Editor’s note: This story contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
The father of Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Maui who has been missing for about two weeks, was found dead on Sunday at 4 a.m. near the Los Angeles airport, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed.
Ryan Kobayashi, 58, and other members of his family were in Los Angeles searching for his missing daughter. On Nov. 8, Hannah took a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles, but missed her connecting flight to New York, where she was supposed to meet up with relatives, according to a GoFundMe page started by her sister Sydni Kobayashi.
Police did not provide information about Ryan Kobayashi’s cause of death, saying LA’s medical examiner would eventually have details, but a statement from his 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,” said the statement, which was released by The Rad Movement, a nonprofit assisting with the search for Hannah.
The statement asked the public to “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 said.
After Hannah missed her connecting flight, she “was communicating with family throughout the weekend, while trying to secure another flight,” according to a missing flyer on The Rad Movement’s Instagram. Family members assumed she was on standby for another flight, according to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, who spoke with the Associated Press.
The next day, Hannah texted them to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles, planning to visit The Grove shopping mall and downtown LA, Pidgeon said. A video was posted on YouTube showing Hannah at the LeBron XXII Trial Experience, which was held at the Nike store at The Grove. On Instagram, she also appeared to post a photo from the event.
After this, “strange messages were being sent to family and friends from her cell phone,” according to The Rad Movement. Hannah’s aunt said the family received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages from her phone that referenced her being “intercepted” as she got on a Metro train and being scared that someone might be stealing her identity. “Once the family started pressing, she went dark,” Pidgeon said. The last ping from Hannah’s phone came on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. from the LA airport.
On Nov. 15, The Rad Movement posted about acquiring video surveillance footage that shows Hannah near Pico Station by Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA. “In the footage, it is evident that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone. Due to the ongoing and active nature of this investigation, we are unable to share any further details at this time,” the post said. It is not clear when this video surveillance footage was taken.
Pidgeon said police are reviewing the surveillance footage, but wouldn’t elaborate further, citing the ongoing investigation. Detectives told the family they were retracing Hannah's steps and requesting additional surveillance footage.
Family members and friends are searching for Hannah in Los Angeles, and over the weekend, they were joined by local volunteers.
Pidgeon said the effort has been focused in the downtown area. Searchers have also fanned out around the airport and The Grove, a few miles west of downtown.
“It’s completely out of character for her” to not be in touch with loved ones, Pidgeon said of Hannah.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.