A year after 15-year-old Lina vanished on her way to the train station in Alsace, France, investigators have uncovered new evidence that points to a crime. The death of a suspect adds further complexity to the case.
(Source: Frederick Florin/AFP/dpa/Collage t-online)
New DNA evidence links to stolen car
One year after Lina, then 15, disappeared while traveling to the train station in Saint-Blaise-la-Roche, investigators have discovered new evidence that suggests she may have been the victim of a crime. According to the Strasbourg prosecutor’s office, DNA traces of the missing teenager were found in a stolen car. Additionally, police discovered Lina’s handbag and ropes inside the vehicle.
Lina was last seen on September 23 of last year, walking to the train station, where she planned to travel to Strasbourg. However, she never boarded the train. Extensive search efforts, including joint operations by French and German water police, have so far failed to locate her.
Key suspect dies by suicide
A witness reported seeing Lina as a passenger in a small car, which led investigators to focus on the vehicle’s owner. This summer, police seized a stolen car that was in the area around the time of Lina’s disappearance and contained her DNA traces. The primary suspect in the case, a 43-year-old man from Besançon near Dijon, committed suicide shortly after the vehicle was secured by authorities.
The suspect had a criminal history, including several violent robberies, and was scheduled to appear in court on July 22. It was also revealed that he had previously spent time in psychiatric facilities. Despite intensive searches of nearby forests, Lina’s whereabouts remain unknown. The Strasbourg prosecutor’s office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
