Heartbreaking Twist: Father Dies While Searching for Missing Daughter
Ryan Kobayashi, the father of missing 30-year-old Hannah Kobayashi, has tragically passed away. Ryan’s family believes he died from a “broken heart.”
The 58-year-old was found dead over the weekend in Los Angeles, just two weeks after his daughter mysteriously disappeared. Hannah vanished on November 11 after missing a connecting flight at LAX, leaving behind alarming texts that sparked fears for her safety.
According to her family, Hannah sent them messages that didn’t sound like her. Hannah’s sister Sydney shared, “It was just really weird texts. … It doesn’t sound like her—like there’s just something off about it. So I wasn’t too sure. I don’t know if it’s her or if someone else was texting.” Since then, no one in the family has heard from Hannah.
Fruitless Search Leads to Father’s Death
For days, her father Ryan joined his extended family in combing the streets of Los Angeles but as the search dragged on, the emotional toll proved too much.
“He died of a broken heart,” said Larie Pidgeon, Ryan’s former sister-in-law and Hannah’s aunt. “We’ve been searching tirelessly. I think it just became so overwhelming for him driving the streets, going to Skid Row, and seeing where his daughter could possibly have ended up.”
Pidgeon described Ryan as “one of the kindest, most sensitive souls” she had ever met, calling him a “teddy bear” who was full of gratitude and love even in the face of despair.
“He fought so hard,” she added. “Imagine if it was your daughter.”
An “Apparent Suicide”
Law enforcement responded to a call on November 24 that reported an “apparent suicide.” They eventually discovered Ryan’s body in a parking lot near the family’s hotel. While the cause of death is still under investigation, online records confirm that an examination has been scheduled by the LA County medical examiner.
Amid the tragedy, the family insists Ryan had no involvement in Hannah’s disappearance and dismissed speculations that foul play was involved in his death. “He wanted to do everything he could,” said Pidgeon. “He showed up when it mattered the most.”
With two tragedies weighing on them, the Kobayashi family continues the desperate search for Hannah. In an emotional post on a Facebook page dedicated to finding her, loved ones pleaded for support.
“We are holding onto hope and turning to our community for help. Now, more than ever, we need you,” the message reads.
It went on to say, “The search for our beloved Hannah must continue with the same love and determination that Ryan would have wanted. She is still out there, and we believe that together, we can bring her home.”
As the family navigates unimaginable loss, Pidgeon said simply, “We’re still here. We’re a family doing the best we can now with two tragedies. Please be kind.”
