Hannah Kobayashi Finally Breaks Silence, Claims She Was 'Unaware' of Media Attention Surrounding Her

Hannah Kobayashi claims she was "unaware" of the media attention surrounding her for the past month in her first statement since she was found safe.

The 30-year-old photographer from Maui was reported missing by loved ones Nov. 11 after she failed to board her flight out of Los Angeles to New York City.

Earlier this month, the LAPD determined she voluntarily disappeared when she was captured on surveillance footage entering Mexico near San Diego Nov. 12.

This week, police confirmed Kobayashi's case was officially closed after Customs and Border Protection notified them she re-entered the U.S. Sunday and "appeared in good health," according to KTLA-TV.

Kobayashi broke her silence that she returned from Mexico in a statement through her aunt Larie Pidgeon Monday, according to KNBC-TV.

"At daybreak on December 15th, I crossed the border back into the United States," Kobayashi stated.

"My focus now is 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," it continued.

"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."

Kobayashi's mother, Brandi Yee, and sister, Sydni Kobayashi, confirmed last week she was found safe on the one month anniversary of her presumed disappearance in a statement through their attorney, Sara Azari, on X.

"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," the statement read, in part.

On Facebook, Sydni said while she is glad Kobayashi is safe, she admitted she felt betrayed over the ordeal involving her sister.

"As you can imagine, we are all extremely relieved and glad that my sister is alive and seemingly okay, but we also have mixed and overwhelming feelings of exhaustion, devastation, and betrayal," she wrote in a lengthy post last week, in part. "We are kindly asking the public to respect our privacy and offer us grace for a moment as we are still grieving. There is still so much unknown, and so much that still needs to be navigated."

Loved ones previously expressed fears she had been kidnapped or sex trafficked when she failed to arrive in NYC in November.

Adding to the family's turmoil, Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide following his arrival at LAX two weeks later to aid in the frantic search for his daughter. The 58-year-old's body was found near the airport parking garage in Los Angeles on Nov. 24, said authorities.

Speaking with PEOPLE days after the tragedy, Pidgeon, speculated Ryan experienced a mental health emergency prior to jumping to his death. They also shot down rumors he might have been involved in her disappearance.

"We've been searching tirelessly," said Pidgeon. "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."

Earlier this month, Los Angeles police said it was up to Kobayashi to return to her family after they determined she safely crossed into Mexico.

"We've basically done everything we can do at this point. She's left the country and is in another nation now," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said, adding they moved to classify her as a "voluntary missing person," further refuting suspicions she may have been the victim of foul play, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities were also previously exploring possible claims Hannah might have been the victim of a potential marriage scam.

Originally published in Lawyer Herald