Father of Missing Hawaii Woman Found Deceased in Los Angeles

The father of a Hawaii woman who had been reported missing was discovered deceased on Sunday in California. He had journeyed to the state to participate in the search for his daughter. Ryan Kobayashi had recently traveled to Los Angeles to assist in the search for his 30-year-old daughter, Hannah Kobayashi. She disappeared earlier in the current month following a stopover at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) while en route to New York City. Authorities in Los Angeles confirmed that Mr. Kobayashi, aged 58, was subsequently found deceased within a car park situated close to the airport. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office attributed the cause of death to suicide, resulting from multiple blunt force traumatic injuries. Ms. Kobayashi, a photographer residing in Maui, disappeared shortly after her arrival at LAX on November 8. The circumstances of her disappearance remain unknown, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has initiated a search operation. She had planned to visit her aunt, Geordan Montalvo, in New York for a concert, a trip that was characterized as a “bucket list” experience. Following her disappearance, family members and friends reported receiving unusual text messages from her mobile phone. In these messages, she stated she had been “tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds” to “someone I thought I loved.” According to their accounts, she was sighted on several occasions: first, at an LA mall on November 10, and then the subsequent day in surveillance footage near a downtown metro train station accompanied by an unidentified individual. On Monday, a non-profit organization assisting in the search efforts confirmed Mr. Kobayashi’s death by suicide. The group, identified as the RAD Movement, stated in a Facebook post: “After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life.” The group further commented, “This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.” The RAD Movement urged the continuation of the search for Ms. Kobayashi, while acknowledging the family’s need for “space to grieve and process this significant loss.” “Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger,” the group emphasized, adding, “It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah.” People Magazine, referencing police sources, reported that officers were dispatched to the car park near the airport following a phone call alert. Prior to his death, Mr. Kobayashi had addressed the media at a rally, stating: “We’re just trying to get us as much information as we can.” He further expressed his worry and confusion since his daughter’s disappearance, remarking, “Everything is just a blur it seems, because I haven’t slept well since I’ve heard the news.” For those affected by the issues discussed, resources such as the BBC’s Action Line pages or Samaritans in the UK are available for support. In the United States, individuals can call 988 or contact Lifeline. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.