Father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi dies by suicide near LAX

On By Littum

The father of a Hawaii woman who flew to Los Angeles looking for her after she was reported missing has been found dead near Los Angeles International Airport.

The body of Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was found in a parking lot Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said they responded to reports of a body in the 6100 block of Century Boulevard around 10 p.m. 4 on Sunday and discovered one dead after an apparent suicide.

Kobayashi was in Los Angeles looking for her daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, 31, who was last seen at LAX on Nov. 8 and last contacted her family by phone Nov. 9, according to an LAPD news release.

Kobayashi’s family confirmed Ryan’s death in a statement Sunday, saying they “endured a devastating tragedy.”

“After searching tirelessly in Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life,” according to the statement. “This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

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The family has urged the public to “remain focused on the search for her. Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is critical for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to find Hannah.”

Volunteers organize as they prepare to hand out missing person fliers by Hannah Kobayashi

Volunteers organize as they prepare to distribute missing flyers of Hannah Kobayashi, who was last seen at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8.

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Kobayashi boarded a flight in Maui on Nov. 8 bound for New York City with a stop at LAX, but never made it to New York, her family said. USA today.

She landed at LAX but missed her next flight and instead showed up to visit the Grove mall, where she attended a Nike event on Nov. 10, her family told USA Today. The next day, Kobayashi apparently went back to LAX but did not board a flight. Later that day, she sent her family what it called “strange” text messages.

“Hannah’s last message to us was alarming – she mentioned that she felt scared and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” her family said. “She has not been heard from since and we are deeply concerned for her safety.”

Kobayashi also texted a friend that someone might be trying to steal her identity and money, her father said. KABC-TV.

Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told KABC that her niece planned to attend an event in New York.