Hannah Kobayashi’s family react to shock claims she ‘voluntarily disappeared’ before dad’s suicide – as NEW CCTV emerges
The heartbroken family of missing Hannah Kobayashi has hit back at shock police claims she “intentionally” disappeared
New CCTV footage shows the Hawaii woman buying a bus ticket to Mexico on November 11 – the day she stopped replying to family and friends.
Tragically, Hannah’s dad, Ryan, spent almost two weeks searching for her in the wrong city after his daughter didn’t tell anyone she had changed her plans and disappeared.
Now a photo from the new footage shows Hannah standing with her passport and a suitcase at Union Station, Los Angeles, on November 11 buying a bus ticket to the US-Mexico border.
Cops now believe Hannah disappeared “voluntarily” and went on a digital detox.
But Hannah’s heartbroken sister has told how this conclusion from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has “confused” and “frustrated” the desperate family.
They are terrified the announcement will mean people give up the search when they still believe Hannah could have been kidnapped or trafficked.
On Tuesday LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell police said: “Kobayashi expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity,” suggesting she had simply gone on a digital detox.
Sydni hit back: “To hear that and not to have it run by our family first […] it’s very discouraging.”
They are even more concerned because the police statement got Hannah’s age wrong by seven years.
LAPD said that Hannah was 23, when in fact she is 30.
According to the distressed family, LAPD have washed their hands of the case, claiming there is little more they can do.
Sydni continued: “I don’t want to bash the LAPD. I don’t want to discredit them if they are doing what they are doing.
“At this time, it makes us very confused as to where they are at.
“The way that it kind of seems to state it is she went out and about to do her own thing.
Sydni still believes that Hannah is in danger, because she knows her sister would have come forward after the news of her father’s suicide.
Sydni said: “With my father’s passing, with it being everywhere, in her right state of mind, she would have never thought to not reach out to anybody.”
There were other sightings of Hannah on November 11 traveling around LA, three days after she left her home in Hawaii.
The next day, November 12, she took the bus from LA to San Ysidro, California, and crossed the Mexican border into Tijuana.
Cameras caught Hannah as she walked through the tunnel at the Port of Entry at 12:13 pm.
Cops say she was alone and traveling with her luggage when cameras recorded her at the border on November 12.
There has been no confirmed contact with Hannah since then.
Hannah’s father, Ryan, travelled to LA to search for his daughter, but tragically was found dead in a car park after searching in the wrong city.
Hannah’s family has urged the public to keep on looking and reporting sightings.
The LAPD says it is still committed to finding Hannah.
Police chief McDonnell said: “Our hearts go out to the Kobayashi family during this unimaginable time of grief.
“We remain fully committed to locating Hannah and supporting the family as they navigate this tragedy.”
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
HANNAH Kobayashi has been missing since she missed her connecting flight to New York.
Friday, November 8: Hannah leaves her home in Maui and arrives in Los Angeles for her connecting flight to New York City. She has 42 minutes to make the flight at 11 pm.
Saturday, November 9: Hannah is meant to land at JFK airport in New York City at 7 am but never arrives.
She is seen at a bookshop at The Grove, an hour away from LAX.
Sunday, November 10: Hannah sends a message saying she’s scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside several other cryptic texts.
She’s later seen at an event at The Grove again in Los Angeles, attending a Nike event.
Monday, November 11: Hannah’s phone puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account from the event. Her phone is then turned off.
Tuesday, November 12: Hannah catches a bus from Union Station down to San Ysidro, San Diego, and crosses the border into Tijuana, Mexico.
Wednesday, November 13: Family files missing person’s report.
They are informed she was last seen at Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles with an unidentified male.
Sunday, November 24: Hannah’s dad Ryan is found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot after taking his own life.
Monday, December 2: Cops announce that Hannah was seen in surveillance footage crossing into Mexico from the US on November 12.
The investigation by US authorities is paused as they determine that she voluntarily left the country – but they say they’ll pick the case back up if she returns to the US.