FBI aiding probe in Istanbul death

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

— The FBI is playing a significant role in the investigation into the death of a New York City woman who died in Istanbul while on a solo vacation, a U.S. congressman said Monday.

Rep. Michael Grimm, a New York Republican and a former FBI agent, said U.S. investigators were invited by Turkish authorities to assist as they try to find out what happened to Sarai Sierra, a 33-year-old mother of two who disappeared Jan. 21. Her body was found 12 days later, near the remnants of the city’s ancient walls. Police said she had suffered a fatal blow to the head.

Prosecutors in Istanbul got a court order Monday for authorities to take blood and DNA samples from 21 people already questioned in the death, according to Turkish state media.

Turkish authorities finished an autopsy Monday on Sierra and gave DNA samples from it to a crime lab, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. After that, Istanbul prosecutors got the court order but did not identify the possible suspects, the agency reported.

On Monday, police with sniffer dogs were scouring the area where the body was found for clues, it said.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 02/05/2013