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Missing photographer Hannah Kobayashi’s family begs police to keep searching for her after cops say she’s ‘voluntarily missing’

Pictured: Hannah Kobayashi seen on a security camera in Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 8, 2024 Chilling final text of Hawaii woman, 30, who vanished at LAX while headed on NYC 'bucket list' trip https://www.instagram.com/midorieve/ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=998513748970917&set=a.559237542898542 https://www.facebook.com/hannah.kobayashi/photos https://www.facebook.com/groups/3677576509142266/user/541942505/ A Maui woman is missing and her family is desperate for answers. Hannah Kobayashi, 30, was heading to New York City to visit family on Friday, but she missed her connecting flight out of Los Angeles. âÂÂI didnâÂÂt hear from her,â said KobayashiâÂÂs mother, Brandi Yee. âÂÂI texted her, âÂÂHey, are you in New York City yet?â She just texted me, âÂÂNot yet.âÂÂâ Yee says Kobayashi was looking forward to seeing her aunt in the Big Apple. She even made a hand-written itinerary stating, âÂÂBucket list dreams become a reality.â Yee said, âÂÂMy sister, I reached out to her, and IâÂÂm like, âÂÂHey, have you heard from Hannah?â SheâÂÂs like, âÂÂNo. SheâÂÂs supposed to meet me at the hotel in New York City and weâÂÂre supposed to go to a show tonight.âÂÂâ Hannah only had 42 minutes to make her connecting flight. Her mom thinks she might have missed it. A short YouTube video surfacing on Thursday backs up her belief. It shows Hannah outside of an event in Los Angeles on Saturday. The last pinned location the family has on her phone shows Hannah back at LAX on Monday. Since then, the Haiku resident has fallen silent, and her family hasnâÂÂt heard from her. One friend, however, received strange text messages from KobayashiâÂÂs phone. The messages read in part, âÂÂI got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds,â with a second message that said, âÂÂFor someone I thought I loved.â âÂÂShe heard from Hannah. She was at LAX, and she said that she was scared,â Yee said. KobayashiâÂÂs sister, Sydni Kobayashi, said, âÂÂShe texted her that she was scared and that she couldnâÂÂt come back home or something. It was just really weird texts.â Sydni Kobayashi added, âÂÂItâÂÂs weird to me because it doesnâÂÂt sound like her, like thereâÂÂs just something off about it. So I wasnâÂÂt too sure. I donâÂÂt know if itâÂÂs her or if someone else was texting.â The family has filed a missing personâÂÂs report with the Los Angeles Police Department. âÂÂWe just wanted to get the word out as soon as possible, because the more time that passes, the less we know what happens,â said Yee. âÂÂAnything could happen.âÂÂ

“We are deeply grateful for the urgency and dedication law enforcement has shown in investigating Hannah’s disappearance,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

“Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe, and urges everyone to continue the search,” the statement added. “The search is far from over, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely.”

Footage from Customs and Border Protection shows the 30-year-old crossing the southern border on foot near Tijuana around 12:15 p.m. Nov 12, the LAPD said during a Monday press conference.

Investigators believe she dumped her phone after reaching LAX and skipping a connecting flight — and she had “expressed a desire to step away from modern connectivity,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said, noting that there was no evidence she was the victim of foul play or the target of sex traffickers.

Still, the family wants “answers and a resolution that ensures Hannah’s safety” as it urged law enforcement and the public to “stay focused on finding her and to avoid speculative conclusions.”

“Spreading awareness and sharing verified information about her case is crucial, and we deeply appreciate your continued support in these efforts.”

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