Turkey police: NYC woman killed by blow to head

2/3/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sarai Sierra, of New York, went missing while vacationing alone in Istanbul. She was found dead on Saturday and police detained nine people for questioning in connection with her case.
Sarai Sierra, of New York, went missing while vacationing alone in Istanbul. She was found dead on Saturday and police detained nine people for questioning in connection with her case.

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish police say a New York City woman who went missing and was later found dead in Istanbul had suffered a fatal blow to the head.

Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin said today that forensic experts had not concluded their autopsy report on the victim, Sarai Sierra, but that it was “clear” the head injury caused her death.

NTV, a Turkish broadcaster, says 15 people have been detained for questioning in the case.

Sierra, a 33-year-old mother of two, was last heard from on Jan. 21, the day she was to fly home from a vacation. Her body was discovered Saturday evening near the remnants of ancient city walls.