Father of Missing Hawaii Woman Found Dead in Los Angeles 2 Weeks After His Daughter's Disappearance

Mar. 15, 2025

The father ofmissing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashihas died in Los Angeles two weeks after her disappearance, officials said.

Ryan Kobayashi died in a parking lot on Sunday, Nov. 24, theL.A. County medical examinerconfirmed. He was 58.

An L.A. police spokesman tells PEOPLE that law enforcement was called to that area on Sunday morning for “an apparent suicide” after a caller “indicated [that] it looked like somebody had fallen or jumped from the seventh [story of] a parking structure.”

The spokesman said the identity of the person was not yet available but more information was likely to be released later on Monday, Nov. 25.

Ryan Kobayashi.ABC 7

ABC 7

AGoFundMeorganized on behalf of Li Jaena, Ryan’s fiancée, paid tribute to him as “a truly remarkable person who lit up every room with his positivity and kind heart.”

Hannah Kobayashi.Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon

Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon

“Ryan Kobayashi flew to Los Angeles immediately after learning of Hannah’s disappearance. Tragically, Ryan is no longer with us, leaving us all heartbroken and at a loss for words,” organizers wrote.

“He has been living his absolute worst nightmare, since Hannah’s disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief,” the message added.

Hannah Kobayashi.LAPD

LAPD

Hannah’s aunt Larie Pidgeon previously told PEOPLE that the 30-year-old had left Maui on Nov. 8 and was supposed to make a connecting flight to New York City at LAX, but missed it because of her tight layover.

Pidgeon said Hannah had contacted another aunt, Geordan Montalvo, and told her she missed her flight and was trying to rebook.

The missing woman was said to have then gone to a bookstore around noon on Nov. 9 and that evening she went back to LAX, telling Montalvo that trying to get on another flight was a “nightmare” but that she was still trying to get there.

The family said they have confirmed sightings of Hannah at LAX the following day — but started to receive concerning messages from her on Nov. 11.

“I think someone’s trying to steal my identity. I’m really scared,” Hannah texted at the time, amongother worrying messages, according to her family.

Hannah’s last pinned location was at LAX around 4 p.m. local time on Nov. 11, Pidgeon told PEOPLE. That day, the family got a confirmed sighting of Hannah and an unidentified person getting on the train, but she hasn’t been seen since reportedly exiting at Pico Station.

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Ryan, her dad, was among the family members who traveled to L.A. amid the search for his missing daughter.

While speaking to a crowdat a rally near Crypto.com Arena, close to where Hannah was last seen, Pidgeon urged people on Thursday, Nov. 21: “Please, please do not stop saying her name, Hannah Kobayashi.”

Ryan also appeared at the rally, calling his daughter “a beautiful girl inside and outside."

“Just reach out, if you can at all,” he said.

source: people.com