Hannah Kobayashi, who disappeared on November 8 and has since been classified as a “voluntary” missing person, is now believed to have been involved in a green card marriage scam. Documents discovered by her mother reportedly suggested the 30-year-old may have been scammed out of money through the scheme.
The case of the Hawaiian photographer whose father tragically died by suicide during the search for her just took another significant unexpected turn.
The FBI is now reportedly joining the ongoing investigation following Kobayashi’s mother’s discovery of a possible secret marriage for financial gain.
Kobayashi was supposedly scammed out of the proceeds of a purported immigration scheme possibly concocted by her former partner, who left Maui, Hawaii, with Kobayashi on November 8 and landed at LAX with plans to catch a connecting flight to New York City, insiders told Los Angeles Magazine on Wednesday (December 4).
Hannah Kobayashi disappeared on November 8 after missing her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York
Kobayashi was reportedly on the plane with her new husband, Alan Cacace, an Argentinian man whose own girlfriend, Marianna, was also on the flight with Kobayashi’s ex, the sources told the magazine.
The possible visa scam was uncovered by Kobayashi’s mother, Brandi Yee, sources told Los Angeles Magazine.
Yee reportedly discovered immigration documents in her daughter’s home in Hawaii that listed an immigration attorney.
An insider told the magazine: “That attorney was not cooperative with the mom.” Yee subsequently turned the documents over to the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The family’s Los Angeles attorney, Sara Azari, released a statement on social media on Wednesday clarifying on behalf of the family that they have not verified the marriage, or photos of the marriage posted by her alleged groom on his social media that have since been removed.
“We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information,” the statement read.
She has since been classified as a “voluntary” missing person
It further stated: “The family has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage.
“This is one of many leads we are actively investigating with the help of our attorney and investigative team.
“We would also like to confirm that we turned over the alleged information to law enforcement immediately upon receipt.”
It is now believed she’s involved in a green card marriage scam
Hannah Kobayashi is married, as is her ex-boyfriend. Here’s why I am disclosing this information:
Hannah’s family and now legal counsel has repeatedly criticized the LAPD, claiming they are dissatisfied with the investigation into her situation. Time and again, they have spoken… pic.twitter.com/3Ph45uJlIv
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) December 4, 2024
The statement concluded: “Finally, we kindly ask everyone to avoid jumping to conclusions or spreading unverified claims.
“It is especially important not to perpetuate speculation that anyone is involved in a scam, as this only hinders our efforts to find Hannah and bring clarity and closure to the nightmare we are living because of her disappearance.”
The LAPD declared Kobayashi a “voluntary missing person” after evidence showed she intentionally crossed into Mexico on November 12, days after disappearing from LAX.
“We’re just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now,” Hannah’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, told NBC News
Image credits: NBC News
Her family’s GoFundMe campaign, which raised nearly $48,000 for search efforts and her father’s funeral, consequently drew backlash as donors demanded refunds amid revelations of her voluntary departure.
GoFundMe has since told Bored Panda in an email: “This fundraiser is verified and remains within GoFundMe’s Terms of Service at this time.
“If any donor would like to request a refund, we will honor it for them.”
The fundraiser was later updated to include expenses for dad Ryan Kobayashi’s funeral. R. Kobayashi died by suicide after “tirelessly” searching for his daughter throughout Los Angeles for 13 days.
Kobayashi’s disappearance has sparked global interest with a slew of theories unveiled on social media.
Her association with the spiritual movement “Twin Flames Universe” has been particularly discussed since she was first reported missing.
The mom discovered some damning documents
Statement on Behalf of #HannahKobayashi‘s Family Re Alleged Marriage
We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this…— Sara Azari (@azarilaw) December 5, 2024
According to her Instagram page, the 30-year-old follows at least three accounts run by the controversial cult.
The LAPD has maintained Kobayashi has been voluntarily missing, as Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a news conference on Tuesday (December 2): “As the family is aware, late yesterday after traveling to the US-Mexico border we reviewed video surveillance from US Customs and Border Protection which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico.”
The police said their investigation will not be continuing in Mexico, Bored Panda previously reported.
They also acquired video footage of Kobayashi picking up her luggage from LAX on November 11 after requesting for it to be returned from New York.
Kobayashi had embarked from Maui, Hawaii, to New York City on November 8 and was planning to reunite with her aunt.
The trip had a layover at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), but Kobayashi never boarded the connecting flight to New York.
The documents suggested the 30-year-old may have been scammed out of money through the scheme
The last confirmed sighting of Hannah was on November 11 at the Pico Metro Station near Crypto.com Arena. She was seen with an unidentified individual, raising more questions about her safety.
Family members received disturbing texts that Sunday. Kobayashi expressed fear and mentioned threats to her identity and finances.
The family maintained that Kobayashi’s text messages didn’t sound like her at all. Her communication with them abruptly came to an end at some point.
“I mean anything is possible now that it’s getting crazier,” a reader commented
