Police in San Antonio say their hope of finding the three-year-old girl who disappeared from an apartment complex playground three days ag...
Police in San Antonio say their hope of finding the three-year-old girl who disappeared from an apartment complex playground three days ago is diminishing with every passing hour, despite a massive search effort and a $75,000 reward in place.
Police and FBI agents have been working around the clock to locate Lina Sardar Khil, who was last seen at the Villa Del Cabo apartments on Monday evening.
Police Chief William McManus previously said that the child vanished while her mother was away 'for a short time,' but the girl's father claimed that his daughter went missing after walking towards a nearby path while in her mother's care.
Riaz Khil said in an interview with KSAT that his family believe that Lina has been abducted, but the police chief told reporters on Wednesday that the child's disappearance is still being treated as a missing person case because they do not have descriptions of a possible suspect or a vehicle.
The Islamic Center of San Antonio is offering a $75,000 reward for any information leading to Lina's safe return.
The police chief revealed that in the first hours after Lina's disappearance, K-9 dogs picked up a scent but then lost it and have not been able to pick it up again.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters on Wednesday that he is 'less hopeful' than before that they will be able to find Lina
McManus added that his investigators have gathered and reviewed dozens upon dozens of video recordings from doorbell and surveillance cameras, but so far they have not found anything relevant to this case.
Lina went missing sometime between 5 and 6pm on Monday, and her parents reported her missing about an hour later after failing to locate her in the apartment complex, which houses about 300 residents.
'Early on is very important,' McManus told reporters when asked about the first hours of the search. 'Unfortunately, I have to say the longer time lapses the less hopeful we become.'
Lina was last seen in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road after her pregnant mother allegedly stopped watching the youngster 'for a short time', according to police. The family disputes this allegation, and insist Lina was never out of her mom's sight.
Although police say they do not know whether Lina wandered away from the playground or if she was taken by someone, and they do not have a description of a possible kidnapper, the girl's family suspect foul play.
Riaz Khil, the father of the missing three-year-old, says the family believe she may have been abducted from their apartment complex in San Antonio. The child's disappearance triggered an AMBER Alert on Monday night
The father collapsed in tears while speaking about his missing daughter. Riaz said he and his pregnant wife spent hours being questioned by the FBI on Tuesday
The father said Lina was being watched by his wife at this apartment complex playground when the girl walked to a nearby path and vanished
Lina’s father, Riaz Sardar Khil, told San Antonio TV station KENS5 through a translator. that his wife, who is pregnant, was watching their daughter at the playground between 5 and 6pm on Monday, when the three-year-old walked over to a nearby path and suddenly vanished.
Lina's mother initially thought she may have returned to the family's apartment, but she was not there.
The family then thought Lina may have left the playground with another Afghan family but now believe she may have been abducted.
The Khil family moved to the US in 2019 from Afghanistan after fleeing from 'threats that were posed to us,' the father told the station.
'During our entire lives we have not been as saddened as we were yesterday and today,' Riaz Khil said.
The father said that the FBI questioned him and his wife for several hours on Tuesday. Riaz added that he and his wife have not eaten or slept since Lina's disappearance.
Riaz Khil did not address a claim made by San Antonio Police Chief McManus, who said that Lina went missing while her mother was away from the playground for 'a short time.'
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, McManus said that when the girl's mother returned, her daughter was gone. There were other children with adults at the playground at that time.
Police and FBI agents have been scouring the area around the clock in search of Lina
Although police say they do not have a description of a possible kidnapping suspect, they are investigating the case as a child abduction
The child was last seen in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road between 5 and 6pm Monday
McManus said Lina's family did not contact the police until about 7:15pm to report her missing.
The police chief said Lina's mother and other residents have been cooperating with the investigation.
Officers have been searching for Lina by going door-to-door to question all residents, checking cars and dumpsters, and looking for surveillance footage.
Chief McManus said his department is 'sparing no assets or resources' to find the little girl.
On Tuesday, local officials asked FBI to help with the search, given the suspicious circumstances surrounding Lina's disappearance and the length of time she's been gone.
Margaret Constantino, with the Center for Refugee Services, confirmed to KSAT that Lina's family are Afghan refugees.
On Tuesday, local officials asked FBI to help with the search, given the suspicious circumstances surrounding Lina's disappearance and the length of time she's been gone
Police are appealing to the public for help with locating Lina, who was last seen wearing a red dress, a black jacket and black shoes
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters his agency is sparing no assets to find Lina
'We will continue this until, hopefully, we find Lina but we are not stopping,' McManus said.
Lina is four-feet-tall and weighs 55lbs, with brown eyes and straight, shoulder-length brown hair tied in a ponytail. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, a red dress and black shoes.
Authorities are asking anyone who has information on Lina's whereabouts to call SAPD Missing Person’s Unit at 210-207-7660.
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