In a heartwarming turn of events, Kayla Unbehaun, who was just 9 years old when she went missing, has been found safe after six long years. Her story became widely known after it was featured on Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries,” capturing the hearts of viewers everywhere. Last seen being taken by her mother, this uplifting development has brought joy and relief to many.
Now 15 years old, Kayla was found in Asheville, North Carolina, while shopping with her mother, Heather Unbehaun, at a local Plato’s Closet. A quick-thinking store employee recognized them from the widely circulated missing person’s alerts and contacted authorities. Heather was consequently arrested, though she has been released on $250,000 bail as per news reports from WLOS-TV.
The South Elgin Police Department has confirmed that Kayla has been safely reunited with her father back in Illinois and is in good condition, which is the best news of all.
Reflecting back to the onset of this case, Kayla’s father, Iserka, possessed full custody while her mother was granted visitation rights. On July 5, 2017, during a routine pickup from her mother’s residence following a court-sanctioned visit, Kayla was not present, raising immediate concerns. It was noted in a GoFundMe campaign that Heather was last observed packing a vehicle, disappearing swiftly with her phone and social media wiped clean.
Shortly thereafter, Heather became subject to a felony kidnapping warrant issued on July 29, 2017. The mysterious circumstances and subsequent manhunt propelled this case into the public sphere, with media coverage making its rounds nationally.
In a bid to jog memories and aid public identification, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) released an age-progressed image of Kayla in 2020. This fueled renewed interest and hope, amplified by Kayla’s father who remained an active voice in sharing his daughter’s story, including featuring their photo on the popular 2022 “Unsolved Mysteries” episode that delved into familial abductions.
The wheels of justice are in motion as Heather Unbehaun is set to appear in court this July in North Carolina, ahead of anticipated extradition proceedings to Illinois where the original custody disruption transpired.
It is stories like these that remind us of the power of hope and community vigilance. Cases like Kayla’s highlight the persistence required in the search for missing loved ones, and the ultimate joy when such searches conclude with the safe return of a child.
Stay tuned for updates as this case continues through the legal process. With Kayla safely back home, many community members and family supporters can breathe a sigh of relief, and there remains a sense of gratitude for all those who contributed to this long-awaited reunion.
