Hannah Kobayashi, Hawaii photographer, voluntarily missing, no sex trafficking evidence: LAPD

Hannah Kobayashi, the missing woman from Hawaii, was captured on camera crossing into Mexico four days after arriving at a Los Angeles airport and one day after she was last in contact, authorities announced on Monday.

Customs and Border Protection footage shows the 30-year-old photographer walking across the southern border on foot near Tijuana at around 12:15 p.m. on November 12, according to the LAPD, who provided the update during a press conference on Monday evening.

“She was alone, with her luggage and appeared unharmed,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at the briefing streamed by ABC 7. “At this time Kobayashi’s case has been classified a voluntary missing person.”

Investigators suspect that Kobayashi discarded her phone after arriving at LAX on November 8, police added in the briefing.

McDonnell emphasized there’s no evidence to suggest that Kobayashi is a victim of sex trafficking or that foul play was involved after she missed her connecting flight to New York.

“Additionally the investigators noted that before departing Maui, Kobayashi expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity,” he said.

“Our priority is ensuring Ms. Kobayashi’s safety and well-being and we urge Ms. Kobayashi to contact her family, law enforcement or personnel at the US Embassy to let us know that she is safe.”

Police confirmed that Kobayashi intentionally missed her connecting flight from LA to New York City for reasons still unknown, though her family disagreed earlier on Monday.

“Based on information, surveillance footage reviewed and information shared with us, these are the facts known to my mother and I: It does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight,” Kobayashi’s sister Sydni had said in a statement.

“The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah,” she added.

Kobayashi’s family reported that she sent unusual text messages prior to her disappearance, raising concern among her relatives.

She arrived at LAX on November 8, but was later seen on surveillance footage at different locations in the Los Angeles area until November 12, her family said, as reported by the LA Times.

Kobayashi’s family filed a missing persons report on November 11 after losing all communication with her.