42 Year Old Sex Offender from Thailand person of interest Held in Missing Zina Linnik Case

12 year old Zina Linnik has been missing since the evening of July 4, 2007 when she was abducted from her Tacoma, WA home by an Asian looking man in an older gray van. A 42 year old sex offender is being held as a person of interest in the disappearance of Zina Linnik.

The person of interest is a 42-year-old sex offender from Thailand. He’s currently being held for failing to register for an immigration violation and denies any involvement in Zina’s disappearance.

A search warrant reports investigators on Monday found a girl’s undergarments at his home, where he lives alone. He responded to that news by saying he was remodeling the home for his sister.

Investigators also seized a gray van to search for evidence, and the man admitted he had recently changed the license plate. (FOX News)

According to reports, a tip has lead investigators to the Tiger Mountain area where they are presently searching. It appears that the tip to search this area did not come from the man in custody.

On Monday, investigators seized a gray van found at the Parkland home of a convicted sex offender. Gutt said the 42-year-old man was taken into custody on immigration charges but has not been implicated in Linnik’s disappearance.

In 1990, the man pleaded guilty to incest after being charged with rape, according to court documents. Pierce County prosecutors charged him earlier this week with failing to register as a sex offender.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the search on Tiger Mountain was not the result of statements made by the detained man. But Fulghum did say the search “was a branch of the same lead” that led investigators to the Parkland home. (Seattle PI)

Police Suspend Tiger Mountain Search

A tip led investigators to the site, and a command post was set up along Highway 18 on Tuesday. A helicopter and dozens of people, some with dogs, took part in the search for 12-year-old Zina Linnik, who disappeared on July 4.

Officials met overnight and decided to suspend the search, police said. There were no immediate further details.