LAPD says missing Hawaii woman willfully crossed the border into Mexico, donors demand money back | Law Enforcement Today

LOS ANGELES, CA - On Monday, December 2nd, a few weeks after a 30-year-old Hawaii woman reportedly went missing, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said that it appears the woman willfully crossed the southern border into Mexico as part of her desire to "disconnect." 

According to NBC News, the case involving Hannah Kobayashi, of Maui, has been reclassified as one involving a "voluntary missing person," but will remain open until police are assure she is safe. During the news conference, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that there is no evidence indicating that Kobayashi is the victim of human trafficking or foul play.

Meanwhile, the Kobayashi's family has been criticized for continuing to raise money via GoFundMe despite her voluntarily leaving, even as her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide while searching for Hannah. Social media users have demanded answers as well as refunds.

Also at the news conference, Lt. Douglas Oldfield, of the LAPD's Missing Persons Unit, said that detectives reviewed the woman's social media accounts, leading them to believe she "wanted to disconnect."

He said in a statement, "By looking at her past social media, we then saw indications that there were some desires or posts that would be consistent in somebody who would have the desire to disconnect from their phone." He said that detectives can't say they are "100 percent right" about their determination, but they do know that she had her phone after leaving Los Angeles International Airport.

According to NBC4, Kobayashi, a photographer, was heading to New York City on November 8th for a new job and to visit relatives when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.

A few days later, on November 11th, her family reported her missing after relatives received "strange and cryptic, just alarming" text messages, as noted by her aunt Larie Pidgeon. On November 23rd, she told the Associated Press (AP), "Once the family started pressing, she went dark." The aunt said that after the texts on the 11th, her phone "just went dead."

Family members, friends, and local volunteers began to search for the woman in Los Angeles. After investigating the incident, police say that Kobayashi walked alone into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing, which is about 125 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They say she did this on November 12th, the day after her family reported her missing.

The announcement from law enforcement was made after reviewing security video footage from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). McDonnell said that the woman disappeared voluntarily as she sought to "step away from modern connectivity." He said that while she has a right to her privacy, she should really reach out to her family and/or law enforcement so that they know she is safe.

During a police commission a week ago, McDonnell said that detectives determined Kobayashi missed her connecting flight intentionally. The woman's sister, Sydni Kobayashi, disputed his statement in a social media post. Authorities in Mexico said that they have been alerted about the missing woman, but they have not received an official request to search for her.

Kobayashi's family said in a statement, "We are deeply grateful for the urgency and dedication law enforcement has shown in investigating Hannah's disappearance. Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search. The search is far from oer, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely."

The statement added, "We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannah's safety and urge law enforcement and the public to stay focused on finding her and to avoid speculative conclusions. Spreading awareness and sharing verified information about her case is crucial, and we deeply appreciate your continued support in these efforts."

Police said that on November 24th, after relatives gathered in Los Angeles to search for the woman, her father died by suicide near the Los Angeles International Airport. The Los Angeles County medical examiner said that 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma injuries.