Reward for info on missing Afghan girl, 4, who vanished from Texas playground increased to $250k


A $250,000 reward is now being offered for any information on a missing four-year-old Afghan refugee girl who vanished from a Texas playground in December.

Lina Sardar Khil was last seen in the playground of a northwest San Antonio apartment complex during the late afternoon of December 20, while her mother allegedly left her unattended. 

The Islamic Center of San Antonio announced it is offering a $200,000 reward for any information that leads to the safe return of Lina.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio CrimeStoppers group said it had ‘a guaranteed $50,000 reward, for this case only, for information resulting in the arrest or indictment of a suspect accused of any involvement in’ Lina’s disappearance, bringing the total reward amount to $250,000.

The Islamic Center had originally offered a $100,000 reward and Crime Stoppers $50,000 in exchange for information.

On Saturday, San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus tweeted that local authorities have continued to investigate the girl’s disappearance while working with the FBI in a concerted effort to find Lina.

‘There’s been no pause in our efforts. SAPD continues to work with the FBI to find Lina Sardar Khil who went missing on Dec 20. The investigation is on-going,’ McManus posted.

‘Pls report any info no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Call SAPD Missing Persons Section on 210 207-7660.’  

The San Antonio CrimeStoppers said it had 'a guaranteed $50,000 reward for info resulting in the arrest or indictment of a suspect accused of any involvement in' Lina's disappearance

The San Antonio CrimeStoppers said it had ‘a guaranteed $50,000 reward for info resulting in the arrest or indictment of a suspect accused of any involvement in’ Lina’s disappearance

The Islamic Center of San Antonio announced it is offering a $200,000 reward for any information that leads to the safe return of Lina

The Islamic Center of San Antonio announced it is offering a $200,000 reward for any information that leads to the safe return of Lina

Police in San Antonio looking for little Lina, who vanished from an apartment complex's playground on the afternoon of December 20

Police in San Antonio looking for little Lina, who vanished from an apartment complex’s playground on the afternoon of December 20

An FBI dive team had previously joined the search for the missing girl, who would have turned four Sunday.

A birthday celebration was still held in Lina’s absence at the apartment complex where her family lives on Fredericksburg Road. 

The 12-member FBI Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team flew in from Washington, DC, on January 3 and searched water bodies near the girl’s family’s apartment all day Tuesday, Police Chief William McManus said.

Appearing downcast, McManus said the team was merely checking a lead, of which there have been few.

Lina was last seen wearing a red dress, black jacket and black shoes and had her brown hair in a ponytail, police said.

The child’s family had reported that she was at the playground with her mother, who had walked away briefly and found the child missing upon her return. 

On December 31, over a week after Lina’s disappearance, McManus had spoke at a press conference at the Islamic Center of San Antonio pleading for anyone with more information on Khil’s whereabouts to come forward.

‘We need your assistance, if you know anything, even if you think it may not help,’ McManus said.

Although police say they do not have a description of a possible kidnapping suspect, they are investigating the case as a child abduction

The two week search is continuing for missing Afghan girl Lina Sadar Khil, 4

Although police say they do not have a description of a possible kidnapping suspect, they are investigating the case as a child abduction

Riaz Khil, the father of the missing four-year-old, says the family believe she may have been abducted

Riaz Khil, the father of the missing four-year-old, says the family believe she may have been abducted

‘We want you to call us and give us any information that you may have.’

He also ensured their safety and protection of identity in exchange of any valuable information.   

The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) had also previously released a statement to publicly announce their continuing search efforts just days after Lina went missing.

‘While there have been no substantial updates to report, we continue to deploy an all hands on deck approach to ensure no evidence, witness statement or clues are left undiscovered,’ the statement posted to Facebook read.

Over the course of the investigation, SAPD and other departments have refused to exhaust their attempts to find Lina as they have looked through other apartments in the family’s complex, utilized search dogs and have collected surveillance footage from surrounding areas.

Despite the consistent search efforts, McManus had said the department is becoming ‘less hopeful’ as the investigation continues.  

‘Unfortunately, I have to say that the longer the time lapses, the less hopeful we become,’ McManus said.  

The young girl’s father, Riaz Sardar Khil, and the rest of the family has still remained hopeful throughout the search.

‘I’m hopeful that my daughter will be back,’ he told the San Antonio Express-News.

‘I know there is a good person among us whose prayer will be heard by God, and that will be the cause for the safe return of my daughter.’ 

The family moved to the US in 2019 from Afghanistan after fleeing from ‘threats that were posed to us,’ Lina’s father, Riaz Sardar Khil, told KENS-TV. 

The child was last seen in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road between 5 and 6pm on Monday, December 20

The child was last seen in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road between 5 and 6pm on Monday, December 20 

Khil said through a translator that his wife, who is pregnant, was watching their daughter at the playground between 5 and 6 pm that day, when the four-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.   

‘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 have questioned him and his wife for several hours.

Lina is four-feet-tall and weighs 55 pounds, 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.

Anyone with more information on Lina’s disappearance is asked to call SAPD Missing Person’s Unit at 210-207-7660.

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