Court advances murder retrial for Sierra LaMar disappearance

The court advances the murder retrial for Antolin Garcia Torres related to the 2012 disappearance of Sierra LaMar, keeping the case on track toward a new trial date. On Monday, Santa Clara County Superior Court assigned the matter to Judge Brian Buckelew, after a conviction reversal earlier this year. Garcia Torres, 35, is in Santa Clara County jail custody and was transferred from Corcoran State Prison earlier this month. Attorneys estimated the retrial will take about four months, similar to the original 2017 trial. The first pretrial hearing is set for July 15, after a July 13 formal-trial deadline was pushed to late August and a limited-time waiver set August 27. Prosecutors plan evidentiary motions and jury selection; Deputy District Attorney O’Bryan Kenney said the office is preparing to be ready for trial. The Feb. 27 appeal ruling became final May 13.