Saturday March 31st, 2012 :: 01:17 p.m. PDT - Three individuals believed to be involved in the 2002 kidnap and brutal murder of Brenda Sierra, a 15-year-old high school student from the East Los Angeles community, are being sought by Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The help of the public is requested.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. in the morning on October 18th 2002, Brenda was walking to a friend's house on her way to school when she was abducted from the sidewalk.
Investigators believe the abduction occurred in the area of Leonard Avenue and Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles.
Her body was discovered the next day on October 19, 2002 in the "Valley of Enchantment" area of the City of Crestline, in San Bernardino County.
Sheriff's Homicide Investigators have been persistent in their pursuit of those responsible for Brenda's murder and have developed information that the two individuals depicted in the composite drawings are "persons-of-interest" in the kidnap and murder of Brenda.
Investigators are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the two individuals, their current whereabouts and any other information which may assist detectives in locating them.
At the time of Brenda's murder, the two were known street gang members who frequented the area where Brenda was abducted. Witnesses have come forth and provided vital information relating to this case but detectives still need more to come forward.
The third "person-of-interest" is George Barraza (actual photo is attached with this press release) who is believed to be in Mexico, but may travel back and forth across the border. Currently, he is wanted for questioning in Brenda's murder; however he is also wanted on a "no-bail" arrest warrant for a prior narcotics conviction.
Since Brenda was abducted on her way to school during the morning rush-hour, detectives believe that local residents may have seen the contact between Brenda and her abductors.
Detectives have gathered information that one or two females may have made contact with Brenda on the street, which facilitated her abduction.
Detectives are asking the public to contact them if they have any information or recollection of this incident. In addition, detectives are seeking any information from the residents in the Crestline area who may have seen the individuals depicted in the flyers attached, on or around October 18th or 19th 2002. Witnesses in the area have previously noted a "suspicious, dark, SUV" in the area, prior to the discovery of Brenda's body.
Through a press conference announcement on Friday, Sheriff's investigators are hoping that due to the passage of time, those who were involved, or who have knowledge of Brenda's senseless murder, have had a change of heart or a change of conscious.
Homicide Lt. Dave Colman stated, "Certainly, we hope that anyone with knowledge of this horrific incident will overcome any fear of coercion or retaliation and come forward and bring justice to Brenda and her family."
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org .
PHOTOS, LASD Homicide
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Nicole Nishida, Public Information Officer
Peter Gomez, Deputy
Mike Parker, Captain
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
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Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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