Conspiracy theories about the disappearance of Hawaiian photographer Hannah Kobayashi may have led to the tragic suicide of her father, the family says, blaming the spread of misinformation.
Hannah, 30, flew from Maui to Los Angeles on November 8, intending to connect to a flight to New York City for a "bucket list" trip with family. She missed the connection and sent a series of alarming texts about hackers and lost funds before completely vanishing, WKKJ reported.
Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, traveled to Los Angeles to join the search, combing areas like Skid Row.
Meanwhile, internet forums exploded with theories about her disappearance, ranging from cult involvement to alleged blackmail schemes, which the family says weighed heavily on Ryan's mental health.
"It's bulls—t! It's such bulls—t!" Larie Pidgeon, Hannah's aunt, told the New York Post. "If Ryan is looking at all this s–t, imagine that weighing on him?"
Two weeks after Hannah's disappearance, on November 24, Ryan died by suicide at a parking structure near LAX, Los Angele's main airport. His death has left the family devastated while conspiracy theories continue to swirl.
"He broke," Pidgeon said. "He died of a broken heart. We were tirelessly searching, and Ryan was a big, giant teddy bear. He's sensitive. Imagine looking in places like Skid Row, picturing his daughter being sex-trafficked, not getting sleep. He just broke."
Despite new sightings of Hannah after landing in Los Angeles, including at a train station and shopping mall, her current whereabouts are unknown.
