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Missing woman Hannah Kobayashi's sister spoke out against the police’s conclusions regarding her disappearance.
Police issued an update December 2 for the missing woman Hannah Kobayashi that seemed to rub her family the wrong way.
Speaking with the family lawyer, Sara Azari, Hannah’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, said she and her family are frustrated with the authorities and how they have conducted their investigation.
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Hannah Kobayashi was traveling from her home in Maui, Hawaii, to get a connecting flight to New York via Los Angeles back in November, but never boarded her flight at LAX.
She then spent a few days in Los Angeles before raising alarm bells with her family over her safety. They eventually traveled to the city to look for her before placing a missing person’s report.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell held a press conference on December 2 and insisted that Kobayashi had been spotted on CCTV footage.
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However, the authority's overall conclusion pertaining to her disappearance seemed to frustrate the family. She was seen on video surveillance crossing United States border on foot into Mexico alone and police stated she was ‘voluntarily missing.
McDonnell also said: “To date the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity.
“She has a right to her privacy, and we respect her choices but we also understand that the concern her loved ones feel for her.”
Speaking to NBC News, Sydni said relatives should have been shown the video that shows Hannah crossing into Mexico alone at a pedestrian port of entry in San Diego on Nov. 12.
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She said: “We're just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now."
The family lawyer agreed and said: “They just reached this conclusion … without showing them any footage.
"It takes a lot more digging and investigation to be able to say it's voluntary."
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Sydney also admitted she still fears Hannah has been a victim of human trafficking and said she can’t see how her sister would remain out of touch for nearly a month.
She also urged her sister to reach out to her or anyone else in the family to put them at ease that she is safe and sound.
She said: "I can't stress enough how loved you are, how supported you are," she said. "We're really worried about you. No matter what situation you're in, you always have a home to come to."
Gerrard Kaonga