Father ‘died of a broken heart’ after daughter’s disappearance, family say

After days of searching for his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi’s father was found dead over the weekend in Los Angeles. Although a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, his family tells PEOPLE they believe he killed himself in the midst of a mental health emergency.

“He died of a broken heart,” said Larie Pidgeon, 45.

Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was recently retired and had joined his extended family searching for his 30-year-old daughter, who disappeared earlier this month after missing her connecting flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and sending “alarming ” texts to his loved ones.

“We’ve searched tirelessly,” says Pidgeon. “I think it just became so overwhelming for him to drive down the street, go to Skid Row and see where his daughter could possibly have ended up.”

Pidgeon suspects that Ryan’s mental health deteriorated as time “went on and on and on”.

“We really want everyone to know that he fought so hard,” she adds. “Imagine if it was your daughter.”

At 4 am local time on Sunday, Nov. 24, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a parking lot near LAX for a death investigation.

A spokesperson previously told PEOPLE that law enforcement was called to the area for “an apparent suicide.” A cause of death has not yet been determined by the LA County Medical Examiner, but online records show an autopsy is scheduled.

The family confirms that the parking structure is near the hotel where the family has been staying.

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Pidgeon remembers his brother-in-law as “one of the kindest, most sensitive souls I have ever had the privilege of knowing.”

“He was just so good,” she says. “He was a teddy bear. Through this whole process, he just thanked everyone endlessly with gratitude and love.”

The family wants to dispel any rumors that he had anything to do with their daughter’s disappearance and say they do not believe he was lured to her death, according to Pidgeon. Police have not publicly charged anyone with wrongdoing in Hannah’s case.

“He would do anything he could,” Pidgeon tells PEOPLE of Ryan. “He showed up when it mattered most.”

Despite the loss, the grieving family continues to search for Hannah, who has been missing since November 11.

“We are holding on to hope and reaching out to our community for help. Now, more than ever, we need you,” read a message shared by loved ones on a Facebook page dedicated to finding Hannah. “The search for our beloved Hannah must continue with the same love and determination that Ryan would have wanted. We need your help, we need your strength.”

“She is still out there and we believe that together we can bring her home,” the message continued.

Pidgeon tells PEOPLE the family will continue to search as well. “We’re still here,” she says. “We’re a family doing the best we can now with two tragedies. So be nice.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the crisis text line on 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.