The Hawaii woman who disappeared while traveling through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), has now been declared a “voluntarily missing person” by authorities.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department provided an update on the ongoing search for Hannah Kobayashi, 30, who was last seen on Nov. 8 at LAX, saying there is no evidence of foul play in her disappearance.
“As the family is aware, late yesterday, after traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border, we reviewed U.S. Customs and Border Protection video surveillance that clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the U.S. border into Mexico on foot.” , Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference. the press conference.
McDonnell said the video showed she was clearly alone, had her luggage with her and appeared unharmed.
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, was on her way to New York City to visit family. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)
The 30-year-old resident of Oahu, Hawaii, had planned a vacation to visit her aunt in New York City and flew from Maui to Los Angeles International Airport on November 8. previously told Fox News Digital. She was supposed to take a connecting flight to New York, with a 42-minute layover at 11 a.m., but she never got on that flight. Her family isn’t sure why.
Hannah Kobayashi’s family became concerned after she stopped answering calls and text messages. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)
Investigators believe Kobayashi is intentional missed her connecting flight to New York.
“On Friday, November 8, 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional,” McDonnell said at a Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meeting last week.
“On November 15, our missing persons unit took responsibility for the investigation. Detectives have carefully reviewed video surveillance and used various investigative techniques to locate Hannah, while her family has continued their personal search efforts,” he said, adding that authorities “remain fully committed to finding Hanna.”
CRYPTIC TEXT MESSAGES FROM HAWAII WOMAN CAUSE CONCERN AFTER DISAPPEARANCE
Hannah Kobayashi’s mother filed a missing person report after her daughter apparently disappeared without a trace. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)
Kobayashi’s family said they were unaware of any development in the department’s investigation until they were sent footage of McDonnell’s speech. In a statement on social media, the missing woman’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, disputed that Kobayashi had deliberately missed her flight and pointed out inaccuracies in McDonnell’s timeline of events.
“Based on information, surveillance footage viewed, and information shared with us, these are the facts known to my mother and me: It does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight,” Sydni Kobayashi wrote in an Instagram post at the time .
“The lack of communication around some important details has left us feeling left out of potentially crucial developments,” the statement said. “These alleged findings have yet to be reported directly to my mother and me by the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannah’s case.”
“However, we remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah,” her sister continued.
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Kobayashi’s father, 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead around 4 a.m. on Nov. 24 in an apparent suicide after jumping from a parking garage, the LAPD confirmed to Fox News Digital.
He had traveled to Los Angeles from Hawaii to look for his missing daughter.
Anyone with information is asked to call the RAD Movement hotline at 619-904-0840.
Christina Coulter of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
