Father of missing Hawaii photographer Hannah Kobayashi found dead near LAX while searching for daughter

There’s been a tragic update in the desperate search for a young photographer from Hawaii, who has gone missing after vanishing in LA.

The father of the missing Hawaii woman who vanished while heading to New York City for a holiday was found dead near LA airport early Sunday morning.

Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was in Los Angeles to search for his 30-year-old daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, after she missed a connecting flight to New York from Los Angeles International Airport over two weeks ago.

Police confirmed that Mr Kobayashi had died near LAX sometime around 4am on Sunday, according to NBC Los Angeles. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

A non-profit believed to be aiding in the search for Hannah also provided a statement on behalf of the family. “The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today,” wrote the RAD Movement.

“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

Kobayashi, 58, was in Los Angeles to search for his 30-year-old daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, after she missed a connecting flight to New York from Los Angeles International Airport over two weeks ago.

The non-profit requested privacy for the grieving family and urged the public to focus on the search for Hannah, particularly after the tragic news about her father.

The Post has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department for comment.

On Monday, Kobayashi spoke with KTLA while in the Golden State, hoping to reach his daughter.

“I miss her,” he said. “Just want her to know that, and just want her to reach out — anything.”

Hannah flew on November 8 from Maui to Los Angeles, where she was supposed to hop on a connecting flight to New York for a “bucket list” trip and to visit her aunt.

However, she missed that flight 42 minutes later despite surveillance footage indicating she landed at LAX.

Her loved ones initially became worried after she sent odd texts to her family and friends before she vanished, including messaging a friend that she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all my funds.”

Hannah Kobayashi has been reported missing since November 11.

Hannah missed that flight 42 minutes later despite surveillance footage indicating she landed at LAX.

In another message, she claimed she was supposedly fooled by “someone I thought I loved.”

“Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f – k since Friday,” another message read.

The family previously said the texts supposedly from Hannah were not like her.

“She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” said her aunt Larie Pidgeon.

“Strange, cryptic messages — things about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication.”

Her loved ones initially became worried after she sent odd texts to her family and friends before she vanished.

Other footage showed Kobayashi at the Grove shopping centre in the Fairfax District of LA on November 9 and November 10, as well as video of her returning to LAX but not getting on a flight on November 11 before she was seen near the metro station, USA Today reported.

Her phone has been off since November 11, the family said.

The family filed a police report with the LAPD, LAX authorities and the FBI.

Hannah Kobayashi is 177cm tall and about 63kg. She has brown hair and brown eyes and is fair-skinned with freckles.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission