The family of the woman who went missing from LAX airport have issued an emotional plea following the death of her father.
Hannah Kobayashi, 31, is still missing after her father Ryan Kobayashi, 58, who travelled to Los Angeles to look for her, was found dead at approximately 4.00am on Sunday (24 November).
Hannah was reported missing after she failed to get on her connecting flight to New York from Maui, Hawaii, at LAX Airport on 8 November.
Hannah Kobayashi, 31, is still missing (Instagram)
The photographer was travelling on the same flight as her ex-boyfriend, who purchased the tickets before they broke up.
He is cooperating with police after receiving cryptic text messages from her phone about a ‘spiritual awakening’.
Her father Ryan was found dead at the bottom of a car park at LAX airport. Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said the manner of his death was suicide.
Hannah was last seen via CCTV at LAX airport, and on 11 November her aunt said the family started to receive out-of-character messages from her phone.
Ryan Kobayashi, 58, who travelled to Los Angeles to look for his daughter, was found dead at approximately 4.00am on Sunday (24 November) (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“We started getting texts saying that she didn’t feel safe, that someone was trying to steal her funds, that someone was trying to take her identity,” Larie Pidgeon told USA Today.
“Weird things, calling us babe, things that weren’t quite the normal way that she speaks.”
One message read: “I got hacked, stripped of my identity, I can’t fly.”
Another: “I got tricked pretty much into giving away my funds for someone I thought I loved. I’ve been on the streets.”
The family has since issued a heartbreaking statement on the ‘Help Us Find Hannah’ Facebook page on Monday (25 November), ‘urgently pleading with the public to maintain focus on the search for her’.
“Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah,” they wrote.
Hannah was spotted via CCTV footage at LAX (Facebook)
Adding: “The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life.
“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.
“What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers.
“Please be considerate with your comments and posts.
“The trauma they are enduring is profound, and they now face the additional burden of grieving the loss of their family’s pillar and navigating next steps.
“Again, it is the family wish that the public keep the focus on locating and recovering Hannah safely.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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