Los Angeles (AP)According to authorities, Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Hawaiian woman who went missing in Los Angeles three weeks ago, entered Mexico on her own volition.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters Monday night that after examining security footage of Kobayashi crossing the border with her bags, authorities deemed her a voluntary missing person. According to McDonnell, Kobayashi seemed uninjured, and there is no proof that he was trafficked or otherwise the victim of a crime.
Kobayashi was advised by the chief to get in touch with her distressed relatives.
An overview of the case and its most recent developments is provided below:
What caused Hannah Kobayashi to disappear?
Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, was heading to New York City on Nov. 8 for a new job and to visit relatives when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. She emailed her family the following day to let them know she was exploring in Los Angeles after telling them she was sleeping at the airport that night.
According to her aunt Larie Pidgeon, her family reported her missing to the police on November 11 after receiving cryptic, bizarre, and simply frightening text messages.
“She went dark once the family started pressing,” Pidgeon told The Associated Press on November 23. According to Pidgeon, her phone simply died after the texts on November 11.
Hannah was found in Los Angeles by family, friends, and neighborhood volunteers.
What are the authorities saying about Kobayashi’s fate?
On November 12, the day after her family reported her missing, Kobayashi entered Mexico by foot at the San Ysidro border crossing, around 125 miles (201 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, according to police. Following an examination of U.S. Customs and Border Protection security camera footage, authorities made the announcement.
According to LA Police Chief McDonnell, Kobayashi willingly vanished as she wished to distance herself from contemporary connectedness on Monday.
Although Kobayashi had a right to privacy, McDonnell advised her to speak with her family or the police. He clarified that until law enforcement verifies her safety, the missing person case will continue to be open.
McDonnell said investigators concluded Kobayashi purposefully missed her connecting connection during a police commission meeting last week. In a social media post, Sydni Kobayashi, the woman’s sister, refuted his claim.
Mexican authorities claim that although they have been informed about the missing woman, they have not received a formal request to conduct a search for her.
What about the family of Kobayashi?
Ryan Kobayashi, Hannah’s father, was one of the people who flew in from Hawaii to assist with the search. The county medical examiner reports that he was discovered deceased on November 24 in a parking lot close to LA International Airport.
Officers found someone dead after responding to reports of a body at around four in the morning, according to the police.
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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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In a statement released the same day, Kobayashi’s family stated that Ryan had died by suicide and that they had suffered a terrible tragedy.
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.
On Tuesday, the family’s Facebook page, Help Us Find Hannah, was taken down. Public members who participated in the Facebook group posted on Monday that the family would be closing it. Additionally, the article stated that neither Sydni Kobayashi nor her mother will be answering any messages.
An email requesting comment on the most recent information was not answered by Sydni Kobayashi.
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