Man Claims He Had Liaison With Slain Tourist

Stories about Sarai Sierra's time in Turkey keep getting darker. The latest claim: A man identified as Taylan says he had a tryst with the murdered New York mom in the days before her death. He apparently initially denied having a sexual relationship with Sierra, but later told police he met her via Instagram last fall and met up with her in Istanbul on Jan. 13; they had sex on Jan. 19, he says, but she didn't reply to any messages he sent her after that.

Reports arose yesterday that Sierra may also have been spending time with criminals while in Turkey. Federal agents are now investigating whether Sierra may have been involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, or jewel or currency trafficking, the New York Post reports. Meanwhile, Sierra's body will be flown home to New York today, the Daily News reports. A worker who saw her body describes brutal injuries. "Only someone like an animal could do this," he says. Click for more on the case. (More Sarai Sierra stories.)