The family of Hannah Kobayashi have said that she has been found safe after she missed her flight last month.
She had flown into Los Angeles on November 8 but missed her connecting flight to New York City, and for the following few days, there were several sightings of her in the airport and around the city.
Her family went out to search for her as Hannah was declared missing, and in a previous update, investigators said that she crossed the US/Mexico border on November 12.
After Hannah went missing, her family suffered another tragedy as her father Ryan was found dead in LA after he'd flown over to help look for her.
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Now her family says they have been contacted by Hannah to tell them she is safe, and in a statement shared with the Mail, they expressed their relief that she was alive and well.
The Kobayashi family said in a statement that they wanted to thank everyone who had provided them support while Hannah had been missing, and asked for privacy as they worked out how to process the 'unimaginable ordeal'.
They said: "We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe.
"This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through.
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"We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."
The investigation into Hannah's disappearance found that while she'd checked her bag onto the flight to New York, she later requested to have it sent back to her at LAX and surveillance footage spotted her picking it up on November 11.
On that same day she left the airport and travelled to Union Station, where she bought a bus ticket for a location near the US border with Mexico.
She travelled to San Ysidro, California, on November 12 and shortly thereafter crossed the border into Mexico.
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The LAPD had said that 'Kobayashi expressed a desire to step away from modem connectivity' and said that 'speculation about potential involvement in human trafficking or foul play' in her case had turned out to be false.
LAPD officers had also confirmed that they would not be investigating the case while Kobayashi was in Mexico, though when they issued their update on the case they had urged her to make contact so her well-being could be verified.
Topics: US News
Joe Harker