Slain Tourist's Kids Unaware of Her Death

Sarai Sierra's husband to tell them on return from Turkey
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 4, 2013 12:01 PM CST
Slain Tourist's Kids Unaware of Her Death
A member of the Istanbul-based Association For Families With Lost Relatives hands out flyers with photos of Sarai Sierra in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013.   (AP Photo)

It's been all over the news, but Sarai Sierra's kids—boys ages nine and 11—still don't know their mother was found dead in Turkey, their grandmother tells the Today show. Their father is currently in Istanbul working alongside police to solve the killing. He's "going to talk to them when he comes back, and we’ll all be there to support him," Betsy Jimenez said.

Police say initial investigations found no sign of rape, reports NBC; contrary to previous reports, the network says no arrests have been made. But prosecutors in Istanbul got a court order today for authorities to take blood and DNA samples from 21 people already questioned, reports the AP. A Turkish paper reports that a forensic lab will examine samples from Sierra's fingernails as well as hair and other samples from a blanket found near her body. It said some nail scrapings suggest she may have tried to fight for her life. She was apparently killed by a blow to the head. (More Sarai Sierra stories.)

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