Ryan Kobayashi helps to distribute fliers about his missing daughter, Hannah, during a rally outside Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 21. The search for Hannah took a tragic turn early Sunday, when Ryan, 58, was found dead of an apparent suicide.
Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was found dead of an apparent suicide near LAX.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU STAFF WRITER
The ongoing search for a missing woman from Hawaii took an unexpected and tragic turn on Nov. 24, when the woman’s father was found dead of an apparent suicide near Los Angeles International Airport.
The LAPD received reports of a body in the 6100 block of Century Boulevard about 4 a.m. The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s office later identified the person as 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi, the father of Hannah Kobayashi, who has been missing since failing to catch a connecting flight at LAX on Nov. 8.
It has been reported that Ryan Kobayashi jumped from a parking structure to his death.
The family confirmed Ryan’s suicide in a released statement, saying, “This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.
“What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers,” the statement continued. “The trauma they are enduring is profound, and they now face the additional burden of grieving the loss of their family’s pillar and navigating next steps.”
The family has urged continued vigilance in the search for Hannah.
“Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah.”
Ryan Kobayashi’s death came three days after family, friends and volunteers held a brief but emotional rally in front of the south entrance at Crypto.com Arena, to give updates and again plead for any information about Hannah, 31, a resident of Maui.
Her family said she was on her way from Hawaii to New York City on Nov. 8, but missed her connecting flight at LAX. Security video from the airport showed her leaving the same day.
The family added that she posted a photo to her Instagram account, from a Nike event held Nov. 9 and 10 at The Grove, nearly 15 miles from LAX.
Her last known locations were at LAX on Nov. 11, where she reportedly bought a new airline ticket and the last ping from her cell phone was detected, and at the Metro Pico Station, two blocks from Crypto.com Arena. At that time, she was recorded exiting the train with a person that the family does not know.
Larie Pidgeon, Hannah’s aunt, said there were also “strange” text messages from Kobayashi that were completely out of character, about someone attempting to steal her identity.
CNN previously reported that Hannah and her ex-boyfriend were traveling to New York, but since they had broken up before the trip, had changed seats and were not traveling together. The ex-boyfriend boarded the connecting flight to New York on Nov. 8.
A missing-person report was filed with LAPD on Nov. 12.
At the rally, Pidgeon helped organize a few dozen volunteers to canvas the area, post signs and hand out fliers, asking anyone who would listen to take a picture if they think they see the missing woman and to call police.
“We’re trying to use the buddy system to hand out fliers and spread the word, hoping somebody has seen something,” Pidgeon said. “It’s a little bit of a hail Mary, but we’ve got to try everything we can to find her.”
With several news cameras recording her remarks, Pidgeon added a message to Kobayashi: “We love you.”
Also attending the rally was Ryan Kobayashi, who said he had been estranged from his daughter of late, but promised to mend their relationship once she is located.
“This is something you can’t put into words. It’s overwhelming,” he said at the time. “We’re trying to be hopeful. Words like ‘abduction’ have come up, but we’re doing all we can to be positive.”
Pidgeon added that since arriving in Los Angeles to search for her niece, the days have been been chaotic, confusing and exhausting. She said the family has fears Hannah might have become a victim of trafficking, but feels since LAPD still hasn’t determined that a crime has been committed, the agency is not taking the matter seriously enough.
“There are a lot of words that are spoken or going through our heads, but the word ‘urgency’ is the one that keeps coming up. We now know what that means,†she said.
Early Monday, Hannah’s sister, Sydni, mourned her father in a social media post, saying a broken heart led to his death.
“You fought so hard for the family and it was just too much for your to take,” she wrote. “I love you and miss you so much. Although my heart is breaking and my world feels shattered, I’m going to continue to stay strong for you. We’re going to find Hannah.”
LAPD has described Hannah Kobayashi as 5’10”, around 140 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes and freckles. She has a tattoo of a knife on one forearm and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and tie-dyed leggings and carrying a forest green backpack.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to call the LAPD at (877) LAPD-24-7, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
The family has established an online campaign for funds to help with the search: www.gofundme.com/f/4fmxej-support-the-search-for-hannah-kobayashi