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By Monica Sager
Live News Reporter
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Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who vanished a month ago after landing at LAX, has contacted her family and is believed to be safe, according to the family's attorney.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters on Wednesday that Kobayashi was unharmed and there was no evidence she was the victim of trafficking.
Her family said in a statement they were "incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe."
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This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us," the statement read.
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Kobayashi had been declared a "voluntary missing person" after authorities reviewed surveillance video of her appearing to miss her connecting flight from Hawaii to New York in Los Angeles.
What happened to Hannah Kobayashi?
Kobayashi, 31, flew from Maui to Los Angeles on November 8. She missed a connecting flight to New York City.
She told family members she would sleep at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after missing the flight. The next day, however, she texted that she was sightseeing in LA, with plans to visit The Grove shopping destination and other places.
On November 11, her family reported receiving "alarming" text messages from her phone. Kobayashi texted a cryptic message saying she had been "intercepted" on a Metro train and feared identity theft, according to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon.
Police later determined that Kobayashi retrieved her luggage from LAX before and left the airport without her phone. Kobayashi's sister, Sydni Kobayashi, disputed the police's statement that Hannah intentionally missed her connecting flight.
A man seen with Kobayashi on a Metro train was identified and questioned by police. Investigators said he met her at LAX and he cooperated fully with their investigation, with no evidence of wrongdoing on his part having been found.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Kobayashi was last seen on November 12 entering Mexico through the San Ysidro crossing.
Surveillance footage from U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed her walking alone with her luggage, appearing to be unharmed. Investigators also said they found no evidence of foul play or human trafficking.
Kobayashi's father, Ryan Kobayashi, traveled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to assist in the search. However, he was found dead on November 24, two weeks after Hannah's disappearance. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death as a suicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries, leaving his family devastated.
The case drew widespread public attention, including through the creation of a Facebook group called "Help us Find Hannah."
Kobayashi was accused of participating in an alleged "secret" marriage prior to her disappearance. Sydni received information and a photo related to an alleged marriage, the family's attorney, Sara Azari, previously told Newsweek.
The family's attorney, Sara Azari, released a statement saying the family "has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage."
The family, however, also noted it was "one of the many leads" being pursued, and they turned the information over to law enforcement.
Police have not released new information about Hannah's disappearance since she was found safe on December 11.
Updated, 12/11/2024, 4:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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