How missing Hannah Kobayashi’s dad endured 12 days of agonising search before suicide – while ‘she was on digital detox’
Before he tragically committed suicide, Hannah Kobayashi’s father went through a torturous 12-day search for his daughter.
Authorities now think that his 30-year-old daughter went on a digital detox and “voluntarily” vanished.
According to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, “Kobayashi expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity.”
But after Hannah changed her plans and vanished without telling anybody, Dad Ryan searched frantically for nearly two weeks in the wrong place.
Fearing Hannah had been abducted or perhaps exploited for sex, her family was anxious to learn more.
As part of a bucket list vacation, she had originally purchased a ticket from Maui to New York, with a stopover in Los Angeles.
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Instead, authorities claim that after arriving in Los Angeles on November 8, she failed to board her cross-country trip.
Police claim she rode a bus to the Mexican border and passed it a day later after being spotted traveling around Los Angeles on November 11.
Unaware of this, her father reported her missing and then went to Los Angeles to look for his daughter.
According to Aunt Larie Pidgeon, Ryan carried out a torturous search around Los Angeles, including in some of the most hazardous areas, such as Skid Row.
He fell down in tears during a rally to raise awareness for his daughter, who is missing.
“Every parent’s nightmare,” he told The U.S. Sun exclusively.
Tragic twists of the missing Hannah Kobayashi case – from bizarre texts to dad’s suicide
“We don’t know where to start,” he remarked. It is quite distressing.
“We’re working as hard as we can, and time is of the importance.
“This is really uncharacteristic. She wouldn’t do this to her mother, aunts, or sister.”
According to investigators, he committed suicide and was discovered dead in a parking lot close to LAX a few days later.
A Facebook group created in an attempt to locate Hannah has released a family statement that was viewed by The U.S. Sun.
It says: “Today was a terrible day for the Kobayashi family.
“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”
According to police, Kobayashi was traveling alone with her bags when she was seen on security camera at the border.
Kobayashi took the bus to San Ysidro, California, on the 12th before crossing into Tijuana through the tunnel at the Port of Entry.
There has been no confirmed contact with her since, and authorities said they suspect Kobayashi may have left her cellphone somewhere in Los Angeles.
McDonnell said cops have done “everything we can” as she had left the US and entered another country.
He stated: “There is no proof that Kobayashi is being trafficked or that foul activity is involved, according to the investigation.
Additionally, she is not a suspect in any crimes. The investigators also observed that Kobayashi stated his wish to distance himself from contemporary connection prior to leaving Maui.
CRYPTIC TEXTS
After receiving a series of mysterious texts from her phone, friends and family became alarmed.
Hannah’s mom, Brandi Yee, had messaged her to see if she had landed in New York and received a two-word message: “Not yet.”
One message sent from Hannah’s cell phonesaid she was tricked into giving away money, apparently to someone who she thought she loved.
Other messages appeared to suggest that Hannah was scared.
Hannah’s sister Sydni admitted she was starting to feel uneasy in light of the text messages.
Sydni said the text messages didn’t sound like Hannah.
“I don t know if it s her or if someone else was texting,” she told the CBS affiliateKGMB.
“It was just really weird texts.”
Her aunt Larie said the messages sent from Hannah’s phone didn’t sound like her niece.
“Strange, cryptic messages things about the matrix, it was so unlike her,” she said.
Hannah’s dad, Ryan, had flown to Los Angeles as the search to find his daughter ramped up.
Hannah’s family revealed they saw her in surveillance footage from November 11 and said she didn’t look well.
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Hannah was spotted near the Pico metro station in downtown Los Angeles and was reportedly seen with another in person in the footage.
Last night police revealed she had then travelled to the border and crossed into Mexico.
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
Since she missed her connecting trip to New York, Hannah Kobayashi has been missing.
Friday, November 8:Kobayashi leaves her home in Maui and arrives in Los Angeles for her connecting flight to New York City. She has 42 minutes to make the flight at 11 pm.
Saturday, November 9:Kobayashi is meant to land at JFK airport in New York City at 7 am but never arrives.
She is seen at a bookshop at The Grove, an hour away from LAX.
Sunday, November 10:Kobayashi sends a message saying she’s scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside several other cryptic texts.
She’s later seen at an event at The Grove again in Los Angeles, attending a Nike event.
Monday, November 11:Kobayashi’s phone puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account from the event. Her phone is then turned off.
Tuesday, November 12:Kobayashi catches a bus from Union Station down to San Ysidro, San Diego, and crosses the border into Tijuana, Mexico.
Wednesday, November 13:Family files missing person’s report.
They are informed she was last seen at Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles with an unidentified male.
Sunday, November 24:Hannah’s dad Ryan found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot after taking his own life.
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