Hannah Kobayashi's family has spoken out amid rumors about an alleged "secret marriage".
Hannah Kobayashi had been due to fly to New York, but never boarded her plane from Los Angeles. Credit: Facebook/Missing People in America
Kobayashi, who initially went missing back on November 11, had traveled to Los Angeles from Maui, Hawaii on November 8 on her way to New York City, but didn't ever get on her connecting flight.
The authorities gave details on a timeline of the 31-year-old's whereabouts, noting that in the days following her getting off the plane at Los Angeles International Airport, she was seen at a Taschen bookstore in The Grove shopping center where she made two Venmo transactions to unidentified recipients.
The next day on November 10, she captured in a YouTube video at a Nike event at The Grove and posted a photo from the event on Instagram.
Posters of Hannah Kobayashi outside the metro station where she was last seen. Credit: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty
However, the following day, Kobayashi sent two seemingly distressed texts to her mother and a friend, claiming she was deceived and financially exploited by 'Deep Hackers.' She was seen on surveillance footage with a stranger while looking panicked.
Shortly after, the authorities sent out a missing person alert, and a search started for Kobayashi. Two weeks after her disappearance, her father Ryan Kobayashi died in an apparent suicide after his body was discovered at a parking lot in LA.
In a recent update, it was confirmed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) footage captured Kobayashi crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on foot near Tijuana on November 12 at approximately 12:15PM, as per the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
"She was alone, with her luggage, and appeared unharmed,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated during a press conference streamed by ABC 7.
“At this time, Kobayashi’s case has been classified as a voluntary missing person," he added as well as noting that there is no evidence to suggest foul play or that Kobayashi has been a victim of trafficking.
The 31-year-old disappeared while in LA. Credit: Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi
Since then, rumors have been swirling whether the 31-year-old has been involved in a "secret marriage."
However, her family has released a statement via their attorney stating that they do not have the correct documents to verify this claim.
In a lengthy statement from their attorney, Kobayashi's family said in part: "We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information.
"The family has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage."
The family is continuing to investigate leads with help from an attorney and investigative team, the statement said.
"We would also like to confirm that we turned over the alleged information to law enforcement immediately upon receipt," they said, according to ABC 7 News.