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THE MISSING FILES: Search for Afghan refugee's child Lina Sardar Khil impeded by conspiracy theorists

'Some theorists made statements saying her dad did it, and that Lawang and I were trafficking Lina,' said Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach

THE MISSING FILES is a weekly special feature that looks into cases of missing people across America that have shattered communities and families. It delves into the known facts and the latest updates on these mysterious disappearances.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: It has been more than a year since three-year-old Afghan girl Lina Sardar Khil went missing from a playground. Lina was last seen at a playground inside the gated Villas Del Cabo apartment complex in San Antonio in December 2021.

Lina and her family, who are from Afghanistan, had previously survived a suicide bombing that killed 13 US soldiers and hundreds of Afghans in 2021. At the time, they were on a family visit to the US. Lina's father, Riaz Sardar Khil, was reportedly under the impression that San Antonio was a good place to relocate his family. The city hosts an estimated 2,600 Afghan refugees.

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Pamela Allen, who is assisting Lina's family, opened up about the case in a conversation with MEAWW. She is the founder and CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, an organization that has been at the forefront of search and awareness efforts for Lina. "I did not know Lina before I responded to her family," Allen, 59, said.

Shedding light on missing Lina's case, she added, "I have worked with refugees since 2009, here in San Antonio. Because I understand their culture and their lack of understanding pertaining to our legal system, I understood that they would needed assistance. My role in this case is assisting the family in their needs. I have made sure to keep this case in the forefront and to make sure the family's voice and concerns are heard, I have represented them as an advocate," she added.

The disappearance of Lina Sardar Khil

Earlier reports claimed Lina's mother, Zarmeena Sardar Khil, said she remembered letting Lina go out and play with other children on December 20, 2021. She watched Lina run around the complex's playground at close to 5.30 pm, wearing a black jacket, a red dress and black shoes. Zarmeena saw the back of the toddler's head before turning away for five minutes. However, when she turned back, she could not locate Lina among the several other children who were playing. She eventually called Riaz after knocking on multiple doors for the next 30 minutes. 

'Someone may have abducted her'

When asked Allen about her speculation as to what may have happened to Lina, she said, "I suspect, and this is just a theory, that someone may have abducted her. That she may have been sold to a family. That someone profited from her abduction. Her father, Riaz, like many other men in his country assisted our forces. I do believe that family was being watched. There was a woman who reported seeing two men with Lina on the day she disappeared. Law enforcement did not follow up with her, according to her responses. It's very strange how this little girl just vanished." 

"Police and government agencies have shared very little with the family. The family is frustrated with the lack of transparency. They have not had much contact with law enforcement," she continued. Allen added, "I also don't understand why our local police stated that they searched everyone's apartment, yet many residents state that they didn't. So many conflicting reports."

'We started being followed by conspiracy theorists'

"We then started being followed by conspiracy theorists. Riaz, his translator Lawang, and I started receiving threats. Some theorists made statements saying her dad did it, and that Lawang and I were trafficking Lina. So many heinous accusations," Allen claimed while revealing some other chilling details.

"My mother's home was being staked out as she lay dying of leukemia, and it was infuriating to see her being harassed," she alleged. Allen added, "In fact, Riaz had to call the police because random people would come banging on his door. However, for me, I considered it a minor inconvenience. Riaz and Zarmeena were missing their child. My children were at home in their beds. We decided to stay the course and continue to search for Lina."

'Our family has lost its happiness'

In a short conversation with MEAWW, Riaz said through a translator, "Lina was a sweet, innocent and lovable child. She was like none other. After she disappeared, our family lost its happiness. We enjoyed our lives when Lina was there. With her being gone, we are engulfed in sorrow."

"Our message to Lina is that we are helpless, and we look up to God for help. No matter where you are, my child, you are in our hearts," Riza said, adding, "I have no hope when it comes to law enforcement at the moment." Talking about Riaz, he was an Afghan soldier who aided US forces. He was reportedly given immigration orders before Lina was born. While he now works as a truck driver, Zarmeena is said to be involved in a community of Afghan women living in their apartment complex. 

'Little one, I pray for your return'

Allen also spoke about search operations that were held after Lina's disappearance. "After Lina vanished, several people felt compelled to help. There were so many search and rescue nonprofits that wanted to assist. I had asked the SAPD how we could help and they said it would be helpful to search the Green belt, which is a long patch of wooded area that also has small creeks within it."

The representative for Lina's family further added, "I promised the family we would search every mile. So within eight weeks, we searched 28 miles. We had many volunteers, including several Afghanis and locals," she said. She then noted, "If I could send a message to Lina, I would say, 'Your dad and mom miss and love you every second. They will never stop looking for you. Little one, I pray for your return. We ask that God continues to keep his hand over you, and guides you home."

Speaking of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, Allen said, "We help feed thousands of people every year. We provide food, resources and support. We have a baby pantry that provides formula, diapers and wipes and safety devices as well as baby furniture for infants. We also help women through domestic violence and we bury infants and children who are victims of abandonment and abuse."

Allen then shared how she built her career as an advocate and stated, "I have been an advocate of special education law for almost 30 years, and have advocated for refugees in San Antonio for 13 years. I have assisted refugees in Europe when I lived there. I started assisting them during the war in Bosnia.'

San Antonio police footage

Months after Lina's disappearance, San Antonio police released a video showing the little girl at the playground she was last seen before disappearing. Investigators have reportedly received hundreds of leads with the help of other law enforcement agencies. While sharing the video on Twitter, San Antonio PD wrote, "Today marks the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of Lina Sardar Khil. This video highlights the investigative efforts, agencies and the communities help that have gone into this year-long investigation."

Anyone with information on Lina's case is requested to call the San Antonio Police Department at 210-207-7660 or Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867.