Hannah Kobayashi had been “unaware of every part that was taking place within the media” after the 30-year-old Hawaii native’s disappearance prompted her household to report her lacking in November, setting off a global search, she reportedly wrote in an announcement following her protected return.
“I’m nonetheless processing all of it,” Kobayashi stated within the assertion, which her aunt Larie Pidgeon distributed to media retailers together with NBC Information. “My focus now’s on my therapeutic, my peace and my creativity.”
A budding photographer from Maui, Kobayashi was touring to New York Metropolis on 8 November 2024 for a brand new job and to go to kinfolk when she missed a connecting flight throughout a cease at Los Angeles worldwide airport. She indicated to her household that she would sleep on the airport that night time after which go sightseeing in Los Angeles.
That’s when Kobayashi’s kinfolk started receiving “unusual, cryptic messages – issues concerning the matrix”, Pigeon later instructed the Los Angeles information outlet KTLA. Kobayashi stopped responding after her “household began urgent”, because the aunt recounted to the Related Press. Her cellphone lastly “simply went lifeless” on 11 November, and her household reported her lacking to legislation enforcement.
A frantic, sizeable investigation from legislation enforcement ensued amid hypothesis that – amongst different prospects – Kobayashi had possibly vanished as a result of she participated in a wedding for cash and was scammed out of the proceeds. Relations, pals and native volunteers aiding the search in and round Los Angeles. Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was a part of a gaggle that flew in from Hawaii to search for his daughter.
Ryan Kobayashi subsequently died by suicide on 24 November close to the Los Angeles airport, authorities and kinfolk stated.
In the end, police decided Hannah Kobayashi had walked into Mexico at San Ysidro border crossing about 125 miles south-east of Los Angeles on 12 November, or a day after her household reported her lacking. Investigators made that dedication after reviewing safety video from US Customs and Border Safety, and on 11 December they introduced that Kobayashi had been discovered and accounted for.
The Los Angeles police chief, Jim McDonnell, added that Kobayashi had voluntarily withdrawn “to step away from connectivity”.
An announcement from Kobayashi’s mom and sister thanked the household’s supporters and expressed gratitude for her being situated.
“This previous month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our household, and we kindly ask for privateness as we take the time to heal and course of every part we’ve got been by way of,” that assertion additionally stated.
In her new assertion, Hannah Kobayashi defined that she returned to the US from Mexico on Sunday morning however didn’t elaborate on her expertise. Her lawyer instructed Hawaii Information Now that he had accompanied her as she got here again to the US from Mexico and will “confirm she is protected”.
“I used to be unaware of every part that was taking place within the media,” Hannah Kobayashi’s assertion additionally stated. “I’m deeply grateful to my household and everybody who has proven me compassion throughout this time.”
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