A woman who went missing while on holiday has been located and is reportedly ‘safe and well’, according to her family.
Hannah Kobayashi was traveling from her residence in Maui, Hawaii, en route to New York via a connecting flight in Los Angeles last November, but she did not board the plane at LAX.
This prompted concern among her family, who traveled to Los Angeles to search for her and eventually filed a missing person’s report.
The Los Angeles Police Department had confirmed earlier that they had identified Kobayashi through video surveillance footage.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated: “As the family is aware, late yesterday after traveling to the US-Mexico border we reviewed video surveillance from US Customs and Border Protection which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing United States border on foot into Mexico.”
On Wednesday (December 11), an update was given by Kobayashi’s family in a statement.
“We are incredibly relieved and grateful Hannah has been found safe,” the statement shared with the Mail Online reads.
The specifics of Kobayashi’s whereabouts and activities during the time she was missing remain uncertain.
The police had previously detailed the events surrounding Kobayashi’s disappearance, which stirred reactions with her family.
McDonnell added: “On November 8, 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York which the investigation determined was intentional.”
“Over the next few days she maintained contact with her family and was active on Instagram. However, the family last heard from Hannah on November 11 after receiving concerning text messages and losing further contact; her family traveled to LA on November 13 and filed a missing person report.”
“On November 15, our missing person’s unit assumed investigative responsibility, detectives have been diligently reviewing video surveillance and employing various investigative techniques to locate Hannah, while her family has continued their personal search efforts.
“Tragically on November 24, during the search for his daughter, Hannah’s father Ryan Kobayashi was found deceased. Preliminary findings indicate his death was by suicide.”
Throughout their investigation, the police dismissed any rumors of Kobayashi’s involvement in criminal activities.
“To date the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity,” police added.
“She has a right to her privacy, and we respect her choices but we also understand the concern her loved ones feel for her.”