LOS ANGELES, CA – Hannah Kobayashi, who was reported missing in November and later found safe in Mexico, has returned to the United States, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Monday.
Kobayashi, 32, passed through U.S. Customs and Border Protection on December 15 and was reported to be in good health, authorities said. The LAPD confirmed that the case has been closed, and her name has been removed from the Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
The case gained national attention after Kobayashi disappeared on November 12, prompting a search effort that spanned weeks. Her family reported her missing after she failed to board a connecting flight from Maui to New York City. Her last known location was Los Angeles International Airport, where her phone last pinged on November 11.
Surveillance footage captured Kobayashi speaking to an airline agent at LAX but not boarding her scheduled flight. According to LAPD investigators, she voluntarily left the airport, retrieved her luggage, and later traveled to Union Station, where she purchased a bus ticket to Mexico.
Police confirmed that she crossed the border alone and unharmed, based on video evidence. Authorities stated there was no indication of foul play and urged Kobayashi to contact her family during the investigation.
The case took a devastating turn when her father died by suicide just weeks after she went missing. Authorities reported that he jumped from a parking structure, compounding the emotional toll on the family.
On December 11, Kobayashi’s family announced that she had been found and expressed relief. In a statement, they thanked the public for support and requested privacy as they processed the events of the past month.
“We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe,” the statement said. “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.”
Relatives had previously explored the possibility that Kobayashi may have been involved in a green card marriage scam after immigration documents were reportedly found at her home in Maui. However, authorities have not confirmed the validity of this claim, and no charges have been filed in connection with the matter.
Following her return, the family deactivated a GoFundMe page that had raised nearly $50,000 to support search efforts and funeral expenses for her father. They have since offered refunds to donors.
The LAPD emphasized that Kobayashi’s disappearance was voluntary and concluded their investigation. No further updates are expected.
