A timeline of Hannah Kobayashi’s disappearance

A timeline of Hannah Kobayashi’s disappearance

Ryan Kobayashi, center, holds a picture of his missing daughter Hannah Kobayashi outside the Crypto.com Arena, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 in Los Angeles. - Photo credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP

Ryan Kobayashi, center, holds a picture of his missing daughter Hannah Kobayashi outside the Crypto.com Arena, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 in Los Angeles. – Photo credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP

On November 8, Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Honolulu, Hawaii, landed at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a now-private Facebook post from her sister Sydni Kobayashi, Hannah was scheduled to take a connecting flight from LAX to New York City, where she planned to spend time with her aunt. She never got on the second flight. In the weeks since November 11, when Hannah was last heard from her mother, family and friends began an intensive search for the woman across Los Angeles. And as speculation continues to grow on social media about Hannah’s whereabouts and reasons for no contact, the mystery surrounding the woman’s disappearance has garnered national attention. Here’s a complete timeline of what authorities have said about the Kobayashi case.

November 11th – Hannah is declared missing by the family

On November 8, Kobayashi was scheduled to take a connecting flight from LAX to New York. However, according to the Daily Beast, security cameras at the airport captured images of the woman riding the subway into downtown Los Angeles.

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She continued to send occasional messages to her family until she returned to LAX on November 11 to pick up her luggage, which had been rerouted to her scheduled route to New York. On November 11, Kobayashi’s mother texted her and asked if she had made it to New York. She replied no. Friends and family members also told authorities that messages they received from Kobayashi did not sound like them. “Deep hackers deleted my identity, stole all my money and have been messing with me since Friday,” she wrote to a friend. In another message she said: “I was pretty much tricked into giving away all my money. From someone I thought I loved.”

After leaving LAX, Kobayashi reportedly sent money via Venmo to at least two people and was spotted at a local mall. Family members flew to Los Angeles, where they personally helped search for Kobayashi.

November 15 – The search intensifies amid speculation on social media

As authorities continued to search for Kobayashi, theories about her whereabouts and the reasons for her disappearance circulated on social media.

Several true crime detectives suspected she may have been a victim of human trafficking or kidnapping, but Los Angeles police said there was no evidence to support those theories.

November 24 – The Kobayashi family suffers another loss

During the search for Kobayashi, members of her family announced that her father, Ryan Kobayashi, had died of an apparent suicide.

“The Kobayashi family experienced a devastating tragedy today,” said a statement from RAD Movement, a nonprofit organization supporting the Kobayashi family. “After searching tirelessly for 13 days in Los Angeles, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has made the family’s suffering immeasurably worse.”

The LAPD released a statement Rolling StoneThis confirms that Ryan’s body was found near Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, November 24th. “The LAPD has notified the Mayor’s Crisis Response Team and is providing resources and support as needed,” the statement continued. “The Los Angeles Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family at this tragic time.”

Before his death, Ryan was extremely vocal about the search for Hannah and traveled to Los Angeles with her family to search for her in person. “Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art and music. I wasn’t particularly close to her… growing up. “We haven’t had any contact for a while,” Ryan Kobayashi told CNN in November. “I’m just trying to reconcile. I’m trying to get her back. That’s my main focus.”

“He died of a broken heart,” said Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon People.

Dec. 2 – Hannah crossed the border into Mexico, LAPD says

On December 2, the Los Angeles Police Department officially classified Kobayashi’s case as a voluntary missing person. Surveillance revealed that the woman purchased a ticket at the Greyhound bus terminal at Union Station. According to the LAPD, Kobayashi was seen entering Mexico through the tunnel at the San Ysidro border crossing later on November 12th.

Police believe Kobayashi did not take her phone with him to Mexico, but they also do not believe she was the victim of a crime. They encourage her to contact her family.

“We have reviewed U.S. Customs and Border Protection video surveillance that clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the U.S. border on foot into Mexico. She was alone with her luggage and appeared to be uninjured,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement. “She has a right to her privacy and we respect her decisions, but we also understand the concern her loved ones feel for her. A simple message could reassure those she cares about.”

December 3 – Kobayashi family says they will continue searching

Members of the Kobayashi family have thanked police and authorities for their work in the investigation, but claim they will continue their work until Kobayashi returns to them.

“Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search. The search is far from over and we are committed to doing everything we can to bring her home safely,” the Kobayashi family said in a statement to NBC News.

“We want answers and a solution that ensures Hannah’s safety and urge law enforcement and the public to remain focused on finding her and avoid drawing speculative conclusions. Raising awareness and sharing verified information about her case is critical, and we greatly appreciate your continued support in these efforts.”

In the US, dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Trevor Project, 1-866-488-7386 provides suicide prevention help and resources for LGBTQ youth. For other international suicide hotlines, visit Befrienders Worldwide (befrienders.org).

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