Father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi found dead in Los Angeles

Father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi found 

dead in Los Angeles, police say

 

Ryan Kobayashi, center, during an interview last week. 

Editor’s Note: This story contains discussion of suicide. Help is available if you or someone you

 know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters.

In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide 

have contact information for crisis centers around the world.

The father of a Hawaii woman who went missing two weeks ago was found dead on Sunday, the 

Los Angeles Police Department said.

Ryan Kobayashi had traveled to Los Angeles to help find his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi. 

The 30-year-old was last heard from on November 11, after she didn’t board a connecting flight to 

New York City during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8.

Ryan Kobayashi’s body was found Sunday around 4 a.m. on West Century Boulevard, the LAPD 

confirmed to CNN – at an address near the airport.

Police did not provide any information on the 58-year-old’s suspected cause of death, but Kobayashi’s

 family said he died by suicide.

“The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout

 Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has

 compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably,” the family said in a statement released through a

 nonprofit group helping with the search for Hannah Kobayashi.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office lists Kobayashi’s death as an open case, with the

 cause of death not stated. The file notes he died in a parking lot. CNN has reached out for more details.

“As you can imagine, the family is devastated,” Hannah Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told CNN. 

She said Ryan “died of a broken heart.”

Since Hannah’s disappearance, the elder Kobayashi had spoken to the media on behalf of his family and 

sought help from the public to find his daughter.

“Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art, music. I wasn’t too close with her … growing up.

 We hadn’t had contact for a while,” Ryan Kobayashi told CNN in an interview last week. “I’m just

 trying to make up. I’m trying to get her back. That’s my main focus.”

In their statement, the Kobayashi family urged the public to “maintain focus on the search.”

“Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to 

remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah,” the statement read.

In another statement released by Pidgeon, the Kobayashi family said they have been “overwhelmed by

 the immense outpouring of love and support during this profoundly difficult time.”

“Every step you take, every poster you hang, every message you share, and every act of kindness brings

 us closer to finding Hannah. We cannot thank you enough for standing by us through this journey,” the family said.

Family received suspicious text messages

Hannah Kobayashi 

Hannah was supposed to visit her aunt in upstate New York, her sister Sydni Kobayashi previously told 

She and her ex-boyfriend had planned a trip to New York when they were still together, according to her 

sister. Since the tickets couldn’t be refunded, they decided to keep their tickets but change seats and 

travel separately, she added. The ex-boyfriend, unlike Hannah, boarded a connecting flight to New York

 City from Los Angeles.

CNN obtained a photo which appears to show Hannah getting off her flight at the Los Angeles airport. 

The next day, she was spotted at a Taschen bookstore at The Grove, a shopping mall in Los Angeles, her 

sister said.

She then sent a Venmo payment to two people whose names the family did not recognize, according to 

her sister.

A video was posted on YouTube on November 10, showing Hannah at the LeBron XXII Trial Experience,

 an event held at the Nike store in the same shopping center. A photo of the event was also posted on her

 Instagram account, her sister said.

In the days after the 30-year-old missed her flight, family and friends received a series of suspicious texts 

from her phone.

On November 11 – the last day anyone heard from the missing woman – her mother texted her, asking

 whether she made it to New York. Hannah responded no, her sister said. She also sent messages to a 

friend saying she didn’t feel safe, and someone was trying to steal her identity and funds, according to 

screenshots her sister sent to CNN.

“Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday,” 

one message to a friend said.

Another message said, “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds,” followed by one saying,

 “For someone I thought I loved.”

On November 15, the LAPD missing persons unit made a poster about Hannah’s disappearance, saying 

she was last seen at the airport. It said she has freckles on her face and a tattoo on her forearm.

On November 17, in a statement posted to Facebook, Sydni Kobayashi said the family had obtained

 surveillance footage showing her sister around the downtown Metro train station near Crypto.com Arena,

 although it was unclear exactly when the footage was taken.

In the footage, Hannah is not alone and “does not appear to be in good condition,” the family wrote on 

Facebook, saying they are unable to share further details.

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