Hannah Kobayashi Willingly Missed Flight, Crossed Mexico Border: LAPD

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Hawaiian woman whose father reportedly killed himself while searching for her after she went missing in Los Angeles, intentionally missed her flight out of LAX and crossed into Mexico, police said Monday.

At a press conference Monday night, the Los Angeles Police Department said video footage from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol showed 30-year-old Hannah Kobayashi safely arriving at the California-Mexico border alone with her luggage on Nov. 12 — four days after missing a connecting flight from LAX to New York. The case has been classified as a voluntary missing persons case, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said. The announcement marks a dramatic turn in a mystery that has captivated the nation.

"To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity," McDonnell said at the press conference. "Our priority is ensuring Ms. Kobayashi's safety and well-being, and we urge Ms. Kobayashi to contact her family, law enforcement or personnel at the US Embassy to let us know that she is safe.

“She has the right to privacy, and we respect her choices, but we also understand the concern her loved ones feel. A simple message could reassure those who care about her.”

Kobayashi's family has expressed concern that she was the victim of foul play and criticized authorities' handling of the case.

After missing her flight Nov. 8, Kobayashi requested her baggage, which was checked through New York, be sent back to LAX, police said. Surveillance footage at the airport on Nov. 11 showed Kobayashi retrieving her baggage from a baggage carousel.

From there, Kobayashi took the Metro to Union Station, where she used her passport and cash to buy a ticket to the border in San Ysidro, LAPD said. She arrived at the border at about 12:13 p.m. on Nov. 12, according to police.

Looking at her past social media posts, LAPD detectives said Kobayashi showed clear signs of wanting to disconnect from her phone. Lieutenant Douglas Oldfield said Kobayashi did not have her phone after she left LAX and still does not have her phone on her.

"It seems that there were some desires or posts that would be consistent in somebody who would have the desire to disconnect from their phone," Oldfield said. "We know she doesn't have her phone on her, for what reason, we can't say for sure."

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According to her aunt Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi told family she planned to get on another flight to New York. The next day, Hannah texted them to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles, planning to visit The Grove shopping mall and downtown LA, Pidgeon said.

On Nov. 11, the family received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages from her phone that referenced her being “intercepted” as she got on a Metro train and being scared that someone might be stealing her identity, her aunt said. After that, Kobayashi's aunt said she stopped responding to messages.

“It’s completely out of character for her” to not be in touch with loved ones, Pidgeon said of Hannah.

Following her disappearance, many of Kobayashi's family members traveled to LA from Hawaii to retrace Hannah's steps. The family was joined by volunteers as they canvassed the downtown area.

Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who flew in from Hawaii to help in the search. He was found dead on Nov. 24 in a parking lot near LAX, according to the county medical examiner. Police said officers responded to reports of a body about 4 a.m. and discovered someone dead.

Kobayashi’s family confirmed Ryan’s death in a statement, saying they “endured a devastating tragedy” and that he died by suicide.“After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life,” according to the statement. “This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.