The body of Sarai Sierra, the Staten Island mother killed in Turkey while on a solo vacation, returned to New York on Thursday.
Turkish Airlines provided the transportation for free, NBC News reported.
Although a Staten Island funeral home has offered free services, it's unclear if the family is accepting them, according to NBC.
Sierra's husband, Steven, went to Istanbul after his wife went missing, according to NBC, and returned to New York on Wednesday to finalize arrangements. When he landed in JFK, he immediately went home to his sons in Staten Island, NBC reported.
As of Feb. 4, Sierra's mother told NBC that she was waiting until Steven returned home to break the news to Sierra's two sons, ages 9 and 11.
Sierra, 33, was found dead Saturday by ancient walls along a highway, killed by a blow that disfigured her face, The Daily News reported.
A worker who viewed Sierra's body before it was taken to the Istanbul airport told The Daily News that she was bruised on her wrists and scratched on her arms -- evidence that she fought to live.
Sierra traveled to Istanbul alone to pursue her new photography hobby. Jan. 21, the day she went missing, was two weeks after she arrived, and a day before she was scheduled to return home.
"Only someone like an animal could do this," the worker told The Daily News.
Steven Sierra told The Daily News of his devastation about his wife's tragic death.
"You have so many plans, so many dreams with the person you deeply love," he said to the paper. "You look forward to many years together and there are so many things you haven't fulfilled with that person, and now those won't be fulfilled."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
