Conspiracy theories blamed for father’s tragic suicide as internet sleuths blame cults, hackers and kidnapping

The disappearance of Hawaiian photographer Hannah Kobayashi, 30, sparked wild conspiracy theories on the Internet with devastating consequences. Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, 58, died by suicide on Sunday after jumping out of a parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport while desperately searching for the girl. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that death was the result of blunt force trauma.

Ryan’s death comes after rampant online speculation about his missing daughter. Internet sleuths have linked Hannah to a mystical cult called Twin Flames or suggested that she was being blackmailed by hackers. Some claimed there was a rift between father and daughter, while others advanced more sinister theories.

“This is nonsense! All this online chatter was taking a heavy toll on Ryan,” said Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon. “He broke. He died of a broken heart.” Pidgeon described Ryan as a kind, sensitive man. Hannah’s search had him scouring places like Skid Row, fearing the worst, she said. He was consumed by fatigue and despair.

Hannah disappeared on November 8 after missing a connecting flight to New York, where she had planned a “bucket list” trip to visit family. A few days later, strange text messages were sent from her phone. One read: “Deep Hackers erased my identity, stole all my funds and have been driving me crazy since Friday.” Another message read: “I got scammed and gave away all my funds… To the person I thought I loved.”

November 11 message from Hanna stopped completely. Her case has since gone viral, with discussions flooding Reddit and Instagram. Some accused cultists of brainwashing her. Others claimed that she was blackmailed by African hackers. Speculation continued to gain momentum, suggesting that she had run away from her father or that gangsters allegedly linked to Ryan were involved.

Pidgeon rejected these theories, saying there was no family conflict. “We are a close, loving family. If something was wrong, she would tell us,” she said. Pidgeon believes that Hannah may have been kidnapped at the airport. He maintains that the strange text messages were sent under duress or by someone else.

Despite the family’s efforts to find Hannah, Ryan’s tragic death only fueled conspiracy rumors. Commenters on Reddit speculated about his involvement, with some questioning how a parent could give up before knowing the truth. Others accused the family of hiding details.

The Kobayashi family denies these claims. “The world can be a cruel place, and a woman traveling alone can disappear in an instant,” Pidgeon said.

Hannah’s disappearance remains mysteryand the Internet madness shows no signs of slowing down. The family mourns Ryan as their search for answers continues.