Going West: True Crime - Episode 456: Hannah Kobayashi
Release Date: November 23, 2024
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman
Podcast: Going West: True Crime by Dark West Productions
Introduction: A Critical Call to Action
In this urgent episode of Going West: True Crime, hosts Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman delve into the still-active and deeply concerning disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi in Los Angeles. Emphasizing the immediacy and sensitivity of the case, the hosts highlight the community's desperate need for assistance and awareness.
Daphne begins by underlining the episode's significance:
“Today's episode is a major call to action because this case is happening right now in Los Angeles.” [00:21]
Heath reinforces the gravity of the situation, urging listeners to help spread the word:
“Do Hannah's family a massive favor and share, share, share.” [01:02]
Background: Who is Hannah Kobayashi?
Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old resident of Maui, Hawaii, is described by her sister Sydney as "a free and independent spirit who liked to travel." An artistic and creative individual, Hannah pursued aspirations in photography, evident from her Instagram persona:
“Artist here to stoke your healing and creative journey.” [05:29]
Despite the usual deep dives into victims' backgrounds, Daphne and Heath prioritize the pressing details surrounding Hannah's disappearance to respect the family's time and focus on actionable information.
Timeline of Disappearance: Tracing Hannah's Last Days
November 8, 2024:
Hannah embarks on a planned trip to New York City with her then-boyfriend, Ammon, intending to attend concerts and visit family. Despite their breakup prior to the trip, they proceed separately with shared flights due to non-refundable tickets.
November 9, 2024:
Arriving at LAX at 10:03 PM [08:54], Hannah exits her flight calmly, as captured by security cameras. However, she misses her connecting flight to New York, leaving her with only 35 minutes to make the connection—a tight window at the sprawling LAX. Daphne notes the logistical challenges:
“LAX is really big. So if she needed to stop to go to the restroom or to get some food... missing this flight is not unusual.” [12:20]
Unable to secure a standby flight immediately, Hannah opts to explore Los Angeles, staying overnight at LAX and visiting The Grove—a high-end shopping and entertainment complex—where she was last seen charging her phone at Taschen Books at 2:43 PM [04:19].
November 10, 2024:
Hannah attends events at The Grove, including a Christina Ricci tarot reading and a LeBron James Nike event. A fleeting video captures her presence at the Nike store, sparking initial concerns from social media users who recognize her absence [23:52].
Later that day, Hannah posts her final Instagram update featuring a Nike placard set to Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" [25:07]. Concurrently, her Venmo activity reveals two transactions—one to Veronica Almendarez and another to Jonathan Taylor, raising questions about her interactions [16:00].
November 11, 2024:
An unsettling turn occurs when Hannah sends a series of distressing texts suggesting she was being hacked and stripped of her identity:
“I got tricked pretty much into giving away all of my funds for someone that I thought I loved.” [28:08]
Her last known movements include boarding the Metro Sea Line at Aviation Sentry Station at 9:04 PM [36:16], transitioning to the A Line at Rosa Parks Station. A witness accounts seeing Hannah with an unidentified African American man, describing her as disoriented and withdrawn—details that heighten fears of abduction or trafficking [32:32].
Evidence and Suspects: Unraveling the Mystery
The hosts discuss the limited yet critical pieces of evidence:
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Surveillance Footage: Hannah’s last confirmed sighting is at the Pico Metro Station, with her appearing in poor condition and accompanied by another individual [36:43].
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Venmo Transactions: The payments to Veronica Almendarez and Jonathan Taylor, whose connections remain unclear, suggest possible interactions that could be pivotal.
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Distressing Texts: The alarming messages about hacking and financial deceit introduce theories of identity theft or coercion, though the authenticity and origin of these texts are under scrutiny—Hannah's sister suggests discrepancies in language use [29:14].
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Witness Testimony: The encounter with the man on the Metro offers a potential lead, albeit with limited information currently available [32:32].
Heath speculates:
"It kind of feels like this is probably what did happen." [20:36]
Daphne adds skepticism regarding the involvement of individuals like Jonathan Taylor, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence before drawing conclusions [20:46].
Family's Involvement and Community Efforts
Hannah’s family remains actively involved, maintaining hope while dealing with the uncertainty and fear surrounding her disappearance. They have initiated a GoFundMe campaign titled "Support the Search for Hannah Kobayashi," aimed at funding search efforts, transportation, and related expenses [40:06]. The hosts strongly advocate for community support:
“Please make sure you share this story on your socials.” [40:23]
The RAD movement, a nonprofit, is also assisting by pinpointing critical areas such as downtown LA and Skid Row where Hannah might be located [38:08]. Hannah’s aunt, Loree Pigeon, passionately appeals:
“If someone has Hannah, I want you to know that she is the kindest, most beautiful soul in the entire world. Please don't hurt her.” [38:08]
Theories and Speculations: What Could Have Happened?
Daphne and Heath explore several possibilities regarding Hannah's disappearance:
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Abduction or Trafficking: Given the last sightings and suspected association with an unknown individual, this remains a primary concern.
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Identity Theft or Fraud: The unsettling texts hint at potential financial manipulation or coercion, possibly indicating a scam or deeper cyber involvement.
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Voluntary Disappearance: Although unlikely due to the distressing circumstances, this theory is discussed to cover all bases.
Heath remarks on the complexity of the case:
"We do not know where Hannah went, but according to her family, she is believed to have returned to LAX that night." [25:50]
Daphne questions the authenticity of the texts, highlighting inconsistencies in language, which introduces uncertainty about whether the messages were genuinely from Hannah [29:14].
Call to Action: Helping Find Hannah
The hosts emphasize the critical role of listeners in the search for Hannah. They provide contact information for the Los Angeles Police Department and encourage anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers. The community is urged to remain vigilant and share any relevant information that could aid in locating her.
Heath underscores the importance of collective action:
"So make sure you share it and help donate alongside us." [40:06]
Conclusion: A Plea for Hannah's Safe Return
As the episode concludes, Daphne and Heath reiterate their commitment to keeping Hannah’s case in the public eye, hoping that increased awareness will expedite her safe return. They express gratitude to the listeners and urge continued support for the family's ongoing search efforts.
Daphne closes with heartfelt thanks:
"Thank you so much everybody for listening to this episode of Going West." [40:02]
Heath adds a final push for community involvement:
"We are going to donate. We hope you guys can too." [40:06]
Final Thoughts
Episode 456 of Going West: True Crime serves not only as an in-depth exploration of Hannah Kobayashi's troubling disappearance but also as a rallying cry for community support. Through meticulous timeline reconstruction, analysis of suspicious activities, and heartfelt appeals, Daphne and Heath effectively engage their audience in the urgent quest to find Hannah. By combining factual reporting with emotional resonance, this episode exemplifies the critical role true crime podcasts play in real-world investigations and victim support.
If you have any information about Hannah Kobayashi's whereabouts, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-527-3247 or remain anonymous by calling Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
Support the search for Hannah Kobayashi: GoFundMe - Support the Search for Hannah Kobayashi