Hannah Kobayashi: Father of missing Hawaiian woman found dead in Los Angeles

This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988 or chat on 988lifeline.org.

The father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi was found dead in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to police.

Ryan Kobayashi, who had traveled to LA to help search for his daughter, was found dead in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. The 58-year-old’s case is listed as “open”, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner listed on its website.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a call around 4 a.m. reporting a body found in the area.

RELATED: Hannah Kobayashi: Missing Hawaii woman’s family continues search in LA

While police have not released information on his cause of death, the Kobayashi family said he died by suicide.

“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,” the family said in a statement. declaration released through a nonprofit group helping search for Hannah Kobayashi.

“Hannah IS still actively missing and believed to be in imminent danger. It is critical for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah,” the statement read.

Hannah Kobayashi was reported missing by her family on November 12th after she missed a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at LAX days earlier on November 8th.

Since her disappearance, the elder Kobayashi – who said he was estranged from his daughter – had spoken on behalf of his family as they asked the public for help in the search.

“I just wish I could have been there more for her. Trying to find her is everything,” he told FOX 11 during a rally outside the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles last week.

Security footage obtained by Kobayashi’s family shows her leaving the airport on November 8, wearing a black hoodie, tie-dye leggings and carrying a dark green backpack.

According to her family, Kobayashi was seen at The Grove on November 9 and 10. On the 10th, Kobayashi posted to her Instagram a black-and-white photo from the two-day Nike and LeBron James event she apparently attended at the mall, located about 14 miles north of the airport.

RELATED: Family of woman who disappeared on cross-country vacation says cryptic texts sent from phone contradict her

Kobayashi returned to LAX on Nov. 11 but did not board a flight, according to the family, which cited airport officials. Kobayashi’s phone last pinged at LAX on November 11.

“It’s just very unlike her to disappear,” said sister Sydni Kobayashi.

Concerns grew when the family said they received “strange” messages from her cellphone that “didn’t sound like her.”

“Even in those text messages, it just didn’t seem like her, or it seemed like someone else, or maybe someone did something to her to change her state of mind, because that’s not how she normally talks,” Sydni said.

Kobayashi is described as 5’10”, 140 lbs. with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has freckles on her face and a tattoo of a knife on her forearm, according to the LAPD.

RELATED: Hannah Kobayashi: Search continues for missing Maui woman

If you see Kobayashi or have information about her whereabouts, contact the LAPD at 1-877-LAPD-24-7. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

The source: This story was reported with information from the Los Angeles Police Department and interviews with Hannah Kobayashi’s family. FOX 11’s Hailey Winslow contributed.