The father of a missing 31-year-old woman who disappeared over two weeks ago after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was found dead on Sunday. Ryan Kobayashi, 58, had flown to Los Angeles to search for his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, but tragically died in what police believe was a suicide.
According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Ryan reportedly jumped from a parking structure near LAX around 4 a.m. on Sunday. While police suspect suicide, the medical examiner has not yet confirmed the official cause of death. The search for Hannah began after her family received alarming texts from her on November 11, three days after she landed at LAX.
In the messages, Hannah expressed fear, claiming someone might be trying to steal her money and identity. “Hannah’s last message to us was alarming — she mentioned feeling scared and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” her family said. “She hasn’t been heard from since, and we are gravely concerned for her safety.”
Hannah, who flew from Maui, Hawaii, to LAX on November 8, missed her connecting flight to New York, where she was supposed to meet family and attend events. On November 10, she attended a Nike event at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles, sharing a photo on Instagram. The following day, her family began receiving the uncharacteristic texts.
Her aunt, Laurie Pidgeon, told NBC Los Angeles that the messages included “weird things” and terms like “babe,” which Hannah never used with them. The family recently obtained security footage showing Hannah at a downtown Metro station near Crypto.com Arena. The footage reportedly shows her appearing unwell and in the company of others, though it’s unclear when the video was recorded.
“It is evident that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition, and she is not alone,” the family said. Hannah’s phone last pinged at LAX, and her ex-boyfriend, who was on the flight with her from Maui but did not speak to her, reportedly continued to New York without incident. He has been cooperating with authorities.
The circumstances surrounding Hannah’s disappearance remain a mystery. A vigil was held for her in downtown Los Angeles, and the search for answers continues. The tragic death of her father adds another layer of heartbreak to an already troubling case.