Police say a Hawaii lady disappeared voluntarily and traveled to Mexico

By HALLIE GOLDEN and JAIMIE DING

Hannah Kobayashi, 30, appeared unhurt as she walked alone right into a tunnel on the San Ysidro crossing about 125 miles (201 kilometers) southwest of Los Angeles round midday on Nov. 12, the day after her household reported her lacking, LA police mentioned Monday. Authorities made the invention after reviewing surveillance video from the U.S. Customs and Border Safety late Sunday.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell mentioned there is no such thing as a proof Kobayashi was being trafficked or was in any other case a sufferer of a criminal offense. Her disappearance is now categorized as a “voluntary missing person.”

“We’ve basically done everything we can do at this point. She’s left the country and in another nation now,” he mentioned, including that if she returns to the U.S., legislation enforcement shall be notified.

McDonnell mentioned she has a proper to her privateness, however urged her to achieve out to her household or legislation enforcement.

“A simple message could reassure those who care about her,” McDonnell mentioned. He defined that the lacking particular person case will stay lively till her security is confirmed by legislation enforcement.

Kobayashi went lacking after the budding photographer from Maui didn’t make a connecting flight to New York on Nov. 8 to journey for a brand new job and to go to family members. She advised her household she would sleep within the Los Angeles Worldwide Airport that night time.

Members of the family assumed she was on standby for one more flight, in accordance with her aunt, Larie Pidgeon. The subsequent day, Kobayashi texted them to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles, planning to go to The Grove shopping center and downtown LA, Pidgeon mentioned.

On Nov. 11, the household acquired “strange and cryptic, just alarming” textual content messages from her cellphone that referenced her being “intercepted” as she bought on a Metro practice and being scared that somebody is likely to be stealing her identification, her aunt mentioned.

Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, who had been within the search get together together with volunteers, was discovered useless by obvious suicide on Sunday, Nov. 24, in a car parking zone close to LA Worldwide Airport, police and her household mentioned.

McDonnell mentioned throughout a police fee assembly final Tuesday that detectives decided Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight deliberately. Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, disputed his assertion in a social media put up.

Police mentioned Monday that after Hannah Kobayashi was seen in numerous places round LA, she requested that her baggage, which had been checked to New York, be despatched again to LAX. She then returned to the airport to retrieve it on Nov. 11 and didn’t have her cellphone when she left once more, in accordance with police.

Investigators discovered that she had “expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity.”

Police additionally recognized and questioned a person that Kobayashi was seen with on the Metro. He was “cooperative” and mentioned he met her at LAX, police mentioned.

The put up additionally mentioned Sydni Kobayashi and her mom wouldn’t be responding to any messages.

“My ask would be to anybody considering doing this, think about the people you’re leaving behind, your loved ones who are going to be worried sick about you,” he mentioned.

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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story consists of dialogue of suicide. When you or somebody you realize wants assist, the nationwide suicide and disaster lifeline within the U.S. is obtainable by calling or texting 988. There may be additionally a web based chat at 988lifeline.org.

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Golden reported from Seattle.

Initially Printed: December 2, 2024 at 6:03 PM PST