Hannah Kobayashi may have been involved in a “secret marriage” before her November disappearance in Los Angeles, according to new reports.
Los Angeles Magazine, citing unnamed sources, says Kobayashi’s family is now cooperating in an FBI investigation after her mother discovered a possible marriage-for-money scheme.
Her mother reportedly discovered the alleged marriage to an Argentinian national via immigration documents that listed the name of an immigration lawyer found in Hannah’s Hawaii home.
Los Angeles Magazine categorized the alleged marriage as an “immigration scheme,” one that may have scammed Kobayashi out of the money she was supposed to receive for her participation. The Argentinian man involved, Alan Cacace, was reportedly aboard the flight from Maui to LAX on Nov. 8; the same flight Kobayashi’s ex-boyfriend also boarded.
Sara Azari, the family’s L.A. lawyer, said in a statement that Kobayashi’s mother turned over all information relating to a possible marriage to investigating authorities.
“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,” Azari posted on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”
The alleged marriage would have taken place before Nov. 12, when she was spotted crossing the border into Mexico from San Diego. She was unharmed and entered the country on her own free will, police said.
Less than two weeks after she crossed the border into Mexico, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead in a parking lot near LAX. Police later said he died by suicide.
The LAPD was trying to balance the line between helping the family with the search and respecting Kobayashi’s right to privacy, stating that she appeared to be “voluntarily missing” and that she intended to disconnect from modern life.
In an interview with KTLA on Thursday, new LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that the case “drew to a close” for the department after they learned she was safe and in Mexico.
“My ask to her, or anyone who knows her whereabouts would be to contact the family, contact law enforcement, contact us to be able to just say ‘I’m O.K.’ and put her family at ease,” McDonnell said.
McDonnell said detectives are aware of the potential marriage, but there was no evidence that it was tied to her disappearance.
Hannah Kobayashi may have been involved in a “secret marriage” before her November disappearance in Los Angeles, according to new reports. Los Angeles Magazine, citing unnamed sources, says Kobayashi’s family is now cooperating in an FBI investigation after her mother discovered a possible marriage-for-money scheme. Her mother reportedly discovered the alleged marriage to an Argentinian […]
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