I think the article implies that she was staying in LA while waiting to catch another flight. However, if you have been to LAX recently, you would see how easy it might be to disappear there. It’s truly one of the outer circles of Hell, with an unearthly degree of swirling chaos and confusion.
She likely had to wait over night for a next flight which meant she probably went out to the immediately surrounding hotels, etc. and tried to get a room.. A very bad idea. That are is NOT America..