Authorities search area near where Lina Khil went missing in 2021

Updated Fri, February 16th 2024 at 1:36 PM

by SBG San Antonio Staff Reports

SAN ANTONIO - A fresh tip has led San Antonio police to launch a new search in connection with the disappearance of 3-year-old Lina Khil, who went missing in December 2021.

SAPD officers have been scouring a wooded area not far from the apartment complex off Fredericksburg Rd. where Lina was last seen alive near the complex's playground on Dec. 20, 2021.

Police received the new tip about Lina's disappearance Wednesday night, prompting investigators to focus on the greenway off Gardendale St. and Bluemel Rd, just a couple blocks away from where she vanished. Officers have been joined by CSI technicians, K9 units and FBI agents.

The area is quite familiar to Lina's family. It takes less than one minute to drive from the search site to the apartments where Lina disappeared.

"This was one of the first areas that we searched," said Khil family spokesperson Pamela Allen. "Also, I know that SAPD came back here and searched this area as well."

Police would not elaborate on the nature of the tip that brought them back here, but they did say they plan to be here for a while. They've already brought in at least one Porta Potty.

"We'll be here out until we're confident that we find something or we don't find anything," said Officer Ricardo Guzman. "We're doing our part, and this is an active investigation."

Lina's father Riaz spent much of Thursday morning and afternoon watching the search from a distance.

"I want to tell you, this father's heart is broken," Allen said. "He continues to search and look for answers."

Around mid-afternoon, Allen said she'd spoken to investigators about the status of their search and was told they were waiting on equipment. When she asked if the equipment was for digging, they said no.

"When I asked again what type of equipment, whether it was something that maybe can take an X-ray, they said yes," she explained. "They are looking for a body."

Many of the people who live in the Helix Apartments near the search site have have been following the search since Wednesday night.

"They're still here and I'm like, 'What's going on, do they have anything going on," said resident Pancho Martinez. "Did they find anything?"

An SAPD spokesperson says they understand the attention this search has garnered.

"This case affected the city of San Antonio pretty heavily two years ago," said Officer Guzman. "People still talk about this case. We still have it pinned to the top of the SAPD Facebook page."

This new search comes just one day after Lina's family met with SAPD to voice their frustrations about the case.

"They feel that the communication has not been forthcoming," said Allen. "And so in that meeting yesterday, it was to clear the air."

All this, two years and two months since little Lina was seen alive.

"February 20th, Lina will be turning six," added Allen. "We're just gonna pray for a good outcome."

10 rescued from suspected human smuggling operation in SW Houston, 2 in custody

 

HOUSTON - Police are now investigating a case of suspected human smuggling in southwest Houston.

According to the Houston Police Department, officers responded to the 9000 block of McAvoy. 

Authorities said a total of 10 people were rescued from a house where they were being held. 

Police said indications are this is human smuggling. 

Two suspects are in custody, according to police. 

HPD Vice and ICE are investigating. 

Video Shows Dramatic Rescue Of Kidnapped 8-Year-Old Girl

(CNN/NBC) – Police have released video showing the rescue of an 8-year-old Fort Worth, Texas girl who was kidnapped in broad daylight.

The man who kidnapped the child, 51-year-old Michael Webb, was sentenced to life in federal prison last week.

According to evidence presented at trial, Webb grabbed the little girl as she and her mother were walking down a neighborhood street.

Web admitted to authorities that he fought off the girl’s mother and drove the child to a hotel room where he held her captive.

A family friend spotted Webb’s Ford sedan and called 911.

The video shows the tense moments heavily armed officers found her and took Webb into custody.

“My hope is that this family and this community will find solace in knowing that he will never be able to harm another little child again,” said US attorney Nealy Cox.

Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse Among Runaway Children Shows Massive Increase

A new study by the Department of Family Services (DFPS) is showing a growing number of runaways from foster care are becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse. (SBG San Antonio)

SAN ANTONIO - A new study by the Department of Family Services (DFPS) is showing a growing number of runaways from foster care are becoming victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

The numbers from DFPS are statewide and are almost double of the year before. The report is looking at children in DFPS conservatorship from fiscal year 2018.

