THE dad of missing traveler Hannah Kobayashi bottled his emotions as he tirelessly searched for his daughter – just hours before he was found dead, his family has said.
Ryan Kobayashi’s body was found in a Los Angeles parking lot on Sunday morning – near where his daughter’s final cell phone ping came from.
Ryan Kobayashi ‘bottled’ up his emotions the day before he was found dead, according to familyAP
Hannah has not been foundInstagram/midorieve
Remains were discovered more than two weeks after Hannah left Hawaii for a bucket list trip to New York.
But she never made it to the Empire State, sparking a frenetic search.
Ryan is said to have scoured some of Los Angeles’ most dangerous neighborhoods in a bid to find Hannah and family members have opened up on what he went through.
They even delved into what transpired on the day before his death.
Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told Daily Mail that the day was spent handing out flyers, and Ryan was last seen on Saturday.
“We think that Ryan bottled it up. He didn’t want to make anyone else worry,” she added.
Larie described the day as productive and said family members met with volunteers.
Ryan’s death has been ruled as suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Family members have revealed they are “grappling with unimaginable grief,” according to a post on a GoFundMe page created to help his fiancée.
“Ryan’s love for his family was boundless, and he would do anything to protect and care for his daughters,” it said.
A statement shared online said the Kobayashi family suffered a “devastating tragedy” following Ryan’s death.
“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably,” it said.
Mystery continues to shroud the case of Hannah’s disappearance – almost three weeks after she was captured on surveillance footage inside Los Angeles airport.
She caught a plane to the city on November 8 but failed to make her connecting flight to New York that evening.
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
HANNAH Kobayashi has been missing since she missed her connecting flight to New York.
Friday, November 8: Kobayashi leaves her home in Maui and arrives in Los Angeles for her connecting flight to New York City. She has 42 minutes to make the flight at 11 pm.
Saturday, November 9: Kobayashi is meant to land at JFK airport in New York City at 7 am but never arrives.
She is seen at a bookshop at The Grove, an hour away from LAX.
Sunday, November 10: Kobayashi sends a message saying she’s scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside several other cryptic texts.
She’s later seen at an event at The Grove again in Los Angeles, attending a Nike event.
Monday, November 11: Kobayashi’s phone puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account from the event. Her phone is then turned off.
Wednesday, November 13: Family files missing person’s report.
They are informed she was last seen at Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles with an unidentified male.
Sunday, November 24: Hannah’s dad Ryan found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot after taking his own life.
This was despite reportedly booking tickets worth hundreds of dollars for events in New York.
But, Hannah was spotted at a LeBron James event in Los Angeles, and her family said they had seen surveillance footage of her near a metro station.
The footage was taken on November 11 – which was also the day Hannah’s cell phone last pinged.
They said Hannah didn’t look well in the video, which has not been released to the public.
Ryan combed Los Angeles’ Skid Row – a district with a large homeless population – in his bid to find Hannah.
Hannah’s disappearance has sparked fears she may have been abducted or trafficked.
It is a theory that has been suggested by former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer.
“I think she could be in the hands of a stranger taking advantage of her,” she told NewsNationNow.
Dog the Bounty Hunter touted the theory Hannah was potentially snatched, as reported by the outlet.
A series of strange texts were sent from Hannah’s phone after she touched down in Los Angeles.
Her mom Brandi Yee asked if she had reached New York, to which a reply said “not yet.”
A message sent to Hannah’s friend claimed the traveler had been tricked into sending money.
“For someone I thought I loved,” a subsequent text read.
MYSTERY PAYMENTS
The U.S. Sun exclusively reported how two Venmo payments were sent to a man and a woman.
Her family said they didn’t recognize the names of the people who were wired money.
Other messages sent from Hannah’s phone claimed she had undergone a spiritual awakening.
“I’m charging my phone and heading back to the airport to get to NYC, the message continued.
“I might need some help getting there, it’s a long story.”
The message was sent to Larie, and a second text said: “I think I still have my hotel room.”
A handwritten note revealed what Hannah planned to do in New York.
She had set aside time to see family and attend concerts.
A missing person’s report has been filed, but Hannah’s family has blasted Los Angeles cops.
They claimed officers didn’t question them for 10 days. “It’s not that I have anything against the LAPD; I just want them to hear us; I want them to listen to our voices that this is not like her,” Larie told The U.S. Sun.
Ryan was seen breaking down at a rally days before his death.
Hannah was seen at Los Angeles airport following her flight from HawaiiKITV
Cryptic messages were sent from Hannah’s phoneNews Now
Two Venmo payments are being probedVenmo
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
https://www.the-sun.com/news/12975668/hannah-kobayashi-dad-ryan-search-final-hours-death/