The family of missing woman Hannah Kobayashi have rejected an assertion from the Los Angeles Police Department that she intentionally missed her connecting flight from LA to New York.
Maui woman Hannah went missing after travelling to LA and not taking her connecting flight. She was last seen on 11 November.
On that same day, her family arrived in the city to search for her, and days later, her father Ryan was found dead, with a verdict of suicide ruled.
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Since then, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell announced that the investigation had determined that Hannah, 30, missed her flight on purpose, saying: "On Friday, Nov. 8 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York which the investigation determined was intentional.
"Over the next few days, she maintained contact with her family and remained active on Instagram."
However, People reports that the family of Hannah Kobayashi released a statement of their own which contradicted a number of things McDonnell had announced, including the claim that Hannah missed her flight and some basic information about the case.
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The family said: "We are doing everything in our power to locate Hannah. Based on information, surveillance footage reviewed and information shared with us, these are the facts known to my mother and I:
- "It does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight.
- "My mother and I were unaware about the alleged findings presented at the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting until multiple videos of the meeting were sent to us by multiple citizens.
- "These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannah’s case.
- "My mother and I would later learn that the police commission is a five-member committee made up of five civilians, not law enforcement, who are not directly involved in Hannah’s missing persons case.
- "Specific facts contained in that report were inaccurate, such as Hannah’s age. Hannah is 30 years old, not 23. Also, Hannah was reported missing to Law Enforcement on November 11th, not November 13th, as stated by the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.
"The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments.
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"However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah. We are devastated by Hannah’s disappearance and now my father Ryan’s passing.
"It is completely out of character for Hannah to simply disappear without a trace. We remain deeply concerned about Hannah’s safety, her well-being and her current state of mind.
"Hannah, if you happen to see this, know that we are not going to give up or stop searching until we find you. We know that this is something you would never do on your own accord, unless you felt some type of threat or you were unwell.
"We know how much you love all of us, and we love you deeply.
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"While we will continue our search for Hannah widely, we will be focusing on the Southern California area, specifically all regions of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and all regions of San Diego.
"We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who continues to hold our family in their prayers and to those positively contributing to our search efforts."
LADbible has contacted the LAPD for comment.
Topics: US News, World News