In a dramatic turn of events, a missing Illinois girl recognized from a Netflix docu-series reunited with her father after six years. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children shared the news. Kayla Unbehaun, now 15 years old, had been located safely in North Carolina on Tuesday morning. Kayla’s father Ryan conveyed his immense joy in a statement.
He thanked the Elgin police for their relentless efforts in reuniting Kayla with her family. Kayla was taken from her home in South Elgin, Illinois on July 5, 2017, by her mother, Heather Unbehaun, when her father had full custody of her. Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries dedicated an episode last year to Kayla’s abduction, focusing on cases of parental kidnappings.
Exploring the missing Illinois girl’s case and how police found her
A person who recognized Kayla from the Netflix documentary about parental abductions spotted her at a store in Asheville. The individual promptly informed a store employee, who then contacted the police. Kayla’s abduction took place on July 5, 2017, when her mother, Heather Unbehaun, allegedly took her from their home in South Elgin, Illinois.
An Unsolved Mysteries viewer has closed a case!
A store owner in North Carolina recognized Kayla Unbehaun — who was abducted in 2017 by her non-custodial mother — from the roll call in Volume 3, Episode 9. Kayla, now 15, is expected to return to her family in Illinois. pic.twitter.com/q8mTegq6xN
— Netflix (@netflix) May 16, 2023
Ryan Iserka, Kayla’s father, had been granted full custody of her earlier in 2017, with Unbehaun allowed supervised visits. However, when Iserka went to pick up his daughter, he discovered that they never returned from a camping trip.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued a felony warrant for Unbehaun’s kidnapping on July 28, 2017. This non-profit organization aids families in locating American children who are taken by relatives, strangers, or who run away.
In 2022 alone, the FBI received nearly 360,000 reports of missing children, with the possibility of some duplicates.
Kayla’s mother arrested in Asheville, out on bail
Once Kayla was located, she was handed over to the North Carolina Department of Social Services, who then contacted authorities in Illinois. The following day, Kayla’s father traveled to retrieve her, and she has since returned to Illinois.
Kayla Unbehaun, Missing Since 2017, Found Safe In Asheville https://t.co/DPDKFomAKG pic.twitter.com/KVZEHVLF2M
— Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) May 16, 2023
Heather Unbehaun, the mother, is facing charges of child abduction and was held on a $250,000 bond while awaiting extradition. However, Asheville authorities confirmed that Heather Unbehaun had posted bail and been released.
Her initial court hearing is scheduled for July 11, 2023, in Buncombe County. Authorities have verified that the woman arrested in Asheville over the weekend has made bail.
Social media reactions to the story
Netizens felt relieved that the missing child finally got home safe to her father. People love the fact that it was something as common as a Netflix series that managed to make a miracle happen.
The stranger who identified and reported Kayla’s location is receiving special appreciation for his presence of mind. However, some don’t believe that this is a kidnapping since the girl was with her mother for six years.
You can share questions about Kayla Unbehaun, the missing Illinois girl from the Netflix series. Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.
Make sure you share, subscribe to our push notifications, and never miss an update from the world of video games, cinema, and sports. You can also follow us on Twitter @spieltimes for the latest updates.
