Hannah Kobayashi, a woman who had been reported missing, was last seen after landing at LAX in November. Authorities now believe her disappearance is voluntary, as surveillance footage shows her crossing into Mexico on foot through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
In a media conference held on Monday, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said:
"We reviewed video surveillance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico. She was alone with her luggage and appeared unharmed,"
As told to the NBCLA, authorities are still trying to contact Hannah Kobayashi to confirm her safety and whether she is traveling by choice.
Chief Jim also added that they do not believe the involvement of foul play. He said:
"To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play,"
On November 26, Chief Jim McDonnell also said that Hannah intentionally missed her flight. He stated:
"On Friday November 8th, 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional."
A Timeline of Hannah Kobayashi's disappearance
November 8: Hannah Kobayashi was supposed to travel from Muai to New York to see her aunt Larie Pidgeon. She was seen getting down at LAX airport and missing her connecting flight to New York.
November 10: Hannah was seen at the Nike store in The Grove in Los Angeles at the LeBron XXII Trial event.
November 11: Police confirmed they have footage of her at LAX retrieving her luggage from baggage claim after she had requested it be returned from New York. She was also seen at Pico Metro Station with an unknown person and bought a bus ticket to the Mexico border. The family received concerning texts like:
“Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f—k since Friday,”
“I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds … For someone I thought I loved.”
“I’m just really scared love & the redwoods if calling me & I know I’m meant to be there, I’m being guided there, like you have before … I risk my freedom if this goes wrong for me hun.”
“I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening,”
However, despite the suspicious texts, between November 8 and 11, according to police evidence, video and photos show Hannah Kobayashi at various locations around Los Angeles.
November 12: According to NBCLA, security footage confirmed that on November 12, around 12:13 p.m., Hannah Kobayashi was seen leaving the U.S. near Tijuana, Mexico. This was approximately a day after her family had received a text from her. Hannah Kobayashi crossed into Mexico from San Ysidro alone, with her luggage, and appeared unharmed'.
November 24: Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, who was in Los Angeles to help amplify Hannah's search efforts was found dead after taking his own life near LAX.
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Hannah Kobayashi has now been classified as a 'voluntary missing person."
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