Cause of Death Confirmed for Hannah Kobayashi's Dad, Who Died 2 Weeks After Daughter's Disappearance

Mar. 15, 2025

Officials stated that Ryan, who traveled to Los Angeles to look for his daughter,died in a parking lotnear Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday, Nov. 24, two weeks after Hannah went missing.

A spokesman previously told PEOPLE that law enforcement was called to the area for “an apparent suicide.”

Speaking with PEOPLE on Monday, Nov. 25, Hannah’s aunt and Ryan’s former sister-in-law said that the family believed he had a mental health emergency.

“We’ve been searching tirelessly,” said Larie Pidgeon, 45. “I think it just became so overwhelming for him driving the streets, going to Skid Row and seeing where his daughter could possibly have ended up.”

She added that the family wanted to dispel any rumors that he had anything to do with his daughter’s disappearance and said they did not believe he was lured to his death."

In aGoFundMeset up for Li, Ryan’s fiancée, niece Emi Ko 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.”

Hannah Kobayashi.LAPD

LAPD

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Pidgeon previously told PEOPLE that 30-year-old Hannah 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.

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

The family said they have confirmed sightings of Hannah at the airport the following day — but started to receiveconcerning messagesfrom her on Nov. 11.

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 aconfirmed sighting of Hannahand an unidentified person getting on the train, but she hasn’t been seen since reportedly exiting at Pico Station.

source: people.com