Hannah Kobayashi goes missing amid troubling messages and family tragedy
- Hannah Kobayashi was last seen on November 11, 2023, after missing her flight to New York.
- Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically died by suicide on November 24, 2023, during the search for her.
- On December 15, authorities confirmed that Hannah was found safe after returning to the United States.
In early November 2023, Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old photographer from Hawaii, was en route to New York City when she missed her connecting flight at Los Angeles International Airport. After her missed flight, her family received a series of concerning messages from her phone, one of which suggested she was in danger, and indicated that her identity and funds were being manipulated. After a multi-week search involving family, friends, and local volunteers, Hannah's father tragically took his own life on November 24, while still searching for his daughter, though she was declared a voluntary missing person shortly after evidence emerged showing Hannah crossed the border into Mexico. On December 15, the LAPD confirmed she had returned to the U.S. and was found safe, prompting relief despite the family's ongoing grief regarding her father's death.