The conviction in the killing of Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar in 2012 was overturned Friday, possibly setting up Antolin Garcia-Torres for a new trial if prosecutors decide to pursue the case.Garcia-Torres, 34, was convicted in 2017 of first-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old LaMar.LaMar’s body has not been found since she missed her bus to Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill on March 16, 2012. Garcia-Torres was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.The 6th District Court of Appeal overturned the judgment, finding there was insufficient evidence of willful, deliberate and premeditated murder or a specific intent to kill. The ruling said Garcia-Torres can be retried, but not under those theories. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement after the ruling: “We just received the opinion and are digesting it. However, we will never stop seeking justice for Sierra.”At the time of trial, Garcia-Torres faced four counts: one for first-degree murder during the commission of a kidnapping and three for attempted kidnapping during a carjacking, the district attorney’s office said.The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office also said the appeals court found it was an error to try the murder case alongside three attempted-kidnapping counts from an unrelated case that occurred three years earlier in a Safeway parking lot. The office said the court ruled the error was prejudicial, requiring the reversal of all convictions.The California Attorney General’s Office and Garcia-Torres’ attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Garcia-Torres remains incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison as of Friday.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

MORGAN HILL, Calif. —

The conviction in the killing of Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar in 2012 was overturned Friday, possibly setting up Antolin Garcia-Torres for a new trial if prosecutors decide to pursue the case.

Garcia-Torres, 34, was convicted in 2017 of first-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old LaMar.

LaMar’s body has not been found since she missed her bus to Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill on March 16, 2012. Garcia-Torres was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The 6th District Court of Appeal overturned the judgment, finding there was insufficient evidence of willful, deliberate and premeditated murder or a specific intent to kill. The ruling said Garcia-Torres can be retried, but not under those theories.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement after the ruling: “We just received the opinion and are digesting it. However, we will never stop seeking justice for Sierra.”

At the time of trial, Garcia-Torres faced four counts: one for first-degree murder during the commission of a kidnapping and three for attempted kidnapping during a carjacking, the district attorney’s office said.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office also said the appeals court found it was an error to try the murder case alongside three attempted-kidnapping counts from an unrelated case that occurred three years earlier in a Safeway parking lot.

The office said the court ruled the error was prejudicial, requiring the reversal of all convictions.

The California Attorney General’s Office and Garcia-Torres’ attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Garcia-Torres remains incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison as of Friday.

See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel