CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses suicide.
After a month of uncertainty and worry, Hannah Kobayashi’s family has shared the news that she has been “found safe”. On December 11, they confirmed that Hannah, who had gone missing after travelling into Mexico, is now back in touch with her loved ones and it seems like the whole of the internet has sighed in relief.
Hannah, a 30-year-old photographer from Maui, Hawaii, was reported missing on November 11 after she failed to catch a connecting flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to New York City. This sparked a mass ‘investigation’ on TikTok trying to solve this true crime story in real time.
In the days leading up to her disappearance, she sent her family some troubling texts hinting that something was wrong — she mentioned that her identity and money had been stolen. This understandably sparked fears that she might have fallen victim to something sinister, like kidnapping or human trafficking.
“I can’t stress enough how loved you are, how supported you are. We’re really worried about you. No matter what situation you’re in, you always have a home to come to,” said her sister, Sydni Kobayashi, on NBC News NOW’s Top Story With Tom Llamas
Despite this classification, Hannah’s family remained unconvinced and continued their search. The search for Hannah took a heartbreaking turn when her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide on November 24 while desperately trying to find his daughter. He had previously shared his desire to reconnect with Hannah and make up for lost time. Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told PEOPLE that Ryan “died of a broken heart”.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) labelled Hannah as a “voluntary missing person” after reviewing surveillance footage that showed her crossing into Mexico alone on November 12.
Then came the moment everyone had been hoping for: on December 11, the family learned that Hannah was safe. Brandi Yee and Sydni expressed their immense relief in a statement: “We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family.”
Details about how and where Hannah was found remain unclear and the family has requested privacy as they begin to heal. They’re also grateful for all the TikTok detectives that helped them find Hannah.
“Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us,” the family said in a statement.
- If you need mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
- Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
- You can also reach the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or chat online.
- If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
The post Hannah Kobayashi Has Been ‘Found Safe’ After Vanishing In Mexico Last Month appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
