The gathering of solidarity, set for Friday, comes as San Antonio groups help the family to follow up on every tip.
SAN ANTONIO — It’s been almost three years since Lina Sardar Khil disappeared from a northwest-side apartment complex, sparking urgent searches and questions about how she vanished in broad daylight.
Lina vanished from the Villas del Cabo Apartments at 9400 Fredericksburg Road (since rebranded to the Vive Apartments) on Dec. 20, 2021. Police say she was last seen between 4:30 p.m. and 5:10 p.m.
Lina would be 6 years old today. Her loved ones will commemorate her birthday at a Friday gathering.
While San Antonio police proceed with their investigation, there are those in the community who have continued to rally behind Lina’s family.
Pam Allen, head of Eagles Flight Advocacy & Outreach, has been among the most prominent supporters alongside Lina’s loved ones, guiding them through heartbreak and the logistics of law enforcement.
Allen shared the family’s frustration about an absence of answers from police, perhaps none more than Lina’s father, Riaz.
“They’re without their joy and they called her their light of the family,” Allen said. “The communication comes only when he reaches out and he says, ‘Hey, have you heard anything?'”
Allen noted the family is keeping vigilant, paying attention to what makes the daily headlines.
“They watch diligently when there are roundups of sex traffickers, drug traffickers. He’s also asking the question, ‘Did you ask them about Lina?’ Because he feels they might have some information,” Allen said.
Back in February, law enforcement searched a wooded area not far from where Lina vanished.
But the two-day mission led nowhere, with San Antonio police concluding their tip was “not credible.”
“We’re encouraged by the number of people that are still calling in that care,” said Abel Pena, a retired FBI agent and managing director for the nonprofit known as Project Absentis.
The organization has continued to field and vet tips from people across the nation and around the world.
“I’ve talked to a number of people again that have claimed to have seen Lina. There’s one as far north as even Canada; we’re in discussions with them, but we don’t think it’s going to be Lina.”
Through the pain, Allen says there’s always hope for the loved ones of Lina Sardar Khil.
“I’ve sat with them and looked through videos and pictures of Lina, and the great thing is that their faith has sustained them. They have faith that one day they’ll see their daughter again,” she said.
Friday’s gathering is set to take place at 2 p.m. at the American Muslim Community Center, located at 4139 Gardendale Road.
“Our gathering this Friday is going to be just a gathering of solidarity, that we come together for this family. We want to believe that this little girl will be home one day and we want to believe and stand with this family.”
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has also worked to promote and spread awareness about Lina’s case. In September, KENS 5 reported on NCMEC’s desire to become more involved and assist SAPD with the investigation.
But their level of assistance has not gone beyond providing age progression images and distribution of information.
The San Antonio Police Department provided this statement in response to the ongoing search for Lina.
“After nearly three years investigating the disappearance of Lina Khil, the San Antonio Police Department remains committed to following-up on and investigating every lead that we receive. SAPD continues to use all tools available, including working with our partners at the FBI to investigate all leads. SAPD would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone with information on Lina’s disappearance and/or whereabouts to please call police.”
Anyone with with any information on Lina’s whereabouts is asked to call (210) 207-2313.