49ers Quarterback Alex Smith Aids Search For Missing Morgan Hill Girl
MORGAN HILL (KCBS) - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith will participate in the next volunteer search for 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, according to the group that organizes the civilian search effort.
Smith initially hesitated to lend his celebrity to the case, said Mark Klaas, preferring instead to be just another volunteer in the searches coordinated by the Klaas Kids Foundation for Children.
"He was reluctant to let his name be used in that way," said Klaas, who finally prevailed upon Smith's wife to get the football player to change his mind.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"People pay attention to what celebrities say and what celebrities do. We're hoping this will encourage other people to come out to search. We don't want people to come out and gawk," Klaas said.
Since LaMar disappeared on March 16, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office has classified the case as an abduction likely carried out by an acquaintance.
Search and rescue crews scouring the hills of San Martin and Gilroy with cadaver dogs Thursday found no new evidence about Sierra's whereabouts.
"They did hit a lot of terrain. They did hit a lot of open areas. Unfortunately nothing was located," said Sgt. Jose Cardoza.
Cardoza said detectives have been checking out dozens of tips that come in every day.
The next searches based at Burnett Elementary School have been scheduled for Saturday April 7 and Wednesday April 11.
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