Lina's disappearance: who was Samuel G., the main suspect known for his unstable and violent past ?

The investigation into the disappearance of young Lina has accelerated in recent weeks after the discovery of a stolen vehicle with the teenager's DNA inside. Investigators are now focusing on a suspect.

If the case takes a whole new turn, the mystery still hangs over the mysterious disappearance of Lina in Bas-Rhin in Alsace last September. But a stolen car found in the south of France, with the teenager's DNA present in the passenger compartment, has relaunched the investigation. And investigators now have a suspect.

Theft and assault

The driver of this stolen vehicle, presented as a "local thug", therefore becomes the priority of the police. His name is Samuel G., he is 43 years old and lives in Besançon. But the main suspect was found dead on July 10th at his home in Doubs. The man hanged himself without giving any details about his actions.

But the profile of the latter is becoming clearer. The man was already known to the police. A few weeks before Lina's disappearance, the suspect had attacked a nonagenarian and stolen her bag in the street. The same day, he had attacked the cashier of a supermarket with a knife, also in Besançon, indicates L’Est Républicain. He was due to appear before the criminal court on July 22, but he took his own life.

He was then arrested by the police for these acts in June and was questioned. The daily newspaper states that the man had been to a psychiatric hospital several times and had attempted suicide several times.

For now, many questions remain, but there is no longer any doubt about Samuel G.'s violent and unstable nature. Unfortunately, the main suspect, who was driving the car where Lina was and who had made several trips to the south of France (where the vehicle was found) left with many answers.

An unbearable wait

But despite a first day of searching, Lina has still not been found, while a large force has been deployed, namely nearly 80 police officers accompanied by dogs specialized in searching for human remains.

This Tuesday, investigations continue in the Vosges and Alsace. According to The Parisian, a possible scenario is being closely studied by investigators. This man allegedly offered Lina, whom he apparently did not know and whom he had met on the way, to get into his car before killing her in circumstances that have yet to be established.

Lina disappeared on September 23, 2023, late in the morning, after leaving her home in Plaine (Bas-Rhin) to go to the Saint-Blaise-la-Roche train station, about 3 kilometers away.

“I have complete confidence in the research section team” of the gendarmerie, Me Matthieu Airoldi, the lawyer of Fanny Groll, Lina's mother, told AFP on Tuesday. “My client and I are waiting, with concern of course, to see what is going to happen“, he added.