Hannah Kobayashi, the 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who was reported missing by her family last month, has been found safe.
A statement shared by attorney Sara Azari on behalf of Kobayashi’s family read, "We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."
Kobayashi was reported missing after she missed a connecting flight between Hawaii and New York City at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8, the Daily Mail reported. The trip to New York was described as a "bucket list" trip.
LAPD said that Kobayashi had crossed into Mexico voluntarily, with investigators saying she "knowingly departed" the airport and used her passport and cash to get a bus ticket to the US-Mexico border. She was caught on surveillance footage crossing into Tijuana on foot between November 12 and 13. The investigation was closed after police found that she was "voluntarily missing."
The family claimed that going to Mexico was unlike Kobayashi, and after the probe was closed, they said the search for her was "far from over, and they are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely."
Kobayashi’s father, Ryan flew to Los Angeles to help with the search, and in late November was found dead at a business near LAX. His death was ruled a suicide by the LA County Medical Examiner, ABC 7 reported.
The outlet reported that November 11 was the last day Kobayashi was heard from. She was traveling to upstate New York to spend time with her aunt. Her sister, Sydni, said that Kobayashi used words like "hun," "love," and "babe" in the messages sent before her disappearance, which did not sound like her. While her boyfriend took the connecting flight to New York, Kobayashi did not get on the plane.
In one message shared with CNN by her sister, Kobayashi wrote to a friend, "Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f*ck since Friday." another message said, "I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds" followed by "For someone I thought I loved."
