Father of missing woman Hannah Kobayashi found dead in apparent suicide

Photo from GoFundMe

LOS ANGELES – A search was continuing Monday for 31-year-old Hannah Kobayashi, who disappeared after landing at Los Angeles International Airport and missing a connecting flight, but the family was also dealing with a separate tragedy — the death of the woman’s father.

According to the family, Ryan Kobayashi, 58, killed himself Sunday in Los Angeles.

“After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life,” according to a statement from the family. “This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

Police said Ryan Kobayashi apparently jumped to his death from a parking structure near LAX around 4 a.m. Sunday.

“What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers,” according to the family’s statement. “… The trauma they are enduring is profound, and they now face the additional burden of grieving the loss of their family’s pillar and navigating next steps.”

The family noted that Hannah Kobayashi “is still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah.” The family pleaded with the public to “maintain focus on the search for her.”

Image from Missing People in America / Facebook

According to her family, Hannah Kobayashi was traveling to New York City to visit family when she disappeared.

She landed at LAX on Nov. 8, but after missing her connecting flight, she apparently traveled to The Grove shopping center, where she attended a Nov. 10 Nike event — from which she posted a photo to her Instagram page.

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Hannah Kobayashi went back to LAX on Nov. 11, but apparently did not board a flight. It was on that day that the family says they started to receive strange text messages from her.

“Hannah’s last message to us was alarming — she mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” according to the family. “She hasn’t been heard from since, and we are gravely concerned for her safety.”

Photo from Missing People in America / Facebook

Family members said they had obtained surveillance footage from later on Nov. 11 that captured Kobayashi in the area of the downtown Metro train station near Crypto.com Arena. The family indicated that based on the footage, “it is evident that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone.”

Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, said previously that the last messages the family received from Hannah were uncharacteristic, including “weird things, calling us babe, things that weren’t quite the normal way that she speaks.”

The family has been canvassing areas near Crypto.com Arena in recent days to distribute flyers and seek more assistance from the public in finding her.

Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni, took to Facebook Monday morning to mourn the death of her father.

“I am so sad and devastated that you left us so soon, but I understand it was because of a broken heart,” she wrote. “You fought so hard for the family and it was just too much for you to take. I love you and miss you so much. Although my heart is breaking and my world feels shattered, I’m going to continue to stay strong for you. We’re going to find Hannah.” (CNS)