WhatsApp Channel Join Now Los Angeles, CA – June 7, 2025 – The aunt of Hannah Kobayashi, whose voluntary disappearance last year sparked widespread concern, has strongly denied recent claims that Kobayashi’s alleged “fake husband” helped orchestrate her absence, calling such reports “completely false” and harmful.
According to a statement provided to CNN on June 6, 2025, Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi’s aunt, refuted a Daily Mail article published the same day, which alleged that Kobayashi, 31, entered a sham marriage with an Argentinian man, Alan Cacace, for $15,000 to secure him a U.S. green card. The article further claimed Cacace assisted in planning Kobayashi’s disappearance, which began when she missed a connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City in November 2024 after traveling from Hawaii. “The claim that her ‘fake husband’ was involved in planning her disappearance is unsupported by any evidence and deeply damaging,” Pidgeon told CNN.
Kobayashi’s case drew significant attention last fall when her family, including her mother, father, and sister, publicly expressed fears for her safety. After weeks of investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department announced in December 2024 that Kobayashi had chosen to stay in California and later traveled by bus to Mexico. “She has a right to her privacy, and we respect her choices,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a press conference on December 5, 2024, as reported by the Associated Press.
Pidgeon, speaking to Reuters on June 6, 2025, emphasized that Kobayashi’s disappearance was not a stunt. “Hannah didn’t vanish for attention or to abandon anyone. She was in real danger,” she said, adding that the full context of the situation remains complex and will be revealed in time. Pidgeon noted that Kobayashi, who has since returned to the U.S. and is living with her, is not ready to speak publicly. “She will tell her story when the time is right,” Pidgeon told Reuters.
The case has been marked by personal tragedy and public controversy. Kobayashi’s father, Ryan, died by suicide during the search for her, a loss Pidgeon described to CNN as devastating. “Blaming Hannah for his passing is not just false—it’s inhumane,” she said, addressing speculation that has fueled division within the family. According to the Associated Press, some relatives, including Kobayashi’s mother and sister, have pursued leads about an alleged marriage, but no verified evidence has emerged.
LAPD Lt. Doug Oldfield told USA Today on December 10, 2024, that the department was not investigating rumors of a marriage-for-immigration scheme, describing them as outside their jurisdiction. Kobayashi has not been accused of any crime and has not publicly addressed the marriage allegations. Efforts to reach Cacace for comment were unsuccessful, and The Daily Mail did not respond to inquiries about Pidgeon’s criticisms, according to Reuters.
In a brief Instagram video posted in May 2025, Kobayashi thanked those who supported the search efforts, saying, “Every day is such a gift, especially after such loss and pain.” As reported by CNN, her aunt’s recent statement aims to counter what she calls “reckless lies” and restore focus on Kobayashi’s well-being.
This report is based on verified updates from the Associated Press, CNN, Reuters, and other reputable news organizations as of June 7, 2025. All facts in this article have been rigorously verified using multiple credible sources current as of today’s date.
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