West
Family of woman who went missing on cross-country vacation says cryptic texts sent from phone unlike her
Hannah Kobayashi’s family has gathered in Los Angeles to retrace the missing photographer’s steps after she missed her transfer flight to New York then disappeared after a series of cryptic messages and a brief appearance with an unknown man on surveillance footage near Skid Row.
The 31-year-old Oahu, Hawaii, resident had planned a vacation to see her aunt in New York City and flew from Maui to Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 8, her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told Fox News Digital. She was elated about her first music photography gig in the city, had an involved trip itinerary and had paid thousands for her hotel room, Pidgeon said.
Kobayashi was scheduled to take a connecting flight to New York, with a 40-minute layover at 11 a.m., and planned to go to a show with her aunt, but she never got on that flight. Her family is unsure why.
Then friends and family received a flurry of bizarre text messages that didn’t match the young woman’s usual cadence. She texted a friend that she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all my funds” and that she was tricked “for someone I thought I loved.”
HAWAII WOMAN’S CRYPTIC TEXT MESSAGES PROMPT CONCERN AFTER DISAPPEARANCE
Hannah Kobayashi, 31, was last seen on surveillance footage from the Pico Metro station with an unknown man on Nov. 11. She never boarded her flight from LAX to JFK on Nov. 8. (Larie Pidgeon)
“There was not a single emoji. She’s an artist. … Instead of a … question mark, she would put a crystal ball – she’s just that cute – and there was none of that,” Pidgeon said on Thursday. “She said that someone was trying to steal her funds, not cash, not money, funds. Like, who uses that word?”
“She [wrote she] was having a spiritual awakening, that she was concerned about the matrix. It was just the most bizarre text messages. And it went from, ‘Hi, I can’t wait to see you guys. Love you. Everything’s great.’”
Before sending the messages, Kobayashi was seen talking to a ticketing agent and trying to get a direct flight to New York rather than waiting on standby, Pidgeon said.
Hannah Kobayashi is pictured on surveillance footage from LAX on Nov. 8. Her family says there is also surveillance footage from Nov. 11 showing her with an unknown man at the Pico Metro Station in downtown Los Angeles but that it has yet to be released to the public. (Missing People of America/Facebook)
Kobayashi’s mother reported her missing on Nov. 11, Pidgeon said, the day that communications from the woman’s phone to family and friends halted. Through their own investigative work, the family viewed surveillance footage of Kobayashi from that day with an unknown man near the Pico Metro station in downtown L.A.
“The Pico station is in a very bad neighborhood, [and] it was late at night,” Pidgeon said. “That causes us even more alarm because it’s not a place that Hannah would go. There’s no reason that she would go to a neighborhood of crime. Even if she said, ‘Hey, I need to go get a hotel room because I’m tired,’ there’s 18 hotels by the airport … she would have to have two transfer stations to get to this station.”
MOM 9 MONTHS PREGNANT MISSING FOR A MONTH, LAST SEEN AT BOYFRIEND’S HOUSE, FAMILY SAYS
Hannah Kobayashi’s family traveled to Los Angeles to distribute fliers near where she was last seen. (Larie Pidgeon)
“We can’t release the footage; we would love to get it released to the public by the LAPD,” Pidgeon said on Thursday. “We’ve seen it, we know that it’s out there, and we’re like, ‘Why is it not getting released?’ At this point it’s been 10 days, I feel like it could help so much in the investigation.”
Pidgeon said Thursday morning that the Los Angeles Police Department had yet to reach out since the family filed a missing persons report. Several hours later, Kobayashi’s family said that a detective had spoken to them.
The LAPD said on Thursday morning that it could not confirm whether they had viewed the surveillance footage or contacted the family, only that Kobayashi had been reported missing and that they had distributed a flier on their social media accounts.
Kobayashi also charged her phone with an employee within The Grove outdoor open-air mall and had filled out an application for a book club at the TASCHEN book store using her Hawaii address on Nov. 11, her aunt said. Witnesses there told the family that Kobayashi “was in good spirits” and said that “she had a little bit of time to explore in L.A.,” Pidgeon said.
SUZANNE SIMPSON’S HOME MAY BE SOLD AS MISSING REALTOR HUSBAND REMAINS BEHIND BARS IN MURDER CASE
Kobayashi sent mysterious texts to friends and family before losing contact entirely, writing that she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all [her] funds.” (Larie Pidgeon)
“Every confirmed sighting that she has with an individual, she’s of sound mind,” Pidgeon said of her conversations with those who last spoke to her niece. “She’s happy, she’s kind. She doesn’t appear [to be] drunk or on any substances. … That is why we are here handing out fliers and flying in, because it is so unlike our character.”
Kobayashi’s family held a rally on Thursday at the Crypto.com Arena to hand out fliers and search the area near where she was last seen.
“We’re just running,” Pidgeon said. “You know, we’re just going down and up and down Skid Row.”
