Heartbreaking Clues Revealed: Hannah Kobayashi’s Family Speaks Out in Desperate Search

The family of the 31-year-old woman from Hawaii has been piecing together clues through social media posts, Venmo transactions, surveillance footage, and cryptic text messages as they search for answers.

By Sheenu Gupta On Dec 2, 2024 Share with new partner:

The family of a 31-year-old woman from Hawaii has been tirelessly working to uncover any leads that might explain her disappearance. Their efforts have involved meticulously analyzing a range of sources, including her activity on social media, where they’ve searched for any posts or interactions that might provide a clue. They have also reviewed her Venmo transactions, hoping to identify patterns or connections that could shed light on her movements or the people she interacted with.

Additionally, they’ve combed through security camera footage from key locations, searching for any visual evidence that could help trace her whereabouts. Adding to the mystery are a series of cryptic text messages, which the family is carefully examining for hidden meanings or possible links to her disappearance. Each piece of information brings them closer to understanding what might have happened, but the search continues to be a challenging and emotional journey.

The disappearance of 31-year-old Hannah Kobayashi, a Hawaii native, has drawn nationwide attention as her family works to piece together the events leading up to her vanishing. Hannah appears to have gone missing after failing to board a flight in Los Angeles in early November. Using clues from social media posts, Venmo transactions, security footage, and cryptic text messages, her family is determined to uncover what happened.

According to media reports, Hannah was traveling from Maui to New York to visit her aunt and take on a photography assignment. She reportedly missed two connecting flights from Los Angeles International Airport, one on November 8 and another on November 11. Her family has stated that she last communicated with them on November 11.

Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, shared more details during a November 23 interview with NewsNation. She revealed that Hannah had sent her mother a detailed itinerary for her planned trip to New York. The itinerary included restaurant visits, museum stops, and a highly anticipated photography project—a career opportunity Hannah had been dreaming of. Pidgeon also mentioned that Hannah had paid several thousand dollars for a hotel reservation in New York, further emphasizing her commitment to the trip.

Hannah Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni, shared with CNN that Hannah and her then-boyfriend had initially booked their flights to New York together, planning to visit an aunt in upstate New York as part of the trip. However, after breaking up before the journey, the two decided to continue with the trip separately. The ex-boyfriend, whose name has not been disclosed, boarded the connecting flight to New York on November 8 and has been described by Hannah’s family as “extremely responsive and cooperative” in the ongoing investigation.

On November 11, Hannah’s family began receiving unsettling text messages from her phone. According to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, the messages claimed she felt unsafe and that someone was attempting to steal her money and identity. However, the tone and phrasing of these messages raised suspicion. Pidgeon noted that the texts included unusual terms, such as referring to family members as “babe,” which was out of character for Hannah.

Sydni added that one of the texts to a friend stated Hannah was scared and couldn’t return home. “The messages just seemed really strange,” she told HawaiiNewsNow. “It didn’t sound like her—something was off. I’m not sure if it was even her sending them or if someone else had her phone.”

One of Hannah Kobayashi’s last known texts reportedly read, “I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening. I’m heading back to the airport to get to NYC. I might need some help getting there.” Along with these strange messages, her family also discovered unusual Venmo transactions from November 10, where she sent money to two people whose names they did not recognize. These transactions were verified by Yahoo News, as Hannah’s Venmo account is public.

Additionally, security footage has surfaced showing Hannah with an unknown individual at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, likely on November 11. Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, confirmed to CBS News that it has been established that she left the airport on the evening of November 11 and boarded the Metro. Pidgeon added that Hannah was not alone and was accompanied by an unidentified person. This new information has heightened the family’s concerns, as it fits within the timeline of her disappearance. Their current focus is on the Pico Metro station, where they believe new clues may be found.

Yahoo News has contacted multiple family members for further information. In a statement posted on Facebook, the family urged the public, “If you see Hannah, please call 911 right away. If possible, take a photograph. Your quick response is critical. If you’re able to safely monitor her location until law enforcement arrives, please do so.”

Hannah missed a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8, though the reason remains unclear. The family has reviewed security footage showing Hannah leaving the airport on November 8 and later being seen at the Grove shopping center on November 9 and 10, located roughly 12 miles north of LAX. On November 11, Hannah posted on her public Instagram about attending a Nike event at the Grove and was even captured in a YouTube video taken by a stranger at the event on November 10.

Hannah returned to Los Angeles International Airport on November 11 but did not board any flight. That day marked the last time anyone received messages from her cellphone. On November 15, the LAPD missing persons unit issued a poster describing Hannah and noting that she was last seen at LAX on November 11. The family also filed a report with the FBI.

Following the missing persons report, a group gathered in Los Angeles to search nearby areas in hopes of finding Hannah. Her father, Ryan, was among those searching. In an emotional appeal to the media, he told Honolulu’s NBC affiliate KHNL, “There are a lot of people looking for you, Hannah. If you see this or hear anything, please go to the police or anyone you can. So many people care about you and love you.”

The Kobayashi family released a statement revealing that Hannah’s father tragically took his own life after spending 13 days tirelessly searching for her throughout Los Angeles. The family emphasized in the statement that the search for Hannah must remain the priority, urging the public to continue focusing on finding her. “Hannah is still actively missing and is believed to be in immediate danger,” the statement concluded.