Tragic twists of the missing photographer Hannah Kobayashi case gripping the world – from bizarre texts to dad’s suicide
THE search for missing woman Hannah Kobayashi has taken a set of tragic turns after she was last seen on November 11.
The alarm was sounded after the 30-year-old missed a connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York, but confusing messages and the tragic death of her father have followed the desperate hunt.
The mystery started on November 8 after Hannah arrived in LA, from her home in Maui, for her connecting flight to New York at 11pm.
But Hannah never made it – despite reportedly booking tickets worth hundreds of dollars for events in the city.
She was then seen at a bookshop around an hour from Los Angeles International Airport, when she was supposed to have land on the East Coast.
The search for Hannah has taken a series of unexpected and concerning turns as the cops and her family reveal more information about the case.
PARANOID TEXTS
On November 10, two days after missing her connected flight, a string of cryptic messages were sent from her phone, sparking huge concern from family and friends.
In these messages Hannah says she was scared about someone trying to steal her money and identity.
Hannah’s mom, Brandi Yee, had messaged her to see if she had landed in New York and received a two-word reply saying: “Not yet.”
Hannah also sent an eerie text to her friend saying: “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved.”
Another message reportedly referenced a “spiritual awakening” and featured an apology for acting crazy.
Hannah’s worried aunt Larie Pidgeon says one of the final messages she was sent from the missing woman spoke about the “matrix”.
The mystery deepened when she was seen at a Nike event in LA that same day.
By November 11, Hannah’s phone placed her back at LAX and she posted a picture on her Instagram of the Nike event.
Her phone was then switched off.
A missing person’s report for Hannah was filed two days later after family members couldn’t get through to her.
Hannah’s heartbroken sister Sydni Kobayashi has since said that the texts may have been sent by someone else, admitting that she was starting to feel uneasy in light of the messages.
Speaking to NewsNation, Sydni said she “feels like someone was controlling her”, adding that she knows “this is absolutely not like her”.
Hannah’s aunt Larie travelled to Los Angeles with fellow family members, including Hannah’s dad Ryan as the search for the young woman ramped up.
Hannah’s family revealed they saw her in surveillance footage from November 11 that hasn’t been released to the public, saying she didn’t look well.
They fear she may have been abducted or trafficked.
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.
She is seen at a bookshop at The Grove, an hour away from LAX.
Sunday, November 10: Kobayashi sends a message saying she’s scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside several other cryptic texts.
She’s later seen at an event at The Grove again in Los Angeles, attending a Nike event.
Monday, November 11: Kobayashi’s phone puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account from the event. Her phone is then turned off.
Wednesday, November 13: Family files missing person’s report.
They are informed she was last seen at Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles with an unidentified male.
Sunday, November 24: Hannah’s dad Ryan found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot after taking his own life.
Hannah was spotted at the Metro Pico station in downtown Los Angeles and was reportedly seen with another unknown person in the footage at 10:03pm.
COMPOUNDED FAMILY TRAGEDY
As the search continued, 17 days after Hannah missed her connecting flight, her dad Ryan was tragically found dead in a parking lot in Los Angeles.
The LA County Medical Examiner ruled his death as suicide.
His heartbroken family say he bottled up his emotions as he tirelessly searched for his daughter.
A GoFundMe page set up after Ryan’s passing read: “He has been living his absolute worst nightmare since Hannah’s disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief.”
Ryan was said to have scoured some of LA’s most dangerous neighborhoods in a bid to find Hannah.
Hannah’s aunt Larie told the New York Post: “Imagine looking in places like Skid Row, picturing his daughter being sex trafficked, not getting sleep,”
“He just broke.”
Skid Row has long had a reputation for being seedy and dangerous and has had a significant concentration of unhoused people since the Great Depression.
MYSTERY PAYMENTS
In another tragic twist, the U.S. Sun exclusively reported how two Venmo payments were sent to a man and a woman on November 9th.
Her family said they didn’t recognize the names of the people who were wired money.
One was at 6:25 pm to a woman named Veronica Almendarez for an undisclosed amount, with the description showing only a bow and arrow emoji.
The second payment was made less than an hour later at 7:19 pm to a man called Jonathan Taylor with the description, “Reading.”
Sources claim it was for a tarot card reading, something the “spiritual” Kobayashi is interested in.
Insiders say Taylor has been approached by those searching for Kobayashi through his TikTok account and has since turned it private.
Taylor did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Reddit users also alleged Taylor went live on social media to claim he introduced Kobayashi to a mystery man and doesn’t know where she is now, but these claims have not been substantiated.
Hannah’s aunt Larie confirmed to The U.S. Sun that the family had seen the payments and allegations she met with a scammer.
She said: “We have been made aware and so have the LAPD. It’s in their hands.
“We are also now encouraging people from across the nation to keep an eye in case she has been taken outside of California.”
TWIN FLAMES
Online sleuths on Reddit have also mentioned the fact Kobayashi is following Twin Flame accounts related to the love cult Twin Flames Universe and went missing on 11/11, which is often interpreted as a significant sign in the spiritual community.
It is said to be a reunion number for Twin Flames that signals new beginnings and a connection to a higher source.
The U.S. Sun can confirm Kobayashi is following four accounts linked to the Twin Flames movement.
One text from Kobayashi revealed by her family also said she “got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds … for someone I thought I loved.”
Pidgeon said of the bizarre theory, “We have asked all tips to be turned in to the LAPD so they can follow up.
“If we chased every rumor that’s out there we would go crazy. The internet is going wild with conspiracy theories.”
She added, “It’s our job as her family to keep the search going and focus on the facts.”
However, police reportedly classified her as a “voluntary missing person” and have not released any full statements about the case.
MUSICAL AWAKENING
The U.S. Sun can also reveal Kobayashi wrote of her travel plans after becoming a fan of the EDM music scene recently on a trip to Chicago.
In September, she replied to a user on Threads who spoke of wanting to connect with like-minded, friendly people who are “into music and raves and adventure.”
Kobayashi responded, “You sound like my kinda people! I recently went to Chicago for the first time to experience true house music @ the source.
“Every trip moving forward rn for me is based off exploring the epicenters of music & what speaks to me.
“Chicago was so incredible & inspirational, esp all the local talent/ intimate afters.
“I just secured my ticket for movement in Detroit & I will be flying solo exploring NYC soon & diving into all kinds of music experiences. Super ready to dive deeper with sound…”
As of the November 28, Larie revealed that there have been “new sightings” of her missing niece, as police pursue what she calls “really credible leads”.
She told Maui News that she is hopeful the new sightings could eventually bring Hannah home – as the grieving family continue their desperate search.