Hannah Kobayashi: Father of missing Hawaii woman found dead in Los Angeles, LAPD says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Amid the search for a missing Hawaii woman last seen in Los Angeles, the woman’s father was found dead Sunday near LAX, police said.

Ryan Kobayashi had recently traveled to Los Angeles to help search for his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi. The 30-year-old woman apparently disappeared sometime after a layover at Los Angeles International Airport as she traveled from Hawaii to New York City on November 8.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office confirms the death of Ryan Kobayashi, 58, on Sunday, saying he was found in a parking lot. The coroner’s information does not provide details about the cause of death.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to ABC News that Ryan Kobayashi’s body was found on Sunday around 10 p.m. 4 at 6151 W. Century Blvd., a business near LAX. The LAPD also did not release a suspected cause of death.

Eyewitness News is working to contact the family. A nonprofit organization believed to be working with the Kobayashi family in the search issued a statement Sunday conveying the family’s belief that he took his own life. The statement read in part:

“The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After searching tirelessly in Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.

What the family needs most at this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion and prayers. Please be considerate with your comments and posts. The trauma they are experiencing is profound, and they now face the added burden of grieving the loss of their family pillar and navigating the next steps.”

They asked for privacy to allow family members to grieve and urged the public to remain focused on the search for Hannah in light of the tragic news about her father.

It’s not clear what happened after Hannah landed at LAX on Nov. 8, but she never arrived as scheduled at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Friends and family reported receiving strange text messages from her for a few days after that, and she was seen in a video on November 10 at the Grove mall in Los Angeles. She was last heard from via text messages on November 11. She was also seen on surveillance video around a downtown subway station with an unknown person on Nov. 11, her family said.

Ryan Kobayashi represented the family in media interviews as they sought help from the general public.

“We just hope she’s safe and well and alive,” Ryan said in an interview earlier this month. “And if anyone knows anything, we’d just appreciate any help.”

Timeline of Hannah Kobayashi’s disappearance

Kobayashi’s aunt Larie Pidgeon also offered a message last week to the public and to her niece.

“Hannah, we love you. We’re all here. Your mom is here, your sister is here, your dad is here. The whole world is looking for you,” she said.

“If anyone has Hannah, I want you to know that she is the kindest, most beautiful soul in the whole world. And please don’t hurt her.”

“Please just give us back to her. No questions asked. Just don’t hurt her. Please.”

If you are experiencing suicidal, substance abuse or other psychological crises, please call or text the three-digit code 988. You will get hold of a trained crisis counselor free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or call the current toll-free number 800-273-8255 (TALK).