52 children reported that they were trafficked last year, which is a big jump compared to 2017 where there was 35.

The numbers of reports of sexual abuse are more staggering.

68 children reported they we sexually abused after running away last year. That’s compared to 34 from 2017.

The Salvation Army, who works to help survivors of human trafficking, say people should always keep an eye out for signs of suspected children being trafficked.

“Instinct is such a powerful thing, and a lot of times, if you see a situation and you know there’s something not right about it that instinct, I always tell people to go with it,” said Roxanne Ponce, program manager with The Salvation Army.

The study also show girls are 10% more likely to run away from foster care than boys.

DFPS is working to fight human trafficking and abuse of the kids in foster care by working with several non-profit organizations and law enforcement.

10-year-old boy dies by suicide after bullies tell him ‘kill yourself’

The following news article is an example of an epidemic that's happening all the time. Children (and adults) are losing their lives after being bullied repeatedly.

This is not an isolated incident. This is a problem unresolved that belongs to society, that belongs to everyone - parents, guardians, teachers, doctors, mental health professionals, law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.

The only way to draw the necessary awareness needed to problem-solve these tragedies is though more serious consequences for the bullies themselves and if the bullies are minors, their parents and / or guardians need to suffer consequences as well.

Society, as a whole, needs to tackle this issue and immediately, so that more children (and adults) don't lose their lives at the hands of bullies.

Help Stop Bullying!

Brett Fletcher M.H.R.S., MS.Psy, Th.G, Founder of Trinity Mount Ministries - trinitymount@gmail.com

News article By Jackie Salo 

A 10-year-old Texas boy killed himself after he was relentlessly tormented at school by his classmates — who even told the child to “kill yourself,” his grieving mother said.


The family of fifth-grader Kevin Reese Jr. — who hanged himself in a closet of his Houston-area home on Jan. 21 — is now urging schools to address bullying, news station KTRK reported.

His mom, Crystal Smith, said Kevin was a “goofy child,” but often struggled with being picked on at Robinson Elementary School.

“They wrote on his tablet to ‘Kill yourself, you don’t belong here,'” Smith said. “When it got physical back in November, he came home crying because he didn’t fight back and one of the boys punched him several times coming from recess.”

She reported the incident to school officials, who told her there was no evidence of a “physical fight,” the local ABC affiliate reported.

“They told me they never found any bullying going on,” Smith said.

The taunting at school reportedly continued, the mom said. Then, two months later, the young boy took his own life while his mom was out of town for work.

“He just had enough,” Smith told the station. “He just had enough and he felt that he was backed into a corner.”

Smith said she’s speaking out to raise awareness about preventing child suicide.
“Pay attention to your child, don’t assume that things are handled at the school, stay on top of it until you see something come out on the end,” Smith said.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, you can get help by contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

Texas Rangers search here for felony human trafficking suspect

By Ke'Sha Lopez | 

Posted: Sun 3:18 PM, Jan 27, 2019  | 

Updated: Mon 10:33 AM, Jan 28, 2019

  

WACO, Texas (KWTX) The Texas Rangers are looking for information to help find a suspect wanted for human trafficking and child sex crimes.

According to the Department of Public Safety, Sunday, Rangers are looking for 31-year-old Issac-John Bernard Collins.

They believe he is in the Waco area.

They said he is 5-foot 1, weighs 130 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

Authorities believe he is driving a 2012 White Chevy Camaro, with Texas license plate number KVT0745.

He's wanted on five felony charges that include: aggravated kidnapping, trafficking of persons, continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children, indecency with a child, and online solicitation of a minor.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Texas Rangers through DPS Communications in Corpus Christi at 361-698-5600.

MISSING - Tr'Alicia "Cookie" Howard

Name: Tr'Alicia "Cookie" Howard

Date of birth: Feb. 11, 2002.

Last seen: Nov. 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas.

Circumstances:

Howard has a medium build and was last seen wearing a white shirt with blue jeans, and knee high black boots. She wears black and gray glasses and walks with a limp on her left leg. She is possibly in the company of a 16-year-old boy.

A database hosted by the Texas Department of Public Safety holds information on missing persons whose families desperately want them home.

