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LOS ANGELES − Hannah Kobayashi, the Maui woman who went missing in Los Angeles in November, says she is “still processing it all” after she returned to the United States on Sunday, she said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.
Kobayashi said in the statement, provided via her aunt Larie Pidgeon, that she was “unaware of everything that was happening in the media” during her disappearance.
“I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time,” the statement said.
The 30-year-old had been presumed missing after missing a flight on Nov. 8 while traveling from Hawaii to New York City at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting a large search. Authorities said she was seen crossing the border into Mexico on Nov. 12, but she remained missing until she was located by family this month and traveled back to the U.S. on Sunday.
Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Douglas Oldfield told USA TODAY in an email Monday that the department closed the missing persons case for Kobayashi after it received notification that she crossed the border back into the U.S.
Read Hannah Kobayashi’s statement
Kobayashi provided the following written statement to USA TODAY:
“At daybreak on December 15, I crossed the border back into the United States.
My focus is now on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.
I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away and I am still processing it all. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time.
Thank you for your understanding.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Kobayashi and Pidgeon for more information on the woman’s disappearance and why she was in Mexico.
