Maui woman Hannah Kobayashi can be seen in new surveillance footage buying a bus ticket to Mexico.
Los Angeles police revealed on Monday that Kobayashi, 30, was seen at Union Station buying a bus ticket to the US-Mexico border on November 11 – the day she stopped replying to messages from her family and friends.
A photo from the surveillance footage, obtained by Fox 11 Los Angeles, shows the aspiring photographer standing at a counter in sweats with her passport in hand and a suitcase by her side.
She was later seen alive on footage from the border near Tijuana on November 12 and 13 – about 11 days before her father took his own life.
Police believe Kobayashi ‘intentionally’ missed her connecting flight to New York City from the Los Angeles International Airport on November 8, and are classifying her disappearance as ‘voluntary.’
They noted there is no evidence of human trafficking of foul play, and claimed that she seemed to have wanted a less complicated life.
‘The investigators noted that before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed a desire to step away from modern connectivity,’ the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement Monday.
Los Angeles police added they will not further their investigation of Kobayashi but will be notified if she returns to America and they encourage her to contact police or the American Embassy in Mexico to ‘confirm her well-being’.
Still, Kobayashi’s family is urging community members to continue to search for her, as they warned against ‘speculative conclusions’.
Sydni, her sister, argued to NBC News Tuesday night that they should have been shown the video of Kobayashi crossing into Mexico at a pedestrian port of entry in San Diego on November 12.
‘We’re just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now,’ she said.
Family lawyer Sara Azari agreed, claiming the LAPD ‘just reached this conclusion… without showing [her family] any footage.
‘It takes a lot more digging and investigation to be able to say its voluntary.’
Instead, Sydni said she fears Hannah may be the victim of human trafficking – despite police officers’ assurance there is no evidence to suggest she was coerced into crossing the border.
The police claimed Kobayashi expressed a desire to ‘step away from modern connectivity.’
But Sydni has repeatedly said she could not see how Hannah could remain out of touch after their father took his own life during the search efforts.
‘She always kept close to me more than anyone in our lives.’
The family had earlier released a statement on the LAPD’s discovery, insisting the search for Kobayashi is ‘far from over,’ and saying they ‘are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely’.
‘We are deeply grateful for the urgency and dedication law enforcement has shown in investigating Hannah’s disappearance,’ they said in a statement shared online by NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin.
‘Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search.
‘We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannah’s safety and urge 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.’
Azari added that the family will now deploy supporters to look for Kobayashi in Mexico.
The family has repeatedly shared their concerns that Hannah may be in danger, with Sydni once even arguing at one point that it seemed like ‘someone was controlling her’ as she sent cryptic text messages.
In the messages, she claimed she had recently undergone a ‘spiritual awakening,’ after she was due to meet family in New York.
In another, she claimed: ‘Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday.’
A third text message to a friend said she was ‘tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I love.’
Kobayashi had also sent some unusual Venmo payments following her disappearance.
One payment was sent at 6:25pm on November 9 to a person named Veronica Almendarez for an unknown amount, with the description of the payment only showing a drawn bow and arrow emoji.
The second was made less than an hour later to someone called Jonathan Taylor, also for an undisclosed amount, with the description only saying: ‘Reading.’
Family members said the did not recognize either name, and have noted hat Kobayashi’s phone has been off since November 11, with her last pinned location being the Los Angeles International Airport.
But the family abruptly shut down the Facebook page devoted to the search efforts for Kobayashi – claiming they were receiving death threats.
The Help Us Find Hannah page was removed from the social media site on Sunday, and Kobayashi’s sister, Sydni, and her mother, Brandi Yee, said they have been reporting the threats to the FBI.
There are now also questions around the GoFundMe the family set up now that Kobayashi has been determined to not be a victim of foul play.
Many donors to the fundraiser, which raked in more than $47,000, are demanding refunds.
The fundraiser was set up on November 15 with a $50,000 goal. As of Tuesday, it was at 94 percent of the way there.
According to the GoFundMe, the money was to be used for food and hydration for search teams, transportation, communication devices and technology, a media campaign, ‘temporary accommodations for essential personnel’ and on-site support for the family.
On November 26, the family updated the fundraiser to add funeral costs for Kobayashi’s father to its scope.
A spokesman for GoFundMe confirmed that the fundraiser remains within its terms of service at this time.
November 8-9 – After missing her connecting flight in Los Angeles from Maui to New York City, Hannah Kobayashi is spotted both days at the popular shopping mall The Grove at some time between the middle of the day and 3pm
November 10 – Kobayashi is seen in the background of a Nike event starring NBA legend LeBron James at around 3:30pm
November 11 – The 30-year-old was spotted getting on the LAX Metro C line at Aviation/Century Station, a short ride from the airport. Kobayashi was reported missing to law enforcement this same day.
November 12-13 – Law enforcement sources claim Kobayashi is seen entering Mexico at the border near Tijuana
November 15 – The LAPD Missing Persons Unit takes over the case
November 24 – Hannah’s father, Ryan, is found dead at a building near LAX, one of the last places Hannah was seen.
November 25 – It is revealed Ryan Kobayashi took his own life, with family saying he ‘died of a broken heart’ over Hannah’s disappearance
November 26 – LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said ‘the investigation determined’ that Hannah’s missed connection ‘was intentional’ at an LAPD Board of Commissioners meeting
November 27 – LAPD attempts to locate a man and a woman Kobayashi paid on Venmo shortly after she missed her connecting flight on the 11th
December 2 – An LAPD source claims Hannah is ‘an adult and she can choose to be missing’ and don’t suspect any foul play in her disappearance