Anyone who recognizes or knows the location of this missing individual is urged to call DPS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 512-424-5074.

DOJ - Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual Abusers in Florida, Illinois, and Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual Abusers in Florida, Illinois, and Texas

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice filed denaturalization lawsuits against five individuals who, according to the Department’s complaints, unlawfully procured their U.S. citizenship by concealing sexual abuse of minor victims during the naturalization process. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Texas (two cases), and the Southern District of Texas.

“Committing fraud in any immigration matter undermines the integrity of our immigration system, and is a betrayal of the American people’s generosity,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “It is especially appalling when it also involves the sexual abuse of children. The Department of Justice has a duty to prosecute these crimes vigorously, particularly so for individuals who commit fraud in the naturalization process. I am confident that justice will be done in these cases, and I want to thank ICE, CBP, USCIS, our Civil Division, and our U.S. Attorneys’ offices for their hard work. This Department will continue to fight to denaturalize immigration fraudsters and to protect the American people from sex offenders.”

The cases were referred to the Department of Justice by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection with investigative support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“I commend the DHS personnel working diligently to remove dangerous criminals from our streets,” said Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine Duke. “Those who unlawfully procured citizenship by concealing crimes – especially sexual abuse of minors – should have their citizenship revoked.”

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen may be revoked, and his or her certificate of naturalization canceled, if naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.

The five defendants committed crimes of sexual abuse of minor victims prior to naturalizing. As the civil complaints allege, such crimes rendered the defendants ineligible for citizenship from the start. By willfully concealing child sexual abuse crimes, the defendants also independently rendered themselves subject to denaturalization.

A description of each of the five cases and the allegations of the United States follows:

Jorge Luis Alvarado

Jorge Luis Alvarado, 56, a native of Mexico, naturalized on March 9, 2000. Shortly before filing his naturalization application, Alvarado made unlawful sexual contact with a sixteen-year-old child. In March 2007, he pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony. Alvarado was ordered to community supervision and to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in southern Texas. United States of America v. Jorge Luis Alvarado (S.D. Tex.).

Alberto Mario Beleno

Alberto Mario Beleno, 64, a native of Colombia, naturalized on Feb. 26, 2001. Before Beleno naturalized as a U.S. citizen, he committed lewd and lascivious acts on a six-year-old child. In 2001, less than three months after he naturalized, Beleno was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty/nolo-contendere in Florida state court to committing felony lewd and lascivious exhibition and felony lewd and lascivious molestation on a minor in 1993 and 1994. Beleno was ordered to register as a sex offender for his conduct. His last known residence in the United States is in Miami, Florida. United States of America v. Alberto Mario Beleno (S.D. Fla.).

Eleazar Corral Valenzuela

Eleazar Corral Valenzuela, 49, a native of Mexico, naturalized on June 15, 2000. Prior to applying to naturalize, he sexually abused a minor child. In November 2000, after he had naturalized, Corral pleaded guilty in Illinois state court to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. He was ordered to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in Aurora, Illinois. United States of America v. Eleazar Corral Valenzuela (N.D. Ill.).

Moises Herrera-Gonzalez

Moises Herrera-Gonzalez, 55, a native of Mexico, naturalized on Sept. 25, 1999. On Jan. 1, 1996, before he filed his naturalization application, Herrera-Gonzalez sexually assaulted and injured a six-year-old child. He filed his naturalization application in September 1996, nine months after the sexual assault. On July 8, 2002, after he naturalized, Herrera-Gonzalez pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing bodily injury to a child, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to five years in prison. He has been residing in Arlington, Texas. United States of America v. Moises Herrera-Gonzalez (N.D. Tex.).

Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola

Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola, 60, a native of Nigeria, naturalized on July 1, 2004. Before he filed his naturalization application in May 2003, Omopariola made unlawful sexual contact with a seven-year-old child. In 2015, after he naturalized, Omopariola pleaded guilty in Texas state court to Indecency with a Child – Sexual Contact, a second-degree felony. He was ordered to five years of community supervision and placed on the sex offender registry. He has been residing in Grand Prairie, Texas. United States of America v. Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola (N.D. Tex.).

