Hannah Kobayashi's mysterious disappearance, marked by cryptic Venmo payments, has left her family devastated and fearing the worst as police probe whether she fell victim to trafficking.
The 30-year-old aspiring photographer from Hawaii was last seen on November 11 in Los Angeles after missing a connecting flight to New York three days earlier.
Police are now investigating two payments Kobayashi made through Venmo on November 9. One payment at 6:25 p.m. went to a woman named Veronica Almendarez and included only a bow-and-arrow emoji as the description.
The other, made less than an hour later to a man named Jonathan Taylor, was marked "Reading." Sources suggest it was for a tarot card reading, as Kobayashi was known to have an interest in spirituality.
Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi's aunt, confirmed that the family had seen the payments and reported them to the Los Angeles Police Department.
"We have been made aware and so have the LAPD. It's in their hands," she told The U.S. Sun. "We are still focused on Downtown LA. Even though it's been 15 [days], we still have hope."
Her family revealed they have also viewed surveillance footage showing Kobayashi at Los Angeles International Airport with luggage on November 11, the same day her phone last pinged.
The family fears she may have been abducted or forced into trafficking, stating that police informed them she was spotted in surveillance footage with an unidentified individual at the station.
"We can't comment on the footage but are hoping the police release it to help us in the search," said Pidgeon, according to the U.S. Sun.
The situation is "out of character" for Kobayashi, who had been excited about her trip to New York, where she had a $2,000 hotel room booked and a photography job lined up. Days before her disappearance, Kobayashi sent troubling messages to relatives, claiming, "Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f*** since Friday," and expressed fears someone was trying to steal her money and identity. In one of her last texts, she wrote, "Hi loves. I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening. I'm charging my phone and heading back to the airport to get to NYC. I might need some help getting there, it's a long story."
Despite the family's efforts, authorities initially classified Kobayashi as a "voluntary missing person" and did not investigate her disappearance for 10 days.
The family is also contending with online rumors and conspiracy theories about Kobayashi's involvement with Twin Flames Universe, a controversial "love cult" she followed on social media. "If we chased every rumor that's out there we would go crazy," said Pidgeon. "The internet is going wild with conspiracy theories. It's our job as her family to keep the search going and focus on the facts."
Compounding the family's heartbreak, Kobayashi's father, Ryan, died by suicide on November 24 in Los Angeles after weeks of searching for his daughter. Days before his death, he broke down at a rally, describing the ordeal as "every parent's nightmare." The family has described his loss as a "devastating tragedy" that has multiplied their suffering.
Kobayashi's disappearance continues to raise troubling questions as her family and police search for answers.
"We are also now encouraging people from across the nation to keep an eye in case she has been taken outside of California," Pidgeon pleaded to the public.
