What we know about Hannah Kobayashi, the missing Hawaii resident

What we know about Hannah Kobayashi, the missing Hawaii resident

The family of Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who disappeared two weeks ago after missing a flight at Los Angeles International Airport, has not given up the search for their loved one.

Kobayashi’s relatives are dealing with another tragedy after Kobayashi’s father was found dead near LAX on Sunday in what police said was an apparent suicide.

The body of 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi was found in a parking lot in the 6100 block of Century Boulevard. According to the Los Angeles County coroner, the elder Kobayashi died of traumatic blunt force injuries.

“The search for Hannah is still ongoing,” said Kobayashi’s aunt Larie Pidgeon. “I know everyone is focused on Ryan’s death, but he would have wanted us to continue searching for his daughter. Despite everything, we are still here and need the public’s help more than ever.”

Here’s everything we know about the case.

Who is Hannah Kobayashi?

Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Maui resident, left Hawaii for LAX on November 8th. However, when her flight arrived in Los Angeles, she did not have time for a connecting flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, according to Pidgeon.

According to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department, the missing woman is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, a knife tattoo on her forearm and freckles on her face.

Kobayashi had booked the same flight as her ex-boyfriend. They decided to keep the itinerary because they couldn’t get a refund, but planned to go their separate ways after landing at JFK Airport, according to Kobayashi’s sister Sydni.

Where did Kobayashi go in Los Angeles?

After missing her flight, Kobayashi went to the Taschen Bookstore near The Grove on Nov. 9 and sent a photo of a book to a relative, according to Pidgeon. The family later used the photo’s details and went to the bookstore, where they confirmed with employees that she was there. Kobayashi also filled out a newsletter form with her Maui address.

On November 10, Kobayashi attended the LeBron XXII Trial Experience, an event at the Nike Store at the Grove, and was featured in a promotional video about the pop-up event, according to Pidgeon. Kobayashi also posted a black and white photo on Instagram.

“We believe she was near The Grove,” Pidgeon said. “It’s a pretty touristy area with lots of shops, bookstores and museums. So we assume she was in that area and felt safe.”

What text messages did Kobayashi’s family receive from her?

By November 11, Kobayashi had been texting her family members normally, telling them that she couldn’t wait to get to New York and that getting another flight had been a nightmare.

Then on November 11, another one of Kobayashi’s aunts received “alarming” text messages from her expressing concern that someone had stolen her identity and all of her money, according to Pidgeon. Her family was worried and tried to reach her but got no response.

“She used words like ‘hun’ and ‘babe’ and said, ‘Someone’s trying to steal my money,'” Pidgeon said. “She doesn’t talk like that. It was just out of character and the family raised the alarm.”

Kobayashi’s phone was last turned on at 4 p.m. on November 11 at LAX and has not been turned on since.

Where was Kobayashi last seen?

On November 11, surveillance video showed Kobayashi boarding a subway train with an “unidentified person,” according to Pidgeon. Kobayashi was then seen changing stations with the same person and getting off a train at Pico Station around 10 p.m

Pidgeon refused to provide a physical description of the person with Kobayashi because she did not want to hinder the police investigation.

“It’s alarming. It doesn’t make any sense. Pico station is not close to hotels,” Pidgeon said, adding that the woman in the footage was “100% herself.”

Pidgeon said the LAPD told them that before receiving the text message from Kobayashi’s phone, the family had spoken to an American Airlines ticket agent to try to book a flight to JFK.

Her family reported her missing on November 12th.

The family wrote in a Nov. 18 Facebook post that video footage of Kobayashi near Pico Station “obviously shows that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and that she is not alone.”

What did the LAPD say about the case?

LAPD detectives are investigating Kobayashi’s disappearance as a missing person case and had no updates to provide Tuesday morning, according to LAPD spokesman Jeff Lee.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the LAPD at (877) 527-3247.

Pidgeon said police received “a bunch of really good tips” that they couldn’t pass on. But she said police believe Kobayashi is still in Los Angeles.

“At this point we cannot rule anything out as she has been missing for 15 days and no one has heard from her,” Pidgeon added. “We are thinking about kidnapping or human trafficking. This is something the family has had to deal with over the last few weeks, but that doesn’t mean we are losing hope or giving up.”

The LAPD has also informed the family that they have escalated the case and put significant staff into the investigation. Pidgeon said it was a “huge relief” that police believe Kobayashi did not leave of his own free will.

“Hannah is a 30-year-old woman and unless you are disabled, a minor or an elderly person with dementia, unfortunately they do not take your case seriously because they think you are going out on your own voluntarily. Pidgeon said. “The LAPD didn’t really take the case seriously until a week after her disappearance.”

LAPD spokesman Lee declined to disclose whether the department believes Kobayashi is missing “voluntarily,” saying, “This is all speculation. We will have no comment.”

What did the family say about their father’s death?

Ryan Kobayashi came to Los Angeles on Nov. 12 to help search for his daughter, Pidgeon said. He searched the streets, including Skid Row, for days.

“I don’t think anyone knows what it’s like to not know where your daughter is,” Pidgeon said. “He died of a broken heart and these people are saying he had something to do with it – it’s just cruel and needs to stop.”

Pidgeon said the family wanted to refute any conspiracy theories that Ryan was in any way involved in his daughter’s disappearance.

“We just want Ryan’s legacy to remain that he was a father who couldn’t handle it,” Pidgeon said. “He had a nervous breakdown and I wish we could have done something. He was one of the kindest, most loving men we have ever met.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Ryan’s fiancée Li Jaena.

“Since Hannah’s disappearance, he has been living his absolute worst nightmare, and now, following his death, our family is dealing with unimaginable grief,” Ryan’s niece Emi Ko wrote.

The Kobayashi family is also raising money through GoFundMe to support search efforts and cover the costs of Ryan’s funeral.

“We ask the public to be kind and compassionate toward us,” Pidgeon said. “Ryan read these social media posts. You have an entire family watching this, so please be kind and compassionate. Put yourself in our shoes.”

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