Missing Hannah Kobayashi’s dad ‘scoured Skid Row’ for daughter and search became ‘too much to bear’ before his death
THE dad of missing traveler Hannah Kobayashi combed some of Los Angeles’ notorious neighborhoods in the hope he would find his daughter days before his death, his family has said.
Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot – near his daughter’s last-known location.
His body was found on Sunday, more than two weeks after Hannah was seen in surveillance footage at Los Angeles airport.
Hannah, who was heading to New York, jetted out of Hawaii on November 8 and landed in California but failed to make her connecting flight.
The traveler, who had even mapped out what she planned to do in the Empire State, was later seen at an event in Los Angeles.
A string of cryptic messages were sent from her phone, sparking huge concern.
Ryan jetted out to Los Angeles and searched tirelessly for Hannah.
Her disappearance sparked fears she may have been abducted or trafficked.
Family members have revealed what Ryan was going through.
“He has been living his absolute worst nightmare, since Hannah’s disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief,” a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for his fiancée said.
Hannah’s aunt Larie Pidgeon said Ryan searched some of Los Angeles’ notorious neighborhoods.
“Imagine looking in places like Skid Row, picturing his daughter being sex trafficked, not getting sleep,” she told The New York Post.
“He just broke.”
Skid Row is a neighborhood in Los Angeles that has gained a reputation for being seedy and dangerous.
The district is synonymous with homelessness and poverty, and research has revealed there are an estimated 4,000 homeless people in the area.
Larie told Daily Mail the search was “too much to bear” as the days passed.
Ryan, a photographer, was last seen hours before his death and Larie described the day as “productive” albeit tiring.
The U.S. Sun reported how Ryan broke down at a rally days before his death.
His body was found at around 4am on Sunday morning and Los Angeles police told The U.S. Sun his next of kin has been informed.
A family statement shared on a Facebook group revealed the Kobayashi’s suffered a “devastating tragedy.”
Hannah’s sister Sydni said her dad was with the angels, as reported by the CBS affiliate KGMB.
“I am absolutely devastated that you left us so soon, but I know it was because of a broken heart,” she said.
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
HANNAH Kobayashi has been missing since she missed her connecting flight to New York.
Friday, November 8: Kobayashi leaves her home in Maui and arrives in Los Angeles for her connecting flight to New York City. She has 42 minutes to make the flight at 11 pm.
Saturday, November 9: Kobayashi is meant to land at JFK airport in New York City at 7 am but never arrives.
Sunday, November 10: Kobayashi sends a message saying she’s scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside a number of other cryptic texts.
She’s later seen at an event at The Grove in Los Angeles, about an hour away from LAX.
Monday, November 11: Kobayashi’s phone puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account. She turns her phone off.
Wednesday, November 13: Family files missing person’s report.
Thursday, November 14: A YouTube video of the Nike event at The Grove is posted, placing Kobayashi in Los Angeles
Sunday, November 24: Hannah’s dad Ryan found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot
“You fought so hard for the family and it was just too much for you to take. you gave it your all and I will always remember you as my strongest warrior.”
Sydni said her heart was breaking, and her world had been shattered.
Ryan was among relatives who had spent weeks searching for Hannah.
Hannah was meant to land in New York on November 9.
The trip to New York was a “bucket list” vacation and a handwritten schedule revealed the activities she intended on doing.
Hannah had reportedly spent hundreds of dollars on concert tickets before her trip.
However, concerns about her whereabouts intensified after friends and family received a series of text messages.
STRANGE MESSAGES
The texts came from Hannah’s phone, but it’s not known for sure that she sent them.
The texts claimed someone was trying to steal her identity.
Hannah’s family said they received text messages about the matrix.
Larie revealed the lack of emojis in the messages, which also sparked concern, as per USA Today.
The traveler was seen at an event in The Grove in the city.
Hannah’s last known location was on November 11 at Los Angeles airport.
But her family said they had seen surveillance footage near a metro station.
They said Hannah didn’t look well in the video, and she was with someone else.
Days before his death, Ryan said he missed Hannah, and a vigil was held near the Crypto.com arena.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.