Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii girl whose disappearance at LAX prompted a weeks-long search within the metropolis, has spoken out for the primary time since returning to the U.S. from Mexico, in accordance with an announcement issued by her household.
“At dawn on December fifteenth, I crossed the border again into america,” Kobayashi mentioned in an announcement offered by her aunt, Larie Pidgeon.
“My focus now’s on my therapeutic, my peace and my creativity. I’m deeply grateful to my household and everybody who has proven me kindness and compassion throughout this time.”
Within the assertion, Kobayashi mentioned that she didn’t study of the media protection round her household reporting her lacking till she returned.
“I used to be unaware of the whole lot that was occurring within the media whereas I used to be away, and I’m nonetheless processing all of it. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my household, and my family members as I navigate via this difficult time. Thanks in your understanding,” she wrote.
Kobayashi disappeared after lacking her Nov. 8 connecting flight to New York at LAX, her household mentioned. She was reported lacking after her household mentioned she despatched them cryptic textual content messages suggesting that her identification and cash had been stolen.
The investigation culminated with the Los Angeles Police Division classifying her as a “voluntary lacking particular person,” saying there was no proof of felony exercise and video confirmed her crossing the border into Mexico. LAPD additionally mentioned they didn’t consider Kobayashi was a sufferer of trafficking or foul play.
Police officers mentioned they acquired notification from Customs Border Safety that Kobayashi reentered the U.S. from Mexico on Sunday and “appeared in good well being,” in accordance with a division information launch. The case was closed, and Kobayashi has been faraway from the lacking and unidentified individuals system.
Kobayashi’s household pushed again on the official police narrative that their liked one had gone off on her personal, insisting that she was nonetheless lacking.
Officers mentioned that on Nov. 12, the 30-year-old used money and her passport to get a bus ticket to Union Station with a view to attain the San Ysidro border crossing, the place she crossed into Mexico via a tunnel.
Kobayashi’s father, Ryan, traveled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to assist search for his daughter. His physique was discovered Nov. 24 close to LAX; authorities deemed his loss of life a suicide.
Kobayashi’s disappearance was the second case through which a lady was reported lacking by their households to the LAPD and their statements conflicted with official police narrative.
“Gossip Woman” actress Chanel Banks was reported lacking by her household in November earlier than police revealed she was discovered protected in Texas.
