Six years after her alleged abduction by her mother, an Illinois girl whose disappearance was featured on Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries' was discovered alive in North Carolina last week.
Kayla Unbehaun, who turned 15 in January, was nine years old when she went missing while in her mother, Heather Unbehaun's custody.
Missing Illinois Girl Since 2017 Found Safe
According to an arrest report, a fugitive allegation led to Unbehaun's apprehension on Saturday in Asheville, North Carolina. NBC Chicago reports that a police spokesman said a woman at Plato's Closet in Asheville recognized Unbehaun from "published media" about the case and contacted authorities.
Ryan Iskerka, the father of Kayla, said, "We request privacy as we reacquaint ourselves and navigate this new beginning."
Kayla vanished around July 4, 2017. Kayla was last seen in her mother's custody after the Fourth of July parade in Wheaton, Illinois, according to a GoFundMe page created by Iskerka days after her disappearance. According to the NCMEC, Heather Unbehaun is a non-custodial parent.
Iskerka said he was due to get his daughter from Heather Unbehaun on July 5, 2017, but the pair never showed up. When the mother and daughter failed to appear, the police were contacted, and a missing person's report was filed for Kayla.
On July 29, 2017, her mother was issued a felony warrant for abduction. Police asked anyone who saw them or the vehicle they were traveling in to contact authorities.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported that the missing girl's mother had been inactive on social media since her disappearance. Before the abduction, her mother wanted to live off the grid and lead a more unfettered lifestyle. She also later sold her car, according to USA Today.
According to Kayla's father, Heather took their daughter to Athens without a visitation arrangement. A judge ordered that the girl's father be permitted to visit her in Illinois during school vacations after a succession of court appearances. However, her mother did not permit this, citing medical reasons.
Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries'
Throughout the girl's disappearance, including in 2020, authorities released age-progression photos of her and requested the public's assistance in locating her. A quick look at her father's Facebook page reveals that he never ceased posting about her, and in January 2021, he shared a birthday message for his daughter.
Sharing a baby photo of his missing daughter, he wrote at the time, "I love you eternally, and I pray you're secure, happy, and I'm always looking forward to seeing you again one day."
In his most recent statement since her discovery, her father requested privacy and alluded to a lengthy road ahead for the couple. According to the Kane County District Attorney's Office, Heather Unbehaun was apprehended and charged with one count of juvenile abduction. She is being detained on a $250,000 bond, and officials say she may face additional charges.
Kayla, now 15 years old, was taken into custody by the Division of Social Services of North Carolina. Per NY Daily News, the teen was expected to be reunited with his family and returned to Illinois. In November 2022, an episode of the Netflix series 'Unsolved Mysteries' highlighted several cases of purported family abduction, including the disappearance.
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