THE month-long search for a woman who disappeared in Los Angeles after missing her connecting flight has ended.
Hannah Kobayashi is safe after she crossed into Mexico on November 12, her family confirmed.
“We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe,” stated Sara Azari, the family’s lawyer, on behalf of Kobayashi’s mom and sister.
“This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.
“We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.”
Kobayashi had a layover in Los Angeles, where she was expected to catch a connecting flight to New York City on November 8.
She failed to board on time due to a small 42-minute window, according to her family.
The 31-year-old stayed in Los Angeles and waited for the next opening flight to New York, which family members said Kobayashi described as a “bucket list trip.”
Kobayashi, an art fan and aspiring photographer, had an itinerary planned out for her stay in the Big Apple, including stops at the Museum of Modern Arts, absorbing Manhattan’s art scene, and visiting her aunt, Geordan Montalvo.
However, Kobayashi used her free time to go sightseeing in Los Angeles, as her social media activity showed her visiting The Grove shopping center in Beverly Hills, about 12 miles from LAX airport, on November 10.
The following day, Kobayashi sent a concerning message to a friend, who shared a screenshot of the text exchange with her family members.
Kobayashi had told a friend that she “got tricked pretty much into giving away all her funds.”
“For someone I thought I loved. I’ve been on the streets,” she added in follow-up messages.
“Hannah’s last message to us was alarming – she mentioned feeling scared and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi’s aunt, wrote on Facebook.
“She hasn’t been heard from since, and we are gravely concerned for her safety.”
