Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman missing for over three weeks since arriving in Los Angeles from Maui, has been declared a voluntarily missing person by Los Angeles police, officials announced Monday.
Police revealed that surveillance footage showed Kobayashi crossing into Mexico on foot at the US-Mexico border on November 12, carrying her luggage and appearing unharmed. She had arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 8 but missed her connecting flight to New York.
After retrieving her luggage on November 11, she traveled to Union Station and then to the border, where she crossed into Mexico. Authorities found no evidence of foul play, human trafficking, or criminal activity, and confirmed that Kobayashi is not a suspect in any case.
Before leaving Maui, Kobayashi had expressed a desire to disconnect from modern technology. She was not carrying her phone after leaving LAX.
Investigators, who have conducted interviews and reviewed video footage, have worked with various agencies and have been transparent with Kobayashi’s family, who have publicly sought information. Police are urging Kobayashi to contact her family or authorities to confirm her safety.
Kobayashi’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically died by suicide on November 24, after searching for his daughter. A GoFundMe for the family’s search and funeral costs has raised nearly $47,000.
