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Hannah Kobayashi appears to address father's suicide in vague video, ‘Such loss and pain and suffering’

Hannah Kobayashi's father, 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide after jumping to his death while searching for her when she went missing last year.

Published on: May 20, 2025, 15:04:37 IST
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Hawaii photographer Hannah Kobayashi, who was found safe in December 2024 days after she went missing, has appeared to address her father’s suicide for the first time. Her father, 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi, died by suicide after jumping to his death during the search for his daughter. What made him take the extreme step remains unclear.

Hannah Kobayashi appears to address father's suicide in vague video (Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi/Facebook)
Hannah Kobayashi appears to address father's suicide in vague video (Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi/Facebook)

Hannah, 31, disappeared while heading to New York City after missing a connecting flight to New York and being stranded in Los Angeles. She was later caught on camera crossing into Mexico, and was declared a voluntary missing person by police. Her family eventually started investigating the possibility that she may have been involved in an immigration marriage scam.

After days of relentless searches and Ryan’s suicide, Hannah was ultimately found safe in December. However, even after returning, she made no mention of her father.

‘Such loss and pain and suffering’

Hannah has now shared a vague video about how life is “such a precious gift…especially after such loss and pain and suffering.” “We should all learn to be kind to one another and cherish every single moment that we can because we are all connected,” she said on social media, according to the New York Post.

Hannah responded to a user’s comment in a previous post, where she was criticised for not attending her dad’s funeral. “You don’t know the whole story. My intention in this post is to acknowledge that I am going to speak about my experience and to stand up against all the hate that was cast upon me,” Hannah wrote. “I hope that in your darkest hours, you are shown compassion and love versus hate and judgment.”

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

  • Sumanti Sen
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Sumanti Sen

    Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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