What happened to Hannah Kobayashi?
More details weren't forthcoming, but the 30-year-old Maui woman's family said Dec. 11 they've confirmed that she's safe, a month after they reported her missing.
"We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," Hannah's sister Sydni Kobayashi and mom Brandi Yee said in a statement to NBC News. "This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through."
Hannah's whereabouts became a hot topic in the weeks since she flew into L.A. on Nov. 8, ostensibly on her way to New York, but never boarded her connecting flight and spent several days in town before her family stopped hearing from her on Nov. 11.
And learning from police that Hannah crossed the border from California into Mexico the very next day only added another layer of intrigue to the search for answers.
"We're just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now," Sydni said on NBC News NOW's Top Story With Tom Llamas Dec. 3 after the LAPD deemed her sibling a "voluntary missing person," noting that the security footage they reviewed of Hannah at the border showed her walking into Mexico by herself, carrying her luggage.
Sydni urged Hannah to reach out, saying, "I can't stress enough how loved you are, how supported you are. We're really worried about you. No matter what situation you're in, you always have a home to come to."
And then the family was thrown for another loop.
Los Angeles Magazine reported Dec. 4 that the FBI was investigating whether Hannah got married as part of a plan to help someone get a green card in exchange for money after her mother found immigration documents that indicated her daughter may have been involved in such a scheme.
The FBI's Los Angeles field office confirmed to NBC News that they had assisted in the Kobayashi case, but directed further inquiries to the LAPD. Police referred to their Dec. 2 news conference confirming Hannah's crossing into Mexico as the last update coming from their corner.
Kobayashi family attorney Sara Azari said in a statement posted to X Dec. 4 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."
She continued, "This is one of many leads we are actively investigating with the help of our attorney and investigative team. We would also like to confirm that we turned over the alleged information to law enforcement immediately upon receipt."
In addition to extending gratitude to the volunteers and everyone else invested in finding Hannah, the lawyer added, "We kindly ask everyone to avoid jumping to conclusions or spreading unverified claims. It is especially important not to perpetuate speculation that anyone is involved in a scam, as this only hinders our efforts to find Hannah and bring clarity and closure to the nightmare we are living because of her disappearance."
A week later, the family confirmed contact had been made with Hannah.
With her mom and sister breathing a sigh of relief, here's a rundown of every known thing that happened after Hannah arrived in L.A.:
(Originally published Dec. 7, 2024, at 5 a.m. PT)
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