LOS ANGELES — The father of a 31-year-old woman who disappeared after landing at Los Angeles International Airport was found dead Sunday.
Ryan Kobayashi, father of Hannah Kobayashi, had recently traveled to Los Angeles to help search for his missing daughter. About 4 a.m. Sunday, the 58-year-old man died after jumping off a parking structure near LAX, and police believe it to be a case of suicide, according to news reports.
The medical examiner has confirmed the father’s death, but has not officially specified the cause.
The daughter was traveling from Maui to New York City to visit family on Nov. 8 and missed her connecting flight at LAX. She apparently traveled to The Grove shopping center on Nov. 10, where she attended a Nike event — from which she posted a photo to her Instagram page.
Her family says she went back to LAX on Nov. 11, but apparently did not board a flight. It was on that day that the family 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.”
The missing woman’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told USA Today, the messages the family received from her were uncharacteristic, including “weird things, calling us babe, things that weren’t quite the normal way that she speaks.”
Family members most recently stated that they had obtained surveillance footage that captured her in the area of the downtown Metro train station near Crypto.com Arena, although it was unclear exactly when that footage was taken. 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.”
A vigil for her took place in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, and the search for her is ongoing.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, or knowing of such a person, can obtain help by calling the 988 Lifeline.
