Missing Hawaii Woman Found After Crossing Into Mexico “`

LOS ANGELES — Police announced Monday that a Hawaii woman reported missing three weeks after arriving in Los Angeles has been sighted crossing into Mexico. She is no longer considered a missing person.

Authorities stated that 30-year-old Hannah Kobayashi, seen crossing the border alone with her luggage on November 12th, the day after her family reported her missing, appeared unharmed in U.S. Customs and Border Protection surveillance footage reviewed Sunday. There is no indication of foul play or human trafficking.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell classified the case as a “voluntary missing person,” stating, “We’ve exhausted all available resources. She’s left the country and is now in another nation.” He added that law enforcement will be informed should she return to the U.S.

While respecting Kobayashi’s right to privacy, McDonnell urged her to contact family or law enforcement. “A simple message could reassure those who care about her,” he said, noting that the missing person case will remain open until her safety is confirmed.

Kobayashi was initially reported missing after she missed a connecting flight to New York on November 8th, where she was to start a new job and visit relatives. She had informed her family she would stay overnight at Los Angeles International Airport.

Her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, explained that the family initially assumed Kobayashi was on standby for another flight. The following day, Kobayashi texted that she was sightseeing in Los Angeles, intending to visit The Grove and downtown.

On November 11th, the family received “strange and cryptic, alarming” text messages indicating she felt “intercepted” on a Metro train and feared identity theft, according to her aunt.

Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, who participated in the search alongside volunteers, was found deceased on Sunday, November 24th, in a parking lot near LAX, from an apparent suicide, according to police and family.

McDonnell stated during a police commission meeting last Tuesday that detectives believe Kobayashi intentionally missed her connecting flight. This statement was disputed by Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, on social media.

Police reported Monday that after being seen in various LA locations, Kobayashi arranged for her luggage (initially checked to New York) to be returned to LAX, collecting it on November 11th without her phone.

Investigators discovered she had “expressed a desire to disconnect from modern technology.”

Police identified and questioned a man seen with Kobayashi on the Metro; he cooperated and reported meeting her at LAX.

Sydni Kobayashi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A post in the “Help Us Find Hannah” Facebook group (with over 25,000 members) announced its closure due to “threats against their lives and the lives of their small children.”

The post also stated that Sydni Kobayashi and her mother would not be responding to messages.

During the press conference, McDonnell addressed the family’s ordeal: “My plea is for anyone considering this: think about the people you leave behind, your loved ones who will worry sick about you,” he said.

—Golden reported from Seattle.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental-health crisis or contemplating suicide, call or text 988. In emergencies, call 911, or seek care from a local hospital or mental health provider. For international resources, .

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