LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who was reported missing in Los Angeles three weeks ago, walked freely into Mexico, police said.
A flyer with information on Hannah Kobayashi, currently missing, is displayed Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Authorities declared Kobayashi a “voluntary missing person” after reviewing surveillance video of her crossing the border with her luggage, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters Monday evening. McDonnell said Kobayashi appeared unharmed and that authorities have found no evidence Kobayashi was being trafficked or was otherwise a victim of a crime.
The chief urged Kobayashi to contact her distraught family.
Here is a look at the case and the latest developments:
How did Hannah Kobayashi go missing?
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 told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.
Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon.
“Once the family started pressing, she went dark,” Pidgeon told The Associated Press on Nov. 23. After the texts on Nov. 11, her phone “just went dead,” according to Pidgeon.
Family members, friends and local volunteers searched for Hannah in Los Angeles.
What do authorities say happened to Kobayashi?
Police said Kobayashi walked alone into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing about 125 miles (201 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles on Nov. 12, the day after her family reported her missing. Authorities made the announcement after reviewing security video footage from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Kobayashi disappeared voluntarily as she sought to “step away from modern connectivity,” McDonnell, the LA police chief, said Monday.
McDonnell said Kobayashi has a right to her privacy, but urged her to reach out to her family or law enforcement. He explained that the missing person case will remain active until law enforcement confirms her safety.
During a police commission meeting last week, McDonnell said detectives determined Kobayashi missed her connecting flight intentionally. The woman’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, disputed his statement in a social media post.
Authorities in Mexico say they’ve been been alerted about the missing woman but haven’t received any official request to search for her.
What about Kobayashi’s family?
Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who flew in from Hawaii to help in the search. He was found dead Nov. 24 in a parking lot near LA International Airport, according to the county medical examiner.
Police said officers responded to reports of a body about 4 a.m. and discovered someone dead.
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