked to the disappearance of a South Bay teen.

A is now in police custody.

Soon after authorities announced the link between the vehicle and the LaMar case on Monday, posters suggesting a connection between Sierra’s disappearance and an attempted kidnapping in Walnut Creek on March 14 began to spread via social media.

With the March 14 incident, a man tried to lure a 13-year-old girl (a student from Walnut Creek Intermediate School) into his vehicle near Tice Valley Boulevard, which is described as a “red older model compact sedan.” The next day, the girl said the same man waved at her on a trail behind the intermediate school after school let out, and she ran back to the school and called her parents.

However, Walnut Creek Police Lt. Steve Gorski said Tuesday afternoon that to his knowledge his department has not been contacted by authorities in the LaMar case.

Investigators in the young girl's disappearance say they need additional tips from the public before they can pursue the vehicle’s owner or anyone else who may have been driving the car.

“As for the owner or driver, we're not there yet,” said Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Cardoza. “One thing you don’t want to do on a high profile criminal case is you don’t want to single out anyone for being associated unless you have a little more [info].”

The association between the red, mid-1990s Jetta Volkswagen and the LaMar case is based on surveillance footage taken the day Sierra went missing on March 16.

Investigators reviewed hundreds of hours worth of footage taken from residential cameras near the LaMar home, from nearby businesses and from the bus stop Sierra would catch to Sobrato High. Time and again, videos depicted the red Volkswagen near the LaMar home and other areas of interest, like the .

“The vehicle was seen more than once as being in the area where Sierra’s mom’s house is and other areas where evidence was found,” Cardoza said.

Investigators are interested in hearing from individuals who saw the vehicle or had contact with its occupant(s) in Santa Clara County or bordering counties in March. Investigators are also asking individuals to contact them if they specifically remember seeing the Jetta on March 16.

Tipsters can call 408-808-4500, the anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431 or shoot an email to tips@sheriff.sccgov.org