These cases were investigated by ICE, CBP, and USCIS, and the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS). These cases are being prosecuted by OIL-DCS and its National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit) with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas.

The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Leander ISD to try letting parents track their child’s bus:

Leander, Texas (KXAN) — Technicians are installing GPS systems in Leander Independent School District buses this week, in an effort to get the systems running in all operational buses by the first week of school.

“We recognize that we want to give parents the best data that we can give them, even an extension into the school bus,” said Leander Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Bret Champion. “The school bus is really the first class of a student’s day. So, we believe that and we want to make sure that kids are well taken care of from the time we pick them up to the time we get them home.”
Dr. Champion said in an interview with KXAN News Today that GPS on each school bus will let parents get real-time data about the location of their child’s bus. The district contracted with the company Zonar for the GPS technology. It plans to try a mobile app by the company that lets parents use “specific credentials” to track their child’s bus.

“For safety and security [the GPS system] is a great enhancement for us,” said Dr. Champion. “We’ll know immediately where each bus in our fleet is. We’ve got 161 routes that are running.”
Leander ISD Assistant Superintendent Veronica Sopher says the decision to install the equipment was not based on any one event. The district believes it will help make its system more efficient, improve communication with parents, and increase safety.

District officials say the GPS installation and first year of service costs $160,000. Each year after that will cost about $53,000.

The technology also has implications for safety. Last year, Leander ISD fired a bus driver after she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Investigators believe bus driver Kathy Legrand, 61, hit a mailbox and tree limbs and drove up to 30 students while intoxicated last October. Emails obtained by KXAN News between district officials and law enforcement indicate Legrand did not return cell phone and radio calls after parents raised concerns.

“I was notified by Jim Rose, Principal at River Ridge Elementary, that several parents informed the school of a bus driving erratically on Quinlan Park Road. Mr. Rose requested I help the other bus drivers locate this bus,” wrote a Travis County Constable in an email.

A district investigation found no evidence that Legrand ever reported to the district that she was taking medications, despite telling deputies she takes up to nine medications daily, according to the district’s assistant superintendent and court records.

Arrest records state that 61-year-old Kathy Loraine Legrand admitted she took pain killers and anti-depressants. She also had beer and medication the day before she was arrested. A grand jury has not formally charged Legrand with DWI. Her next court date is September 30. KXAN News reached out to Legrand’s last listed attorney Monday, but did not immediately hear back.

    By Kevin Schwaller 

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Calls for child hot-car safety ramp up:

Texas leads nation in hot-car deaths.

SAN ANTONIO - With the sun out and the hot weather returning, now is the time to remember the danger of leaving children in hot cars.

Every year children die from being left in a hot car or climbing into an unattended vehicle on their own.

Chief Charles Hood of the San Antonio Fire Department and area injury prevention experts want to do everything possible to prevent this tragedy.

“The main thing is having awareness when you walk through the parking lot of a shopping mall grocery store, we all do that, to have awareness to make sure there are no children out there,” Hood said.

You may think that this is only a danger when it is very hot outside. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the temperature inside a car can rise to over 110 degrees when outside temperatures are only in the 60s. Even with the window rolled down 2 inches, the temperature inside the car can reach 109 degrees within 15 minutes.

Heatstroke is the leading case of non-crash, vehicle deaths in children. Children get into serious, life-threatening trouble quickly inside a hot car.

“The longer you leave a child unattended in a vehicle, they will develop these symptoms that get worse and worse until they have a heat stroke, and it becomes irreversible organ damage,” Dr. Lillian Liao, pediatric trauma and burn program director at University Hospital, said.

Texas leads other states for the highest number of heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles. Prevention efforts are on-going.

Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that everyone remember to “A.C.T.” to prevent this tragedy.

“A” - Avoid heatstroke –- Never leave a child alone in a car for even a minute.
“C” - Create a reminder –- Put your purse, briefcase or cellphone in the back seat next to you child as a reminder, and
“T” - Take action –- If you see a child alone in a car, call 911.
One call can help save a life.

For more information on preventing child heatstroke deaths, visit ggweather.com.

Written by Rachel Hooper, Investigative Producer