After weeks of uncertainty, widespread media coverage, and a family’s desperate search, 30-year-old Hawaii native Hannah Kobayashi is finally back in the U.S. and breaking her silence. Kobayashi, who vanished in November after missing a connecting flight in Los Angeles, had been the subject of a nationwide search and intense speculation.
Now, five days after her family announced she was found safe, she’s issuing a statement and focusing on healing.
On Monday, December 16, Lt. Doug Oldfield of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit confirmed that they had been notified the previous day—December 15—that Kobayashi had crossed back into the U.S. from Mexico. According to Oldfield, Kobayashi presented herself at the border, appeared to be in good health, and showed no signs of distress. With her safe return, the official missing-person case is now closed.
In a statement provided to PEOPLE by her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi acknowledged her return and addressed the overwhelming attention surrounding her disappearance. “At daybreak on December 15th, I crossed the border back into the United States,” her statement began.
She expressed gratitude for the kindness and compassion shown to her and her family, stating: “My focus now is on my healing, my peace, and my creativity.” Kobayashi also noted that she had been unaware of the media frenzy during her time away and asked for privacy and respect as she processes the ordeal.
Hannah Kobayashi’s Missing: A Case That Captivated the Public
Kobayashi’s family first announced she was “found safe” on December 11, weeks after she failed to catch her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York on November 9. Initially, her absence raised fears of foul play. Her family publicly worried that she could have been a victim of kidnapping or human trafficking.
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The FBI and local law enforcement were informed, and the family even considered seeking help from Mexican media once it was discovered she had crossed the border into Mexico.
However, authorities in Los Angeles soon determined that Kobayashi’s disappearance appeared to be voluntary. She had not boarded the plane to New York by choice, and security footage placed her at The Grove shopping mall in L.A. over several days in early November. Further investigation showed that on November 12, Kobayashi traveled by bus into Mexico, where she remained out of contact.
Throughout the search, Kobayashi’s family endured tremendous heartbreak. Her father, who traveled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to assist with the search, died by suicide on November 24 amid the mounting emotional toll and uncertainty over her fate. The tragedy deepened the family’s resolve to find Hannah safe, sparing them further heartbreak.
On December 2, the LAPD publicly classified Kobayashi as a “voluntary missing person” after confirming her crossing into Mexico. Still, her mother, sister, and other relatives held onto hope. They considered new strategies, including raising awareness in Mexico, to help bring Hannah home.
A Timeline of Key Events
- November 8, 2024: Kobayashi misses her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York.
- November 9-10, 2024: She is spotted at The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles.
- November 11, 2024: Spends the day at LAX with an unidentified man.
- November 12, 2024: Kobayashi takes a bus to Mexico.
- November 24, 2024: Her father dies by suicide during the search.
- December 2, 2024: Authorities declare Kobayashi a “voluntary missing person.”
- December 7, 2024: A Tijuana official confirms no active search is underway for Kobayashi there.
- December 11, 2024: Her family announces that Hannah has been found safe.
- December 15, 2024: Kobayashi crosses back into the U.S.
- December 16, 2024: LAPD confirms her return, and Kobayashi issues a statement.
Now that Kobayashi is safely in the U.S., she aims to prioritize her well-being. In her statement, she expressed surprise at the extensive media coverage and requested understanding as she navigates the aftermath. While many questions may remain unanswered—such as what prompted her to leave and how she spent her time abroad—the family’s immediate focus is on healing and moving forward.
With the case officially closed, police have no obligation to interview Kobayashi further, and she’s under no legal obligation to share more details publicly. As a result, the public may never learn the full story. For now, the Kobayashi family can finally turn the page, hoping to find peace and closure after a tumultuous and emotionally exhausting chapter in their lives.
