LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who was reported missing in Los Angeles three weeks ago, walked freely into Mexico, police said.
Authorities declared Kobayashi a “voluntary missing person” after reviewing surveillance video of her crossing the border with her luggage, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters Monday evening. McDonnell said Kobayashi appeared unharmed and that authorities have found no evidence Kobayashi was being trafficked or was otherwise a victim of a crime.
The chief urged Kobayashi to contact her distraught family.
Here is a look at the case and the latest developments:
Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, was heading to New York City on Nov. 8 for a new job and to visit relatives when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.
Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon.
“Once the family started pressing, she went dark,” Pidgeon told The Associated Press on Nov. 23. After the texts on Nov. 11, her phone “just went dead,” according to Pidgeon.
Family members, friends and local volunteers searched for Hannah in Los Angeles.
Police said Kobayashi walked alone into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing about 125 miles (201 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles on Nov. 12, the day after her family reported her missing. Authorities made the announcement after reviewing security video footage from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Kobayashi disappeared voluntarily as she sought to “step away from modern connectivity,” McDonnell, the LA police chief, said Monday.
McDonnell said Kobayashi has a right to her privacy, but urged her to reach out to her family or law enforcement. He explained that the missing person case will remain active until law enforcement confirms her safety.
During a police commission meeting last week, McDonnell said detectives determined Kobayashi missed her connecting flight intentionally. The woman’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, disputed his statement in a social media post.
Authorities in Mexico say they’ve been been alerted about the missing woman but haven’t received any official request to search for her.
Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who flew in from Hawaii to help in the search. He was found dead Nov. 24 in a parking lot near LA International Airport, according to the county medical examiner.
Police said officers responded to reports of a body about 4 a.m. and discovered someone dead.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Kobayashi’s family confirmed Ryan’s death in a statement the same day, saying they “endured a devastating tragedy” and that he died by suicide.
“After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life,” according to the statement. “This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”
The family set up a “Help Us Find Hannah” Facebook page that was no longer available Tuesday. Members of the public who were a part of the Facebook group shared a post Monday that said the family would be shutting it down. The post also said Sydni Kobayashi and her mother would not be responding to any messages.
Sydni Kobayashi has not responded to an emailed request for comment on the latest details.
A flyer with information on Hannah Kobayashi, currently missing, is displayed Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024--
GEMS Education has announced the launch of First Schools Management, its new division dedicated to improving school management and performance across the globe, beyond the UAE. It was founded by Sunny Varkey, creator of the USD 1 million Global Teacher Prize, a great proponent of the power of teachers around the world, including in the UK.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204524705/en/
Mr Sunny Varkey, Founder of GEMS Education and Varkey Foundation (Photo: Business Wire)
Building on more than 65 years of educational expertise, this new initiative aims to offer high-quality management and school improvement services tailored to meet the specific needs of schools around the world.
The UK is a priority market for First Schools Management. The country’s learning management system market is expected to reach almost USD 4 billion by 2030, 1 at an annual growth rate of around 12%. 2
First Schools Management by GEMS Education, with offices in London and Dubai, will partner with schools worldwide to enhance operational efficiencies, raise standards of education, and support leadership in achieving sustainable success and growth.
First Schools Management is founded on the core values that have distinguished GEMS as a global leader in education. Mobilising multidisciplinary teams with deep expertise, First Schools Management tailors its services to schools’ needs and goals, covering every aspect of school management.
GEMS Education has already received numerous requests from schools to establish this service, underscoring the global demand for high-quality school management and improvement solutions.
Mr Sunny Varkey, Founder of GEMS Education and Varkey Foundation, whose entrepreneurial and philanthropic work has seen him named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, launch the USD 1 million Global Teacher Prize, and sign The Giving Pledge, said: “Our vision at GEMS has always been to make quality education accessible to every learner. Schools around the world face numerous challenges, but with the right management services tailored to their unique needs, they can focus on what truly matters – delivering exceptional education to their students. For over six decades, we’ve gained invaluable expertise, and through First Schools Management, we aim to share this knowledge to support schools across the globe.”
Building on GEMS’ global network of schools and expert educators, First Schools Management brings a wealth of knowledge and resources to every partnership. Client schools benefit from the insights GEMS has gained from operating in diverse international contexts, alongside locally relevant strategies that resonate with each school community.
The achievements within GEMS reflect a dedication to excellence and innovation in education. The group has consistently achieved outstanding academic results, with students excelling in international examinations, university placements, and national academic competitions. Highlights include:
The excellence achieved by GEMS is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of its staff, whose passion, innovation, and dedication drive the organisation’s success. The group’s professional development programmes are designed to empower staff with the latest technologies, resources, methodologies, and expertise, enabling them to deliver the highest standards of teaching and learning for all students.
Drawing on the global presence of GEMS and its blend of local knowledge and international best practices, First Schools Management is ideally placed to assist schools in their aspirations for growth, creating learning environments that meet the needs of communities and that provide world-class education that truly prepares students to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.
About GEMS Education
GEMS Education is one of the oldest and largest K-12 private education providers in the world and a trusted and highly regarded choice for quality education in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a company founded in the UAE in 1959, it holds an unparalleled track record of providing diverse curricula and educational choices to all socio-economic means.
Having started with a single school run from a private home in Dubai, GEMS remains a family business to this day. Its inspiring Founder, Sunny Varkey, and his son, Dino Varkey, who is Group Chief Executive Officer, are responsible for providing vision, insight, and strategy across the organisation.
Every day, GEMS has the privilege of educating students from over 176 countries through its owned and managed schools globally. And through its growing network, as well as charitable contributions, it is fulfilling the GEMS vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every learner.
Every year, students graduating from GEMS schools progress to the world’s best universities. Over the past five years, GEMS students have been accepted into over 1,050 universities in 53 countries including all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 24 Russell Group universities and colleges in the UK.
For further information about GEMS Education, visit www.gemseducation.com
1https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/learning-management-system-market/uk
2https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-k-12-school-management-platform-market-application-rgive/
Mr Sunny Varkey, Founder of GEMS Education and Varkey Foundation (Photo: Business Wire)
