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HANNAH SHOCK
New twist in Hannah Kobayashi case as cops reveal missing woman was spotted alive on CCTV going into Mexico
Her father tragically took his own life after desperately searching for her
MISSING woman Hannah Kobayashi was caught on CCTV entering Mexico nearly two weeks before her dad tragically killed himself while searching for her.
Police released the bombshell update on the baffling missing persons case last night - admitting that they now believe Hannah vanished "voluntarily".
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The 30-year-old was caught on CCTV by US immigration officials crossing the border on foot days after she landed in Los Angeles.
Tragically, Kobayashi's dad Ryan was found dead from suicide in an LA parking lot after desperately searching for her in the wrong city.
Police have revealed she went to Mexico four days after arriving in LA from Hawaii.
Cops say Kobayashi was alone and was travelling with her luggage when security footage recorded at the border on November 12 at 12.13pm.
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Kobayashi took the bus to San Ysidro, California, on the 12th before crossing into Tijuana through the tunnel at the Port of Entry.
There has been no confirmed contact with her since, and authorities said they suspect Kobayashi may have left her cellphone somewhere in Los Angeles.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said cops have done "everything we can" as she had left the US and entered another country.
He said: "The investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play.
Most read in The US Sun
"She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity. Additionally, the investigators noted that before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity."
Cops are now treating the case as a 'voluntary missing person' and say that if she returns to the US they will be notified.
Missing woman Hannah Kobayashi’s dad pictured breaking down at rally just days before his body found in parking lot
She had been seen on November 11 travelling around LA - after she had left her Hawaiian home for a bucket list trip days before.
She is believed to have deliberately missed her connecting flight to New York.
Ryan took his own life on November 24.
The new twist comes after a series of shock revelations - including that her father Ryan had taken his own life following 12 days of fruitlessly searching.
His heartbroken family say Ryan bottled up his emotions as he tirelessly searched for his daughter.
Ryan was said to have scoured some of LA’s most dangerous neighborhoods in a bid to find Hannah.
A GoFundMe page set up after Ryan's passing read: "He has been living his absolute worst nightmare since Hannah's disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief."
Hannah's aunt Larie Pidgeon told the New York Post: “Imagine looking in places like Skid Row, picturing his daughter being sex trafficked, not getting sleep,”
"He just broke.”
PARANOID TEXTS
On November 10, two days after missing her connecting flight, a string of cryptic messages were sent from Kobayashi's phone, sparking huge concern from family and friends.
In these messages Hannah says she was scared about someone trying to steal her money and identity.
Hannah's mom, Brandi Yee, had messaged her to see if she had landed in New York and received a two-word reply saying: "Not yet."
Hannah also sent an eerie text to her friend saying: ";I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved."
Another message reportedly referenced a "spiritual awakening" and featured an apology for acting crazy.
Worried aunt Larie says one of the final messages she was sent from the missing woman spoke about the "matrix".
The mystery deepened when she was seen at a Nike event in LA that same day.
MYSTERY PAYMENTS
In another tragic twist, the U.S. Sun exclusively reported how two Venmo payments were sent to a man and a woman on November 9th.
Her family said they didn’t recognize the names of the people who were wired money.
One was at 6:25 pm to a woman named Veronica Almendarez for an undisclosed amount, with the description showing only a bow and arrow emoji.
The second payment was made less than an hour later at 7:19 pm to a man called Jonathan Taylor with the description, "Reading."
Sources claim it was for a tarot card reading, something the "spiritual" Kobayashi is interested in.
Insiders say Taylor has been approached by those searching for Kobayashi through his TikTok account and has since turned it private.
Taylor did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Reddit users also alleged Taylor went live on social media to claim he introduced Kobayashi to a mystery man and doesn't know where she is now, but these claims have not been substantiated.
Hannah's aunt Larie confirmed to The U.S. Sun that the family had seen the payments and allegations she met with a scammer.
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She said: "We have been made aware and so have the LAPD. It's in their hands.
"We are also now encouraging people from across the nation to keep an eye in case she has been taken outside of California."
The disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi
HANNAH Kobayashi has been missing since she missed her connecting flight to New York.
Friday, November 8: Kobayashi leaves her home in Maui and arrives in Los Angeles for her connecting flight to New York City. She has 42 minutes to make the flight at 11 pm.
Saturday, November 9: Kobayashi is meant to land at JFK airport in New York City at 7 am but never arrives.
She is seen at a bookshop at The Grove, an hour away from LAX.
Sunday, November 10: Kobayashi sends a message saying she's scared and worried about someone trying to steal her money and identity, alongside several other cryptic texts.
She's later seen at an event at The Grove again in Los Angeles, attending a Nike event.
Monday, November 11: Kobayashi's phone puts her back at LAX. She posts a picture on her Instagram account from the event. Her phone is then turned off.
Wednesday, November 13: Family files missing person's report.
They are informed she was last seen at Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles with an unidentified male.
Sunday, November 24: Hannah's dad Ryan found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot after taking his own life.
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