A Hawaii woman who disappeared three weeks ago after arriving in Los Angeles was last seen crossing into Mexico, authorities revealed, urging her to contact her concerned family.
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, was captured on surveillance footage entering a tunnel at the San Ysidro border alone on November 12, a day after her family reported her missing. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated there is no evidence of foul play, classifying her case as a “voluntary missing person.”
“She left the country willingly, and we’ve done all we can. If she returns, law enforcement will be alerted,” McDonnell said. He urged Kobayashi to reach out, even briefly, to assure her family of her safety.
Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, vanished on November 8 after skipping a connecting flight to New York, where she planned to start a new job and visit relatives. She texted her family about sightseeing in Los Angeles but sent alarming messages on November 11, claiming someone might be stealing her identity.
Her disappearance took a tragic toll on her father, Ryan Kobayashi, who was found dead by apparent suicide near LAX on November 24.
Investigators discovered that Kobayashi had expressed a desire to disconnect from modern life. She retrieved her luggage from LAX on November 11 but left without her phone. Police also questioned a man seen with her on public transit; he was cooperative and said they met at the airport.
The family has faced online harassment, prompting them to shut down a Facebook group initially launched to aid the search. McDonnell reflected on their ordeal, urging others considering similar actions to think of their loved ones.
The case remains open until Kobayashi’s safety is confirmed.
