Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old photographer who recently vanished, may have been embroiled in a purported marriage fraud with an Argentine man prior to her disappearance, according to a recent report. Kobayashi arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8, accompanied by her supposed new spouse, Alan Cacace, an Argentine national, and his girlfriend, Marianna. This was just a few days before she was spotted crossing the Mexican border, as per sources who spoke to Los Angeles Magazine.
The sources suggested that Kobayashi, an aspiring photographer, may have been duped into parting with her money after supposedly marrying Cacace in a botched green card visa scheme. Kobayashi’s mother, Brandi Yee, reportedly found immigration paperwork at her daughter’s residence in Hawaii, indicating that she had been in touch with or was working with an immigration attorney.
Yee attempted to reach out to the attorney, but the lawyer was uncooperative, according to one source. The same source revealed that Yee handed over the documents to the FBI and LAPD for further investigation. The family’s lawyer, Sara Azari, confirmed in a statement that Yee immediately turned over the alleged information to law enforcement upon receiving it.
Azari emphasized that the family has not publicly disclosed any information about a supposed marriage because they lacked the necessary facts or documents to verify the authenticity of this information. She urged the public to refrain from making assumptions or spreading unverified claims, stating that such actions could hinder efforts to locate Kobayashi and bring closure to the family’s ordeal.
Before losing contact with her family and friends, Kobayashi sent vague text messages, one of which mentioned a “very intense spiritual awakening,” and another claiming she was deceived into giving away all her funds. Surveillance footage later showed Kobayashi purchasing a bus ticket to the border and crossing into Mexico on foot.
Kobayashi, a native of Maui, was reported missing by her family on November 11 after she failed to catch a connecting flight at LAX and subsequently went silent. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated that investigators had reviewed various surveillance footage and interviewed multiple witnesses, confirming Kobayashi’s movements from her arrival in California on November 8 to her last sighting crossing into Mexico on November 12.
The LAPD declared Kobayashi a “voluntary missing person,” stating she willingly crossed into Mexico to “step away from modern connectivity.” McDonnell added that their investigation found no evidence of Kobayashi being trafficked or involved in any criminal activity. While the LAPD’s investigation will not extend into Mexico, McDonnell urged anyone with credible information about her whereabouts to come forward.
Despite the LAPD’s belief that Kobayashi voluntarily left the US, her family maintains that the search for her is “far from over.” They remain hopeful for her safety and continue to urge everyone to keep searching.