Featured Image Credit: Larie Pidgeon/Sydni Kobayashi/Facebook
Topics: US News, World News, News, Crime
Rhianna Benson
Topics: US News, World News, News, Crime
A Hawaiian woman who went missing in Mexico has finally been returned to the US, and has now addressed her disappearance with a statement.
Hannah Kobayashi, 30, hit headlines around the world last month after failing to board her connecting flight at a Los Angeles airport to New York, and was subsequently declared a missing person.
After her family became aware that she hadn't flown to New York, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) discovered that the aspiring photographer had actually crossed the US border on 12 November, and was therefore in Mexico.
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Investigating officers also alleged that Hannah's disappearance was 'voluntarily', with eye-witnesses to her fleeing telling police she looked as though she was travelling alone.
They also insisted that 'speculation about potential involvement in human trafficking or foul play' was false.
Around this time, however, Hannah's family claimed to have been receiving texts which implied someone was trying to steal her identity.
But last week, the LAPD confirmed that Hannah had been found safe and sound in Mexico - though she hadn't yet been reunited with hew loved ones at this point.
Her sister, Sydni, told press: "At this time, my mother and I have not physically seen Hannah. We do not have actual proof of where she is, other than that she is somewhere in Mexico."
Now, according to PEOPLE Magazine, Hannah has spoken out, having been reunited with her aunt Larie Pidgeon.
However, by this point her 58-year-old father Ryan Kobayashi had both travelled from Hawaii to LA to search for her, and taken his own life when it was assumed that she might not be returning.
His body was discovered at the bottom of LAX Airport on 24 November.
A family statement at the time said: "The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family's suffering immeasurably.
"What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers. Please be considerate with your comments and posts. 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."
Shockingly, however, in a new statement given to police today, Hannah claimed she was 'unaware' that her case had been covered by international press, despite her father having passed away.
"At daybreak on December 15th, I crossed the border back into the United States," her message read. "My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.
"I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all."
Hannah added: "I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family, and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding."
Her sister has once again issued an update, revealing she and her mother have since spoken to Hannah on the phone and confessing that 'the past 31 days have been absolute hell for us'.
Syndi continued: "I feel they will continue to be for a while, even as we try to transition back to some semblance of normalcy.
"As you can imagine, we are all extremely relieved and glad that my sister is alive and seemingly okay, but we also have mixed and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, devastation, and betrayal.
"We are kindly asking the public to respect our privacy and offer us grace for a moment as we are still grieving. There is still so much unknown, and so much that still needs to be navigated."
After presenting herself 'for entry into the US' at Customs and Border Protection last week, LAPD closed Hannah's case.
Kobayashi's family say they received texts claiming someone was trying to steal her identity and having grew concerned, they reported her missing.
A widespread search was sparked for the aspiring photographer, with Kobayashi's father Ryan Kobayashi flying from Maui to LA and multiple alleged sightings reported.
During their investigation, police dismissed speculation Kobayashi was involved in any type of criminal activity.
Kobayashi's father Ryan was tragically found dead at 4.00am in a car park near the airport in what is believed to be a suicide.
A family statement at the time said: "The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family's suffering immeasurably.
"What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers. Please be considerate with your comments and posts. 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."
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell announced during a Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meeting that officials believed Kobayashi missed her flight on purpose and had gone missing voluntarily.
The family disputed the claims made by authorities.
A few days later, the case is officially re-classified, with Hannah now considered a voluntary missing person after being spotted crossing the border into Mexico.
An update was finally provided on the case as Kobayashi was found 'safe and well' in Mexico.
"We are incredibly relieved and grateful Hannah has been found safe," a family statement shared with the Mail Online stated.
Doug Oldfield of the LA Police Department’s missing persons unit confirms that Kobayashi had crossed the border back into the US on 15 December and that her case is now closed.