Hannah Kobayashi breaks silence to say she was ‘unaware of everything’ after dad’s suicide during mystery disappearance
HANNAH Kobayashi has broken her silence and claimed she was unaware of her dad's tragic suicide weeks after her disappearance.
The 30-year-old sparked a huge manhunt after she unexpectedly vanished and crossed into Mexico.
Kobayashi was traveling from Hawaii to New York but failed to catch her connecting flight from Los Angeles on November 8.
The photographer from Hawaii was safely located a month after she went missing.
And she has now released a statement, revealing she crossed back into the US after her unexplained trip to Mexico.
"At daybreak on December 15, I crossed the border back into the United States," she said.
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"My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity."
Hannah thanked her family but revealed she had been unaware of her father's suicide.
Ryan Kobayashi was found dead in a Los Angeles parking garage on November 24.
He had spent weeks searching for his daughter and died of a broken heart, the family announced.
Hannah said: "I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.
"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."
Kobayashi was seen across Los Angeles in the days following her disappearance, including a sighting at Pico Station with an unidentified male.
Her family then traveled to the mainland to search for the 30-year-old, but this took a tragic turn when her father died of suicide.
After scouring LA's Skid Row, an area known for crime and drug use, for nearly a week, Ryan jumped to his death from an LAX parking lot.
CASE CLOSED
The huge manhunt came to an end as the photographer confirmed she was safely back in the US.
Kobayashi is said to be in California and in good health, but it is unclear where she is staying.
She returned of her own free will, according to reports.
A member of the Los Angeles Police Department's missing persons unit, Lt. Doug Oldfield, has now confirmed that her case is closed.
He also confirmed that she did not "appear to be under any distress" when she spoke with Customs and Border Protection upon her arrival.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Despite Kobayashi sudden reemergence, questions have still lingered as to why the 30-year-old vanished and where she went.
Her intended trip to New York had been described as one of her "bucket list trips" by family members.
She had made a detailed itinerary for her stay and planned out several stops including the Museum of Modern Art and a visit to her aunt, Geordan Montalvo.
Theories into a supposed green card marriage scam were fuelled when it was discovered she had crossed to Tijuana, Mexico by foot, alone, and with luggage.
This scam typically involves a non-American person marrying an American citizen to obtain legal residency via a green card.
Speculation started to swirl after a picture of Kobayashi appearing to marry an Argentinian man before her trip to Los Angeles circulated on the internet.
However, Hannah's family told The U.S. Sun last week that they are completely in the dark about any alleged marriage.
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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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