Pidgeon described her niece, pictured, as an outgoing person who makes those around her laugh and dabbles in fire spinning, DJing and charity work. (Larie Pidgeon)
“We want to do as many interviews as we can. The longer that we keep her name out there, the longer that she’s on the news, the better chance that her family has to get her back,” Pidgeon said. “I’ve become a press secretary, a journalist, a photographer. This is how much we love her.”
Pidgeon said the 31-year-old “does everything” and dabbles in fire spinning, DJing and charity work.
“She’s a pivotal person in her community, she’s a wonderful person, a great daughter, she makes everyone laugh,” Pidgeon said. “If I’m having a problem at 2 a.m., I can call Hannah because she’ll pick up.”
Hannah Kobayashi, 31, was heading to New York City to visit family. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)
Friends and family have been making minute-long videos sharing memories of Kobayashi to distribute under the hashtag “#FindHannah.” Thus far, Pidgeon said, about 30 people have sent videos, a testament to “how incredible she is.”
“I’m just grateful for all the other best wishes and support from the community and Hawaii, New York, California, everywhere,” Kobayashi’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, told Fox News Digital. “You know, it’s just amazing. We miss you, Hannah. We love you.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the RAD Movement hotline at 619-904-0840.
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Montana
‘No quit’: Montana, dealing with emotions of semifinal loss, goes back to drawing board
MISSOULA — It was an emotional scene at Bobcat Stadium for the Montana Grizzlies at the conclusion of Saturday’s playoff game as Montana finishes the season 13-2. Those two losses came against the same program as the Grizzlies got on the doorstep of the national championship game, but fell just short.
“I’m just extremely grateful,” UM wide receiver Michael Wortham said after the Grizzlies’ 48-23 semifinal loss to rival Montana State. “Sucks that it’s the last game, but thankful for these guys and the opportunity they gave me. There was never no quit, you know? We battled through a lot of things behind closed doors.
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‘No quit’: Montana, dealing with emotions of semifinal loss, goes back to drawing board
“This team is amazing. I just hope we’re remembered for how hard we worked and how hard we came out there each and every day to play against whoever.”
The Bobcats were too much to overcome for the Griz on Saturday as they beat them twice this season.
Photos: Montana State beats Montana in historic playoff meeting
The rivalry’s heightened importance in the regular and now postseason has risen because of where both programs stand in both the Big Sky Conference and FCS landscape.
“(Montana State has) done a really good job,” UM head coach Bobby Hauck said. “And the bar was set in this conference by us, and there’s been a desperate urgency at this place to catch up, and certainly they have.
“I talk to Leon (Costello), talk to Brent (Vigen), and everybody’s looking at the two of us. And we have good football programs. We have good players. We have good coaches. It’s highly competitive, whether it’s recruiting or on the field.”
That competition culminated into the largest meeting ever between the two.
“Competition’s good. That’s why you do this,” Hauck said. “And it’s highly and wildly competitive. And my impression, the wrong team won today, but that’s 50% of the state, not the other 50.”
Emotions surrounding these programs colliding are always high, and in sports one team has to lose.
This time it was Montana, as their season concludes one game short of where they’d like.
“It’s been the best time of my life,” UM safety TJ Rausch said. “I love these guys. I love my coaches. I’ve had more fun this year than I’ve ever had playing football. And I can’t thank our coaches and my teammates enough for that.”
“I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of my guys. We have quality, class, young men in our program,” Hauck added. “They play football the right way. Our coaches coach them the right way. And I’m as proud to be a head football coach as I’ve ever been today.”
Nevada
Jewish Nevada lights up Downtown Summerlin with festive Menorah Lighting event
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Jewish Nevada hosted its annual Menorah Lighting event at Downtown Summerlin, offering entertainment and activities for the whole family to celebrate Hanukkah.
Attendees enjoyed free jelly donuts, hot cocoa, and ice skating at the Rock Rink.
Stefanie Tuzman is the President and CEO of Jewish Nevada.
She says, “We are so excited to be lighting the eighth and final candle of Hanukkah. There’s a bunch of kids activities. Downtown Summerlin generously donated some prizes for us to be able to giveaway.”
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Jewish Nevada held a raffle, with participants for a chance to win prizes.
New Mexico
How long will this record warmth last in New Mexico?
Could some places see snow for Christmas or will the above-average warmth continue? See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sunday marked the first day of winter and it certainly didn’t feel like it in New Mexico but could we see a change as Christmas comes?
Short answer, no. We have made at least four new record-high temperatures since Dec. 11. That will stay the same for a little while and remain breezy.
When we get into Christmas Eve, light rain is possible across the Four Corners but it will mostly stay in Colorado. Some mountain snow is possible.
Christmas Day is looking pretty warm — way warmer than average — and that will stay the same through Friday and beyond. Getting into New Year’s Eve and into the New Year, temperatures as much as 20 degrees above average is possible across New Mexico, including in the Albuquerque metro.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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