SAN ANTONIO — A national nonprofit is offering assistance with a local missing child case. However, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) is only accepting limited help.
It’s been nearly three years since Lina Sardar Khil disappeared from a playground at her apartment complex in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road.
Lina was 3-years-old when she vanished, which means she has now been missing almost as long as she's been with her family. In February, the FBI and San Antonio police followed up on a tip that was ultimately deemed "not credible."
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has provided age progression images and social media awareness over the years, but family advocate, Pamela Allen, says she recently learned the nonprofit wanted to be more involved.
“What is just very daunting is looking at the fact that a national agency is asking to be involved in this case and that SAPD is shutting them down … and therefore not allowing the family to use their voice in this case,” Allen said.
NCMEC’s “Team Adam” is made up of retired law enforcement professionals with local, state and national experience. The group works with law enforcement departments on missing person cases to help vet leads, recommend investigation strategies, and offer equipment and resources.
“At this point, Lina’s family is very leery about anything the SAPD is saying,” said Allen. “It's frustrating. They are hoping for fresh eyes to come upon this, they are hoping for new investigators to get involved.”
SAPD denied assistance from Team Adam early on. A spokesperson for the department told KENS 5 they do not share sensitive information about any active missing person case with outside organizations and groups. This policy is meant to protect the integrity of their investigations, SAPD says.
“The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have been helping on this case for a while now. They help distribute information, they assisted with age progression images, etc.,” said the SAPD spokesperson in a statement. “To date, however, we have not requested the help of Team Adam, as this is still an active and open case. Our detectives still follow-up on every lead that comes in.”
Allen believes Lina’s case could benefit from the outside perspective of trusted and experienced law enforcement agents, even if they are retired.
“SAPD did say this is still considered an active investigation,” said Allen. “In the eyes of Lina’s parents, they feel there is nothing active about this. I think it’s time for our laws to be amended so that families now have the ability to say who can be involved and who can’t. Of course, we are looking at agencies who have been vetted that have all this experience in investigations.”
SAPD says two detectives are dedicated to Lina’s case, but they are also supported by the Missing Persons Unit. Anyone with with any information on Lina's whereabouts is asked to call (210) 207-2313.