Hannah Kobayashi crossed into Mexico, no foul play suspected: Police

(NewsNation) — Authorities updated the public Monday evening with the latest details on 30-year-old Maui resident Hannah Kobayashi, who has been the center of a massive search since she vanished in Los Angeles in early November.

Kobayashi was seen on security footage crossing the U.S. border on foot into Mexico, alone, with luggage and seemingly unharmed, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The case is now classified as a voluntary missing person case. 

Kobayashi wanted to go off the grid and walked into the tunnel that leads to Mexico at about noon on Nov. 12, the day after her family reported her missing, according to police. There is no evidence she’s being trafficked or a victim of foul play, officials said, citing surveillance video from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that they reviewed late Sunday.

“We’ve basically done everything we can do at this point. She’s left the country and is in another nation now,” Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police Jim McDonnell said, adding that if she returns to the U.S., law enforcement will be notified.

McDonnell said she has a right to her privacy but urged her to reach out to her family or law enforcement.

“A simple message could reassure those who care about her,” McDonnell said. He explained that the missing person case would remain active until her safety was confirmed by law enforcement.

In a Nov. 26 Board of Police Commissioners meeting, McDonnell said the investigation determined Kobayashi purposefully skipped her LAX flight.

Kobayashi disappeared and stopped contacting her family just days later.

In the final texts sent to loved ones, Kobayashi said, “I got hacked, stripped of my identity, I can’t fly.”

Another reads: “I got tricked pretty much into giving away my funds for someone I thought I loved. I’ve been on the streets.”

The concerning messages have led family members to believe she could’ve been trafficked, drugged or coerced during her time in Los Angeles. Family flew out to help search for her, and her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide on Nov. 24.

Kobayashi’s sister and mother released a statement on Facebook Saturday night, claiming investigators have reported inaccurate information on the case.

They also allege the police department has not communicated new developments with them:

“We are doing everything in our power to locate Hannah. Based on information, surveillance footage reviewed and information shared with us, these are the facts known to my mother and I:

• It does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight.
• My mother and I were unaware about the alleged findings presented at the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting until multiple videos of the meeting were sent to us by multiple citizens.
• These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannah’s case.
• My mother and I would later learn that the police commission is a five-member committee made up of five civilians, not law enforcement, who are not directly involved in Hannah’s missing persons case.
• Specific facts contained in that report were inaccurate, such as Hannah’s age. Hannah is 30 years old, not 23. Also, Hannah was reported missing to Law Enforcement on November 11th, not November 13th, as stated by the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah.

We are devastated by Hannah’s disappearance and now my father Ryan’s passing. It is completely out of character for Hannah to simply disappear without a trace. We remain deeply concerned about Hannah’s safety, her well-being and her current state of mind.

Hannah, if you happen to see this, know that we are not going to give up or stop searching until we find you. We know that this is something you would never do on your own accord, unless you felt some type of threat or you were unwell. We know how much you love all of us, and we love you deeply.

While we will continue our search for Hannah widely, we will be focusing on the Southern California area, specifically all regions of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and all regions of San Diego.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who continues to hold our family in their prayers and to those positively contributing to our search efforts.

NewsNation’s Nancy Loo, Damita Menezes and the Associated Press contributed to this report.