Missing woman Hannah Kobayashi’s sister has revealed she does not want to return home as a tragic twist to the case emerges.
Sydni has opened up about her first conversation with her sister after a month-long search and claimed she’d decided to stay with her aunt in Mexico.
Hannah was discovered safe after she disappeared from Los Angeles after arrival in the Californian city from Maui, Hawaii, reports the Mirror.
Her sister claimed she and her mum had spoken with Hannah over the phone after reports that she’d been found safe.
It comes as Hannah’s father Ryan flew to Los Angeles in an attempt to find her and was found dead on November 24 after taking his own life.
According to The Sun, Sydni said: “We have only spoken to her over the phone, and she was allegedly found safe with Larie [her aunt], but at this time, she does not wish to return to us. At this time, my mother and I have not physically seen Hannah.
“We do not have actual proof of where she is, other than that she is somewhere in Mexico.” Hannah had been missing since November 11 and the case drew both national and international attention as her family begged for help to find her.
Her family later established that Hannah had been found safe following an “unimaginable ordeal.” Family attorney Sara Azari did not reveal where Hannah was found or why she chose to go to Mexico.
Hannah jetted to Los Angeles and was expected to catch a connecting flight to New York on November 8. But she missed the 42-minute window to catch the flight.
The search for Hannah was set up after she sent cryptic texts to her family before becoming difficult to contact. Volunteers flocked to canvas Los Angeles in a bid to locate her.
During the search, Hannah’s father was found dead in a Los Angeles car parking garage. It is has not been confirmed whether Hannah is aware of her father’s death.
Sydni then accused her aunt of having created a “media circus.” She continued: “Larie, a self-proclaimed social media influencer, became the point of contact for the media and did many interviews, despite me and my mum not being in favour of it.
“There were many occasions when my mother and I requested that Larie respect our feelings and tone down her posts and interviews. Our priority was finding Hannah, not creating a media circus.”
A family statement shared by the family via their attorney on Wednesday said: “We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe,” they wrote. 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.
“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.”
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