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Father of Lina Khil, SAPD chief say they’re ‘hopeful’ for 3-year-old’s return at prayer vigil

SAPD Chief McManus: ‘We’re not giving up hope’

SAN ANTONIO – On the fifth day after Lina Sardar Khil’s disappearance, her father and the San Antonio police chief both said they’re hopeful for the 3-year-old’s safe return.

They spoke at an interfaith prayer vigil on Friday morning for Lina, who vanished Monday evening while at the playground of the Villas Del Cabo apartment complex in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road on the Northwest Side.

Through a translator, Lina’s father, Riaz Khal, asked the community to continue to pray for his daughter and thanked them for their support.

”I’m really appreciative of the police department and everyone here, and I’m hopeful that my daughter will be back,” he said.

Since Lina was reported missing, officers searched the surrounding areas, vehicles and apartments, reviewed available footage, and interviewed residents, but to no avail.

SAPD Chief William McManus said Friday that officers searched the units multiple times and spoke with specific people more than once.

While he said he wished he could give an update on the case, McManus said, “we’re not giving up hope.”

“Everyone has stepped up,” he said. “It’s just amazing the amount of work going on and it’s not stopping.”

McManus said they do not have any leads, but agents at border crossings are also searching for the girl.

“We are hard at it. Even at this moment, they’re working the case,” he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact SAPD at 210-207-7660.

On Thursday night, the reward for information in her disappearance stood at $150,000. That includes $100,000 raised by the Islamic Center of San Antonio and $50,000 from Crime Stoppers.

San Antonio police released the following video of Lina on Friday evening:

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About the Authors
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Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.

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