Photographer Hannah Kobayashi Found Safe in Mexico After Disappearance
Los Angeles, CA – In a case that gripped the nation, 30-year-old Hawaiian photographer Hannah Kobayashi has been located in Mexico after vanishing three weeks ago from Los Angeles International Airport. Kobayashi, who was last seen November 12th crossing into Mexico at the San Ysidro border, is believed to have intentionally disappeared to disconnect from modern technology.
Kobayashi’s case ignited a nationwide search after she missed a connecting flight to New York on November 8th, prompting skepticism from her loved ones. While initial reports suggested she was sightseeing in Los Angeles, "strange and cryptic, just alarming" text messages sent from her phone on November 11th spoke of being "intercepted" on a Metro train and fear of identity theft, fueling concerns for her safety. The anxiety amplified when her father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically passed away on November 24th, found dead in a parking lot near LAX, an apparent suicide linked to the emotional toll of his daughter’s disappearance.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) revealed this week that Kobayashi checked luggage to New York, which was later returned to LAX at her request. Police believe she retrieved it on November 11th before leaving the airport without her phone. Investigators discovered that Kobayashi had chosen to "step away from modern connectivity," leading them to classify her disappearance as a voluntary missing person case.
“We’ve basically done everything we can do at this point. She’s left the country and in another nation now," said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. He urged Kobayashi to contact her family or law enforcement, stressing the importance of reassurance for those who care about her. "A simple message could reassure those who care about her," he stated.
Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, initially disputed LAPD statements suggesting her sibling’s disappearance was intentional, but publicly available social media posts from the "Help Us Find Hannah" Facebook group, which garnered over 25,000 members, show the family shutting down the page citing threats against their lives and the well-being of their children.
Despite the relief of Kobayashi’s newfound safety, her case serves as a sobering reminder of the emotional turmoil that can arise from unforeseen disappearances.
Chief McDonnell, reflecting on the family’s ordeal during a recent news conference, urged anyone considering such actions to think about the impact on their loved ones. "Think about the people you’re leaving behind, your loved ones who are going to be worried sick about you,” he said.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988.
