West

Hannah Kobayashi found after Mexico border crossing in month-long disappearance, family says

Published

1 year ago

December 12, 2024

Hannah Kobayashi found after Mexico border crossing in month-long disappearance, family says

Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi has been “found safe” about a month after surveillance footage captured her crossing into Mexico with a suitcase in a disappearance that made nationwide headlines.

Kobayashi’s mother Brandi Yee and her sister Sydni Kobayashi said they were “incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe” in a statement issued through their attorney, Sara Azari, on X on Wednesday.

“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,” the family said.

HANNAH KOBAYASHI MISSED LOS ANGELES FLIGHT INTENTIONALLY, POLICE SAY; FAMILY CLAIMS EVIDENCE SHOWS OTHERWISE

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)

“We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time,” the statement continued. “Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.”

In a statement to People, Azari did not comment on the circumstances of when, where or how Kobayashi’s family contacted her, and said there would be no further statements at this time. Azari could not immediately be reached for comment.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said surveillance footage and other evidence showed Kobayashi entering Mexico on foot, alone and carrying luggage, at the San Ysidro port of entry on Nov. 12. There was no evidence that she was “being trafficked or [was] the victim of foul play,” McDonnell said.

HANNAH KOBAYASHI LISTED AS ‘VOLUNTARY MISSING PERSON’ AFTER VIDEO SHOWS HER CROSSING INTO MEXICO: POLICE

Hannah Kobayashi’s mother filed a missing persons report after her daughter seemingly disappeared. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)

Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi’s aunt, who has acted as a family spokesperson during their search, said at the time that her “worry for Hannah [had] not lessened.”

“Hannah never mentioned any plans to travel to Mexico, and no one in her life knew she intended to go there,” she previously told Fox News Digital. “What alarms me even more is her complete disconnection from her phone, her social media and her world – this is not who she is.”

Before Kobayashi was found, Pidgeon told Fox News Digital that she had “parted ways” with the rest of the family, saying that her “sole focus remain[ed] on finding Hannah” and that she intended to travel to Mexico to “verify that she is acting of her own free will and truly safe.”

HANNAH KOBAYASHI MISSED LOS ANGELES FLIGHT INTENTIONALLY, POLICE SAY; FAMILY CLAIMS EVIDENCE SHOWS OTHERWISE

Pidgeon later told NewsNation that she did not see why funds raised were being used on an attorney rather than a private investigator.

Kobayashi flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles and was scheduled to take a connecting flight to New York on Nov. 8, with a 42-minute layover at 11 a.m., but did not board a flight despite a detailed itinerary and a booked hotel room in New York City.

Previously, Pidgeon told Fox News Digital that friends and family received a flurry of bizarre text messages from Kobayashi after her missed flight that didn’t match her 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

Kobayashi, 30, was heading to New York City to visit family. (Hannah Kobayashi via Instagram)

“She [wrote she] was having a spiritual awakening, that she was concerned about the matrix. It was just the most bizarre text messages,” Pidgeon previously said. “And it went from, ‘Hi, I can’t wait to see you guys. Love you. Everything’s great.’”

Ryan Kobayashi, the 30-year-old’s father, was found dead on Nov. 24 of an apparent suicide after jumping from a parking structure in Los Angeles, while he and his family were searching for the missing woman.

Los Angeles Magazine reported that Kobayashi had fallen victim to an immigration scheme before going missing. Kobayashi’s mother reportedly found documents in her daughter’s Hawaii home that listed an immigration attorney, according to the outlet, and turned that information over to law enforcement.

But family attorney Azari wrote in a post on X that the family “has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage… we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information.”

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Montana

Photos: Past and present Montana State Bobcats meet in Nashville

Published

3 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Past and present Montana State Bobcats meet in Nashville

Past Montana State football players meet with current Bobcats during a team walk-through at the indoor practice facility at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.Kyle Hansen / MTN Sports

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Nevada

Westbound I-80 closed at Nevada Stateline and Truckee due to spin-outs

Published

15 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Westbound I-80 closed at Nevada Stateline and Truckee due to spin-outs

Both directions of Interstate 80 are being redirected over Donner Summit due to slick roads and multiple spin-outs. Authorities have not provided an estimated time for reopening the highway.

This is a developing story. Please check back with us for updates.

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New Mexico

New Mexico transfer LS Trey Dubuc commits to Texas

Published

33 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico transfer LS Trey Dubuc commits to Texas

After Lance St. Louis served as the starting long snapper for the Texas Longhorns for four seasons, special teams coordinator Jeff Banks landed an experienced replacement when New Mexico Lobos transfer Trey Dubuc pledged while on a visit to the Forty Acres.

The pledge from Dubuc ensures that Texas has experienced replacements for three specialists despite signing high school prospects at each position — with the SEC expanding to 105 scholarships in 2026, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian can afford to develop high school recruits at those positions behind experienced transfers like Dubuc.

The Fort Lauderdale product started his career at USF after playing on two state championship teams at Cardinal Gibbons. A 6’1, 209-pounder, Dubuc redshirted during his freshman season in 2023 before appearing in one game as the backup long snapper the following year.

After transferring to New Mexico, Dubuc served as the starting long snapper while making two tackles for the Lobos.

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News Pub

Hannah Kobayashi found after Mexico border crossing in month-long disappearance, family says

West

Hannah Kobayashi found after Mexico border crossing in month-long disappearance, family says