Reward offered in search for missing California girl Sierra LaMar

These photos, taken from a missing persons flyer, show 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, who was last seen early March 16 leaving her Morgan Hill, Calif., home.

The family of a missing California girl who disappeared on her way to school is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

The father of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar of Morgan Hill, Calif., said the family scraped together the reward money through fundraisers and donations, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

"We're hoping it might give someone the motivation to come forward," Steve LaMar told the newspaper. "We're desperate for anything that can bring her home to us."

The teenager was last seen March 16 leaving her home at around 7:15 a.m. to walk to a school bus stop. Police dogs searching for the girl lost her scent in the driveway of her home.

The teenager usually walked from her home to a nearby bus stop, but a bus driver said he saw no sign of her.

Investigators have said that they think LaMar, a sophomore at Sobrato High School, likely was the victim of an acquaintance abduction.

LaMar's phone was recovered shortly after her disappearance about three-quarters of a mile from her home after police tracked its electronic ping. Police said the last text LaMar sent out was shortly before 7 a.m. the day she disappeared, and it was not a distress text.

The girl's bag also was discovered a couple of miles from her home. A pair of her pants and shirt were found neatly folded inside the Juicy brand bag.

Sierra lives with her mother and stepfather. She transferred to the school in October after the family moved from Fremont to Morgan Hill. She is described as having a very good relationship with her family.

The girl's father, Steve LaMar, who lives some 40 miles away in Fremont, is a registered sex crimes offender but is not considered a suspect in the case.

Sierra LaMar is described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall with brown hair. She was last seen carrying the Juicy brand pink and black purse.

Anyone with information on the teenager's whereabouts is being urged to call the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department at 408-299-2311.