Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe, the Los Angeles police department (LAPD) said on Wednesday.
Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles, and her disappearance prompted a huge search and a missing persons investigation. It was not immediately clear where she was found, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico.
“We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe,” the LAPD said in a statement. “Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation.”
Kobayashi’s disappearance had caused panic among those close to her and sparked a frantic and sizable investigation from US law enforcement. The mystery surrounding her whereabouts captured global headlines.
“We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe,” Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi posted on X. “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, a budding photographer from Maui, was heading to New York City on 8 November 2024 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.
Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on 11 November after relatives received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon.
“Once the family started pressing, she went dark,” Pidgeon told the Associated Press late last month. After the texts on 11 November, her phone “just went dead”, Pidgeon said.
Family members, friends and local volunteers searched for Kobayashi in Los Angeles. Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who flew in from Hawaii to help in the search. He was found dead on 24 November in a parking lot near LA international airport, according to the county medical examiner. Kobayashi’s family confirmed Ryan’s death in a statement the same day, saying they “endured a devastating tragedy” and that he died by suicide.
Police said Hannah walked into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing about 125 miles (201km) south-east of Los Angeles on 12 November, the day after her family reported her missing. Authorities made the announcement after reviewing security video from US Customs and Border Protection.
Hannah disappeared voluntarily as she sought to “step away from modern connectivity”, Jim McDonnell, the LA police chief, had previously said.
