Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who was at the center of a Southern California missing persons investigation before authorities said she voluntarily crossed into Mexico, has been found safe, her family said Wednesday.
In their brief statement, her mother and sister did not say when or where Kobayashi, 30, was found. They thanked supporters and said they were grateful she had been located.
“This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through,” the statement said.
Kobayashi’s family said last week that they were investigating whether she may have been part of a green card marriage scam. A report in Los Angeles Magazine said she may have been involved in a possible immigration scam, but a lawyer for the family has said they had not been able to verify information about a possible "secret marriage" and asked the public to avoid jumping to conclusions.
Kobayashi’s father died by suicide Nov. 24 after the family went to Los Angeles last month to search for her.
Kobayashi, an aspiring artist, landed at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 8 with plans to catch a connecting flight to New York City, where she planned to visit the Museum of Modern Art, her family said.
She missed her connecting flight and was reported missing five days later, after she sent a message to her family that described being scared and suggested that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity, according to her aunt.
Los Angeles police found video showing Kobayashi crossing into Mexico via a San Diego land port on Nov. 12.
Police officials said that Kobayashi intentionally missed her flight and that there was no evidence of human trafficking or foul play.
A review of her social media accounts led investigators to believe "there were some desires or posts that would be consistent in somebody who would have the desire to disconnect from their phone," said one of the officials, Lt. Douglas Oldfield of police department's Missing Persons Unit.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.