Missing photographer Hannah Kobayashi seen buying bus ticket before crossing into Mexico

In the United States, Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old photographer from Maui, was reported missing on November 11, 2024, after she did not board her connecting flight to New York from Los Angeles. Following her disappearance, her family expressed concerns for her safety, especially after she sent cryptic messages indicating that she had undergone a spiritual awakening and was tricked into giving away her funds. Surveillance footage later revealed that she had purchased a bus ticket to the U.S.-Mexico border on November 11, and she was seen crossing the border into Mexico unharmed on November 12. Her family, however, felt blindsided by the news of her crossing and has since sought answers from the police, who reclassified her case as voluntary. Furthermore, her mother revealed evidence suggesting that Hannah might have been involved in a fraudulent green card marriage scheme orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend, leading them to report the situation to the FBI. Tragically, the situation was compounded by the recent suicide of her father, Ryan Kobayashi, who died while searching for Hannah. Reports suggest that Hannah might have attempted to disconnect from her previous life and began this journey due to the pressure from her existing circumstances. Despite the police not finding evidence of foul play or trafficking, her family insists on continuing the search for her, sharing their hopes for her safety amidst a web of troubling implications about her mental state prior to the incident. The family's struggle highlights the emotional toll of the investigation and the complex relationships intertwined in Hannah's disappearance, which had broader implications not just for her immediate family, but for friends and the community invested in finding her.