The father of a Hawaii woman who flew to Los Angeles in search of her after she was reported missing has been found dead near the Los Angeles International Airport.
The body of Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was found in a parking lot Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. Los Angeles Police Department officials said they responded to reports of a body in the 6100 block of Century Boulevard around 4 a.m. Sunday and found that someone had died by suicide.
Kobayashi was in Los Angeles looking for his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, 31, who was last seen at LAX on Nov. 8 and last contacted her family by phone Nov. 9, according to an LAPD news release.
Kobayashi’s family confirmed Ryan’s death in a statement on Sunday, saying he had “endured a terrible tragedy.”
“After searching tirelessly in Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life,” the statement said. “This loss has caused the family to suffer immeasurably.”
Suicide prevention services and crisis counseling
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek professional help and call 9-8-8. The United States’ first three-number national mental health hotline 988 will connect callers with qualified mental health counselors. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the US and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.
The family has urged the public to “continue to search for him. Hannah is NOTHING and is believed to be in danger. It is important that everyone remains vigilant in their efforts to find Hana.”
Volunteers organize as they prepare to hand out flyers to missing people for Hannah Kobayashi, who was last seen at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Kobayashi boarded a flight from Maui on Nov. 8 bound for New York City with a stopover at LAX but did not arrive in New York, his family told USA Today.
He arrived at LAX but missed his next flight, and was seen visiting the Grove mall, where he attended the Nike Nov. 10, his family told USA Today. The next day, Kobayashi apparently returned to LAX but did not board the plane. Later that day, he sent his family what they called “strange” messages.
“Hannah’s last message to us was scary – she said she felt scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” her family said. “He has not been heard from since then, and we are very concerned about his safety.”
Kobayashi also texted a friend that someone might be trying to steal his identity and money, his father told KABC-TV.
Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told KABC that her nephew plans to attend the event in New York.
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