Reason Hannah Kobayashi vanished on New York trip of a lifetime may be revealed at last

Hannah Kobayashi, 30, sparked a huge missing persons investigation when she vanished in Los Angeles last month while changing flights to New York - and her alleged reasons for travelling have now emerged

A woman whose sudden disappearance drove her dad to suicide had travelled to New York to "deceive" immigration authorities, it has been reported.

Hannah Kobayashi sparked a huge missing persons investigation when she vanished last month in Los Angeles but was found safe on Wednesday, police said. The 30-year-old had missed her connecting flight to New York from LA, and planned to explore the city the next day, but text messages to her family - and their inability to then reach her - alarmed them so much that they later reported her missing.

Before she was located this week, police had previously said she was "voluntarily missing" and had gone on her own will across the border into Mexico. Her mystery disappearance was beset by further tragedy when Hannah's dad, Ryan, took his own life in a car park just two weeks into the search.

Now, it has emerged that Hannah had travelled to New York with new Argentinean husband Alan Cacace in an attempt to trick authorities into thinking their marriage was genuine, according to the MailOnline. She was seen buying a bus ticket to Mexico after the New York trip. Details surrounding the circumstances of Hannah's disappearance have not been confirmed by police.

Yesterday, Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement: "We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe. Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation." Kobayashi's mother and sister, in a statement through their lawyer, were the first to announce on Wednesday that she had been found safe.

Brandi Yee and Sydni Kobayashi said: "We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe. This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us."

Kobayashi, a budding photographer from Maui, was heading to New York City on November 8 for a new job and to visit relatives when she missed a connecting flight during a stop at Los Angeles International Airport. She told her family she was sleeping at the airport that night and texted them the next day to say she was sightseeing in Los Angeles.

Her family reported her missing to law enforcement on November 11 after relatives received "strange and cryptic, just alarming" text messages, according to her aunt Larie Pidgeon. Family members, friends and local volunteers searched for Hannah in Los Angeles.

Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, was among those who flew in from Hawaii to help in the search. He was found dead on November 24 in a car park near LA International Airport, according to the county medical examiner. Kobayashi's family confirmed Ryan Kobayashi's death in a statement the same day, saying they "endured a devastating tragedy" and that he died by suicide.

Police said Hannah Kobayashi walked into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing about 125 miles southeast of Los Angeles on November 12, the day after her family reported her missing. Authorities made the announcement after reviewing security video from US Customs and Border Protection.