The family of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi continues to vow their commitment to bring her home safely, despite police allegations she willingly crossed over into Mexico.
Thirty-year-old Kobayashi, of Maui, appeared to freely walk into a tunnel with her luggage at the San Ysidro crossing on Nov. 12, police said at a Monday news conference, citing surveillance footage, according to the Associated Press.
Her failure to board her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City Nov. 11 and lack of communication prompted family members to file a missing persons report.
Three weeks into their investigation into Kobayashi's disappearance, police have determined she voluntarily vanished in an effort to "step away from modern connectivity," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said, the AP reported.
"We've basically done everything we can do at this point. She's left the country and in another nation now," he said, adding she is now classified as a "voluntary missing person."
Still, he urged her to contact her family who have been frantically looking for her.
"A simple message could reassure those who care about her," said McDonnell.
Although police have come to the resolution that Kobayashi chose to disappear, loved ones said their search for her is "far from over."
"We are deeply grateful for the urgency and dedication law enforcement has shown in investigating Hannah's disappearance. Our family remains hopeful that Hannah is safe and urges everyone to continue the search. The search is far from over, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely," the family said in a statement to NBC News.
"We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannah's safety and urge law enforcement and the public to stay focused on finding her and to avoid speculative conclusions. Spreading awareness and sharing verified information about her case is crucial, and we deeply appreciate your continued support in these efforts."
After missing her flight, Kobayashi was seen at The Grove, a popular shopping area in Los Angeles, and later at a LeBron James event in Downtown LA. She was also spotted at a metro stop the next day.
Two weeks after she vanished, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, died in an apparent suicide near the Los Angeles International Airport while searching for her.
"He just died of a broken heart," Larie Pidgeon, his daughter's aunt, previously told USA Today. "Being on the streets and seeing what the possibilities of where his daughter could be. No sleep. The speculating rumors that are going around. It just took a toll on him."
