HUGE SUM
Hannah Kobayashi’s family breaks silence on fate of search fundraiser cash after $47k donated before she was found safe
Several major questions remain even after her family said she was found
THE family of Hannah Kobayashi is offering refunds to the hundreds of donors who raised more than $47,000 for their search efforts.
Kobayashi was safely located after going missing for over a month when she vanished from after landing in the city on November 8 on a flight from Maui, .
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The 30-year-old had a layover in Los Angeles and was expected to catch a connecting flight to but missed her 42-minute window to board.
A desperate search began as Kobayashi's family flew into Los Angeles and reported her missing to police.
Dozens of volunteers pounded the city streets hunting for clues in the case, while hundreds more raised over $47,000 for the family's fundraiser for their search effort.
On Wednesday, the family announced she was found safe following an "unimaginable ordeal."
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The family updated their GoFundMe page and said they're offering donors refunds for the money they help raise.
"We are turning donations off, and any donor who would like a refund can submit a claim by December 18th, and it will be honored," Kobayashi's sister, Sydni, wrote.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
But despite Kobayashi's sudden reemergence, there are many unanswered questions about why the aspiring photographer went missing in the first place.
Family members described Kobayashi's travel to the Big Apple as one of her "bucket list trips."
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Kobayashi, an art fan, had an itinerary planned out for her stay in New York, including stops at the Museum of Moder Art, absorbing Manhattan's art scene, and visiting her aunt, Geordan Montalvo.
In the days after she stopped contacting her loved ones, Kobayashi was caught on surveillance footage strolling around Los Angeles, including making stops at a bookshop at The Grove, a shopping mall about an hour from Los Angeles International Airport.
New twist in Hannah Kobayashi case as cops reveal missing woman was spotted alive on CCTV going into Mexico
On November 11, she uploaded a picture from a Nike event to her Instagram account before shutting off her cell phone.
Then, on November 12, unbeknownst to her family, Kobayashi boards a bus from Union Station to San Ysidro, San Diego, where she crosses the border into Tijuana, , by foot, alone and carrying luggage.
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WHY DID SHE GO TO MEXICO?
Los Angeles police paused their search investigation on December 2 after learning that Kobayashi voluntarily crossed into Mexico from the US on November 12.
Sara Azari, the family's attorney, previously confirmed to The U.S. Sun that Kobayashi did, in fact, travel to Mexico.
However, neither Azari nor her family revealed where Kobayashi was when they announced she had been located.
Azari did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
The case took a tragic turn when Kobayashi's dad, Ryan, died by suicide at a Los Angeles parking garage on November 24 after weeks of searching for his daughter.
It's unclear if Kobayashi has learned of her father's death.
Hannah Kobayashi family statement
Hannah Kobayashi has been found a month after she flew to Los Angeles then vanished. Her family released a statement through their attorney on Wednesday, confirming she is safe.
"We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," they wrote.
"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."
'GREEN CARD' SCAM?
Kobayashi's stepping out of US soil and into Mexico fueled theories that she was involved in a green card marriage scam.
A green card marriage scam typically involves a non-American person marrying a United States citizen to obtain legal residency via a green card.
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The theory first gained traction after a picture of Kobayashi surfaced online that appeared to show her marrying an Argentinian man before her trip to Los Angeles.
Despite the online claims, Azari previously told The U.S. Sun that the family is completely in the dark about any supposed arranged marriage.
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
HANNAH Kobayashi sparked a massive search after missing a flight to New York during a layover in Los Angeles. Here is a timeline of events in the case.
Friday, November 8: Hannah leaves her home in Maui and arrives in Los Angeles for a connecting flight to New York City. She has 42 minutes to make the flight at 11 pm.
Saturday, November 9: Hannah is meant to land at JFK airport in New York City at 7 am but never arrives. She is seen at a bookshop at The Grove, an hour from the Los Angeles airport.
Sunday, November 10: Hannah sends a message saying she's scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside several other cryptic texts. She's later seen at a Nike event at The Grove in Los Angeles.
Monday, November 11: Hannah's phone data puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account from the Nike event. Her phone is then turned off.
Tuesday, November 12: Unbeknownst to her family, Hannah catches a bus from Union Station down to San Ysidro, San Diego, and crosses the border into Tijuana, Mexico.
Wednesday, November 13: Family files missing person's report and flies to LA to search for her. They are informed she was last seen at Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles with an unidentified male.
Sunday, November 24: After scouring LA's Skid Row and other areas for nearly a week, Hannah's dad Ryan takes his own life and is found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot.
Monday, December 2: Cops announce Hannah was spotted in surveillance footage crossing into Mexico from the US on November 12 and say she wanted to step away from modern connectivity. The investigation is paused.
Tuesday, December 3: Hannah's family vows to keep looking for her in a statement released by their attorney.
Wednesday, December 11: The attorney of the Kobayashi family announced Hannah was located safe.
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