A previously missing woman from Hawaii, Hannah Kobayashi, has arrived in the United States after surveillance footage captured her entering Mexico on foot with a suitcase, as confirmed by authorities.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), “Customs and Border Protection informed us that Hannah Kobayashi arrived on December 15, 2024, to the US border and seemed to be in good health.” The LAPD also stated that her missing persons case is no longer active.
Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, shared a message from Kobayashi in an interview with People magazine. In her statement, Kobayashi mentioned, “I re-entered the United States at dawn on December 15th. Right now, my main focus is on my recovery, finding inner peace, and exploring my creativity. I am truly thankful for the support and kindness shown to me by my family and all those who have been compassionate during this period.”
Koyabashi continued to explain that she was unaware of the national media coverage surrounding her disappearance.
“I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family, and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding,” the statement said, according to People.
Pidgeon previously told Fox News Digital that friends and family received a flurry of bizarre text messages from Kobayashi after her missed flight that did not match her usual cadence. She texted a friend that she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all my funds” and that she was tricked “for someone I thought I loved.”
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, returned to the U.S. after crossing into Mexico. (Larie Pidgeon)
“She [wrote she] was having a spiritual awakening, that she was concerned about the matrix. It was just the most bizarre text messages,” Pidgeon previously said. “And it went from, ‘Hi, I can’t wait to see you guys. Love you. Everything’s great.'”
Hannah Kobayashi’s mother filed a missing person report after her daughter seemingly disappeared. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)
Ryan Kobayashi, the 30-year-old’s father, was found dead on Nov. 24 of an apparent suicide after jumping from a parking structure in Los Angeles while he and his family were searching for the missing woman.
Los Angeles Magazine reported that Kobayashi had fallen victim to an immigration scheme before going missing. Kobayashi’s mother reportedly found documents in her daughter’s Hawaii home that listed an immigration attorney, according to the outlet, and turned that information over to law enforcement.
However, Azari wrote in a post on X that the family “has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage… we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information.”
Fox News’ Christina Coulter and Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.
