Missing Hawaii Woman, 30, Hannah Kobayashi, Crossed into Mexico Voluntarily, Says LAPD; Family Disputes Findings

Dec 3, 2024, 01:39 AM

Hawaii resident, 30-year-old Hannah Kobayashi, has been reported missing after she failed to board her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City on November 8. She was traveling to visit her aunt in New York and had a brief layover at LAX. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Kobayashi intentionally missed her connecting flight and was later seen picking up her bags at LAX several days after. She used her passport and cash to purchase a ticket at LA's Union Station to travel to the San Ysidro border crossing, where surveillance footage shows her crossing into Mexico on foot between November 12 and 13. She appeared to be alone and unharmed. The LAPD has classified her as a voluntary missing person and stated there is no evidence of foul play. Investigators reported that Kobayashi had expressed a desire to disconnect from "modern connectivity." Despite this, her family disputes the police's findings, expressing skepticism and concern. They argue that Kobayashi would not have intentionally disappeared and that her actions are out of character.