Volunteers join search for Hawaiian woman missing for weeks in Los Angeles as father found dead

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Volunteers have joined the search in Los Angeles for Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who disappeared more than two weeks ago after failing to catch a plane flight. connection to New York. Kobayashi’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, who was part of the search team, was found dead Sunday in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport, apparently by suicide, police and his family said.

Here are the latest developments in the case:

What happened?

Hannah Kobayashi, an aspiring photographer from Maui, was heading to New York on Nov. 8 for a new job and visiting relatives. During a layover at Los Angeles International Airport, she missed her connecting flight and told her family she would sleep at the airport that night.

Family members assumed she was waiting for another flight, according to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon. The next day, Hannah texted them to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles and planned to visit The Grove mall and downtown Los Angeles, Pidgeon said.

On November 11, the family received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages from her phone referring to her “interception” while boarding a subway and her fear that someone could steal her identity , said his aunt.

“Once the family started pushing, they went dark,” Pidgeon told The Associated Press on Saturday. After the Nov. 11 text messages, her phone “just went off,” according to Pidgeon.

Pidgeon would not elaborate further on the texts or describe surveillance footage of Hannah that she said police were reviewing, citing the ongoing investigation.

What do the authorities say?

Los Angeles police said they were investigating, but authorities have not released many details.

The family came from Hawaii and held a news conference last week, after which “it looks like the LAPD is finally taking the matter seriously,” Pidgeon said. Detectives told the family they were retracing Hannah’s steps and requesting additional surveillance footage, according to the aunt.

Police officials did not immediately respond Monday to emails and voicemails seeking further details.

What’s happening with search?

Family members and friends are searching for Hannah in Los Angeles, and this weekend they were joined by local volunteers.

Pidgeon said efforts are focused in the downtown area. Searchers also fanned out around the airport and The Grove, a few miles west of downtown.

“It’s completely out of character” to not be in contact with loved ones, Pidgeon said of Hannah.

What happened to his father?

Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who came from Hawaii to help with the search. He was found dead early Sunday in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport, according to the county medical examiner.