SAN ANTONIO – Friday, Dec. 20 marks three years since Lina Khil disappeared on San Antonio’s northwest side.
Despite pleas from her family and searches in the Medical Center area, investigators are still searching for the missing child.
An observance will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the American Muslim Community Center to mark three years since her disappearance. The center is located at 4139 Gardendale.
Lina’s mother told police she and Lina were at the playground of the Villas Del Cabo apartment complex on Dec. 20, 2021, when she disappeared. Lina’s mother told police she quickly went inside the apartment but when she returned, Lina was gone.
Lina was 3 years old at the time.
The Center for Refugee Services previously told KSAT that the child’s family is among the Afghanistan refugees in San Antonio.
Here’s a timeline of events in this missing case:
Dec. 20, 2021: Lina disappears
- Lina was last seen between 5-6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, at the playground of the Villas Del Cabo apartments in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road.
- Lina’s family reported her missing at 7:15 p.m. At the time, Lina was wearing a black jacket, red dress and black shoes.
- San Antonio police launched an extensive search effort, which involved local and federal agencies.
Dec. 20, 2022: New video released
- San Antonio police released new video on Dec. 20, 2022, that showed Lina at the playground moments before she disappeared. SAPD officials said a resident of the complex had a surveillance camera that captured those moments.
- SAPD Lead Detective Jeremy Volz said at some point during the video, Lina walked off the screen.
- That same day, Lina’s father, Riaz Sardar Khil, told KSAT through translator Lawang Mangal: “They never found a piece of evidence yet so that’s very strange for me because the United States is a superpower of the world and they have all the resources and technology and everything.”
- The Islamic Center of San Antonio contributed to the search effort by raising a $250,000 reward for information leading to Lina’s safe return.
Feb. 20, 2023: Age progression sketch unveiled
- Eagle’s Flight Advocacy & Outreach created an age progression sketch of Lina. The sketch was released around her 5th birthday.
April 20, 2023: Lina’s father takes polygraph test
- Lina’s father was seen outside the San Antonio FBI office after spending hours inside on April 20, 2023.
- Riaz Khil took a polygraph test to clear his name. A spokesperson for the Khil family told KSAT the FBI was conducting the polygraph instead of SAPD. It’s unclear what led to that decision.
Feb. 14, 2024: Tip submitted to SAPD was ‘not credible’
- A tip led authorities to a wooded area near Interstate 10 and Wurzbach Road, about a mile from where Lina disappeared.
- Crews used drones and ground-penetrating radar in their search.
- Lina’s father told KSAT that the tip reportedly came from an inmate, which prompted the search.
- Two days after the tip was submitted, SAPD said the tip was “not credible.”
- After the two-day search ended, Lina’s family then called for new investigators to take over the case.
March 2024: Age progression shows Lina at 6 years old
- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children posted a new age progression image of Lina that shows how she may look at the age of 6.
Related KSAT coverage:
Age progression photo shows missing girl Lina Khil at 6 years old
Father of missing girl Lina Khil demands new investigator, more transparency in search efforts
Two years after Lina Khil’s disappearance, family advocates and investigators still plead for tips
SAPD releases new footage showing Lina Khil at playground before her disappearance