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Two weeks after the disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi, she has reportedly been found safe. Tragically, however, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, reportedly took his own life amid the search for her.
CNN has reported that Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, passed away. On Sunday, December 8, his body was reportedly discovered in Los Angeles. He had traveled there to assist in the search for Hannah. The outlet states that Hannah last contacted her family on Nov. 11, three days after missing a connecting flight to New York City during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport.
According to the New York Post, Ryan tragically passed away after jumping from a parking structure near LAX airport. The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office determined his death to be a suicide.
The Kobayashi family addressed Ryan’s tragic death in a statement to CNN, describing it as a “devastating tragedy” that deepens their heartbreak.
After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the familys suffering immeasurably.”
Before his passing, Ryan Kobayashi expressed to CNN in an interview his unwavering determination to find Hannah and “bring her home.”
Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art, music. I wasnt too close with her growing up. We hadnt had contact for a while. Im just trying to make up. Im trying to get her back. Thats my main focus,” Ryan explained.
Nearly a month after vanishing, Hannah Kobayashi’s family announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11, that she had been found safe, according to PEOPLE. The case captured global attention after her relatives expressed fears that something tragic had occurred. NBC News states that her family began looking into whether she had fallen victim to a green card marriage scam.
Hannah, an aspiring artist, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 8, planning to catch a connecting flight to New York City to visit the Museum of Modern Art. She missed that flight and was eventually reported missing five days later, following a message to her family where she described feeling scared and hinted that she may targeted for money and identity theft, her aunt revealed.
Police stated that Hannah had intentionally skipped her flight and found no signs of human trafficking or foul play. PEOPLE shared that a breakthrough in the case came on December 1, when border authorities reviewed video footage showing Hannah entering Tijuana alone, carrying a gray backpack and pink suitcase, and displaying no signs of distress.
