LOS ANGELES — The LAPD stated that Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman presumed missing in Los Angeles, went to Mexico on her own accord. She crossed the border four days after arriving at LAX and is confirmed not to be a victim of any crime.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell mentioned that there is no evidence supporting the belief that Kobayashi is a victim of trafficking or any wrongdoing.
Detectives reviewed her social media accounts and found a desire expressed to “step away from modern connectivity,” he added.
Further investigation revealed that although Kobayashi had initially checked her bag for New York, she later rerouted it to LAX where she picked it up on November 11.
She later used her passport and cash to buy a ticket at Union Station to travel to the San Ysidro border crossing, where she entered Mexico via tunnel on foot at 12:13 p.m. on Nov. 12.
LAPD has not pursued the investigation further into Mexico because it appears she is not the victim of any crime. If she returns to the United States, law enforcement will be notified.
“We’ve basically done everything we can do at this point,” McDonnell said. “She’s left the country and in another nation now.”
Kobayashi flew from Maui to LAX on Nov. 8 and was supposed to catch a connecting flight to New York a short time later. But she missed the flight and, after a few cryptic text messages, lost contact with her family within a few days. Family members have traveled to Los Angeles to search from her.
Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead last weekend in a parking lot near LAX. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be suicide.
DEVELOPING: This story will be updated.
Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.