Los Angeles (AP) Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Hawaiian woman who vanished more than two weeks ago after missing a connecting flight to New York, is being searched for by volunteers in Los Angeles. According to her family and authorities, Kobayashi’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, who was part of the search party, was discovered dead on Sunday in a parking lot close to LA International Airport after reportedly committing himself.
The case’s most recent developments are as follows:
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What took place?
On November 8, Hannah Kobayashi, a young Maui photographer, was traveling to New York City to see family and find a new profession. She informed her family that she would spend the night in the airport after missing her connecting flight during a halt at Los Angeles International Airport.
According to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, family members believed she was waiting for another aircraft. According to Pidgeon, Hannah texted them the following day to let them know she was in Los Angeles for sightseeing and intended to visit downtown LA and The Grove retail center.
According to her aunt, on November 11, the family received bizarre, cryptic, and simply frightening text messages from her phone mentioning that she was intercepted as she boarded a Metro train and that she was afraid someone would be stealing her identity.
Pidgeon told The Associated Press on Saturday that she went dark after the family began to press. According to Pidgeon, her phone simply died after the texts on November 11.
Citing the ongoing investigation, Pidgeon declined to go into additional detail regarding the texts or the surveillance footage of Hannah that she claimed the police were looking into.
What are the authorities saying?
Although officials haven’t disclosed many specifics, the Los Angeles Police Department stated that it is looking into the matter.
It appears that the LAPD is finally taking the matter seriously, Pidgeon said, following a news conference last week with the family, who traveled from Hawaii. According to the aunt, detectives informed the family that they are tracking Hannah’s movements and asking for more security footage.
Emails and voicemails requesting more information were not immediately answered by police on Monday.
How is the search proceeding?
Local volunteers joined family members and friends who are looking for Hannah in Los Angeles over the weekend.
According to Pidgeon, the downtown area has been the center of the endeavor. Additionally, searchers have spread out near The Grove, which is a few miles (kilometers) west of downtown, and the airport.
Pidgeon remarked of Hannah, “It’s totally out of character for her to not be in touch with loved ones.”
How did her father fare?
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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Suicide is discussed in this narrative. The U.S. national suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 if you or someone you know needs assistance. Additionally, a chat room is available online at 988lifeline.org.
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Ryan Kobayashi, Hannah’s father, was one of the people who flew in from Hawaii to assist with the search. The county medical examiner reported that he was discovered dead early on Sunday in a parking area close to LA International Airport.
According to the police, cops found a dead person when they reacted to reports of a body at around four in the morning.
In a statement released on Sunday, Kobayashi’s family stated that Ryan had died by suicide and that they had suffered a terrible sorrow.
According to the statement, Ryan Kobayashi, Hannah’s father, tragically committed suicide after 13 days of frantic searches across Los Angeles. The pain of the family has been greatly exacerbated by this loss.
As they mourn Ryan’s passing, the family requested privacy and begged the public to keep their attention on the hunt for her. Hannah is thought to be in immediate danger and is still listed as missing. In order to find Hannah, everyone must continue to be on the lookout.
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