Name: Hannah Kobayashi
Age: 30 years old
Last seen: November 8, 2024
Location: Los Angeles, California
Status: Found safe on December 11, 2024
Case Information
30-year-old Hannah Kobayashi was last seen in Los Angeles, California on November 8, 2024. She disappeared after missing a connecting flight in Los Angeles International Airport to New York City.
Background
Hannah Kobayashi was born on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. In 2024, she was a resident of Haiku on the island of Maui, Hawaii. She is an aspiring DJ and photographer.
In November 2024, Hannah had planned a trip to New York City with her boyfriend. The pair later separated, but they decided to keep their tickets and change seats to travel separately.
Hannah had plans to visit her aunt in upstate New York, as well as visit the Museum of Modern Art. She also offered to take photos of a DJ’s mid-November show in Brooklyn in exchange for a pass to the event.
Disappearance
On November 8, 2024, Hannah Kobayashi landed at Los Angeles International Airport on a flight from Maui, Hawaii, where she was supposed to take a connecting flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
Hannah never boarded the connecting flight to New York that day. Over the next few days, she was spotted at several locations throughout the Los Angeles area. She kept in contact with her family and was active on Instagram.
On November 9, 2024, Hannah was spotted at a Taschen bookstore at The Grove, a shopping mall in Los Angeles, California. She sent a Venmo payment to two unidentified individuals that day.
On November 10, 2024, Hannah was seen in a Youtube video at the LeBron XXII Trial Experience, an event held at a Nike store at the same shopping mall.
On November 11, 2024, Hannah posted a photo of the event on her Instagram account. She last sent a text message to her mother saying she did not make it to New York. She also sent multiple text messages to a friend, saying that “Deep Hackers” were trying to steal her identity and funds.
Hannah was last seen with an individual on surveillance camera at a Metro station near the Crypto.com Arena and Los Angeles Convention Center area in downtown Los Angeles, California.
Hannah hasn’t been heard from since. On November 13, 2024, her family filed a missing person’s report with authorities after they couldn’t get in contact with her.
Investigation
On November 24, 2024, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, who had traveled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to help look for his daughter, was found dead on West Century Boulevard near the Los Angeles International Airport.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office determined the manner of death to be suicide. Ryan Kobayashi “died of a broken heart” after a tireless thirteen-days search throughout Los Angeles, according to his family.
On December 2, 2024, authorities classified Hannah Kobayashi a voluntary missing person after surveillance footage from US Customs and Border Protection showed that she crossed the United States border on foot into Mexico.
Authorities say Hannah intentionally missed her connecting flight to New York. She had her luggage rerouted back from New York to Los Angeles.
On November 11, 2024, Hannah retrieved her luggage at a baggage carousel in LAX before traveling to Los Angeles Union Station where she bought a bus ticket to San Ysidro, a district of San Diego north of the Mexico–US border.
On November 12, 2024, Hannah was captured on surveillance camera crossing the US border on foot into Mexico at 12:13 pm. She was alone with her luggage and appeared to be unharmed.
According to her family, Hannah never mentioned any plans to travel to Mexico. Authorities believe she disappeared voluntarily as she sought to “step away from modern connectivity.”
Hannah Kobayashi Found Safe
On December 11, 2024, Hannah’s family released a statement saying Hannah had been found safe. They did not say where she had been found, and are asking for privacy at this time.
Her mother and sister thanked supporters and said they were grateful she had been located.
Appearance
Physical Description:
Okinawan/Caucasian female with brown hair and brown eyes. Hannah is 5’10 tall and weighs 140 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
Hannah has freckles on her face and a “knife” tattoo on her forearm.
Clothing and accessories:
No information available.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi please contact the Los Angeles Police Department at (877) 527-3247, or the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Investigating Case Number: DR#2499-32616
Resources & Further Information
Missing Person: Hannah Kobayashi – LAPD Missing Persons Unit – Facebook
Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi – Facebook
News & Media Links
Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi long pursued passion for art – even on the trip that led to her disappearance – CNN 11/24
Father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi found dead in Los Angeles, police say – CNN 11/24
Hawaii woman reported missing went willfully to Mexico, LAPD says – NBC News 12/24
Hannah Kobayashi declared a voluntary missing person after video shows her crossing into Mexico, police say – CNN 12/24
Hannah Kobayashi’s sister says family is unsatisfied with LAPD conclusion that she vanished voluntarily – NBC News 12/24
Videos & Flyers
Leave a Reply