A girl whose mother took her aged 9 from her father’s care in 2017 has been found alive and well in North Carolina by a store owner who recognized her after looking at her story on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries.
Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted by her non-custodial mother Heather Unbehaun, was last seen July 4, 2017.
Her father Ryan Iskerka, who had full custody at the time, picked her up from her mother’s house in Wheaton, South Elgin, on July 5 – but Kayla was nowhere to be found.
Heather Unbehaun, 40, was arrested last weekend in Asheville, North Carolina, after a store owner recognized Kayla at a mall in Asheville after watching an episode about her disappearance on a Netflix show and called the police.
His mother, who only had visitation rights at the time of the abduction, is being held on $250,000 bail and awaiting extradition.
Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted by her non-custodial mother Heather Unbehaun, was last seen on July 4, 2017
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children posted online alerts in the years since her abduction showing the missing 9-year-old girl alongside age progression photos showing what she likely looks like now (Picture: an age progression image of 14-year-old Kayla)
Kayla, now 15, is in protective custody.
The case was mentioned in the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries in an episode about parental abductions.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has posted alerts online in the years since her abduction showing the missing 9-year-old girl as well as age progression photos showing what she likely looks like now.
After being alerted that Kayla had been found, the organization shared a message from her father, Ryan, which read: “I am delighted that Kayla is safe at home. I want to thank @ElginPDFD, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and all law enforcement agencies that assisted in his case.
“We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.”
Heather Unbehaun, 40, was arrested last weekend in Asheville, North Carolina, after a store owner recognized Kayla at a mall in Asheville after watching an episode about her disappearance on a Netflix show and called the police.
The Kane County State’s Attorney charged Heather Unbehaun with a child abduction charge when she was located.
Lt. Diana Loveland of Asheville, North Carolina Police Department, said ABC “It’s unusual but it’s nice that when someone suspects they recognize someone, no matter how old the story, they’re not afraid to call us so we can come and investigate .”
Her father Ryan Iskerka (right), who had full custody at the time, picked her up from her mother’s house in Wheaton, South Elgin, on July 5 – but Kayla was nowhere to be found.
Two weeks ago, a DNA test confirmed the identity of a Texas woman who was abducted as a child 51 years ago and reunited with her family last year.
Melissa Highsmith, now 53, was taken from her parents’ home in Fort Worth in 1971 by a babysitter when she was just 22 months old.
She was miraculously reunited with her biological parents – Jeffrie Higshmith, 72; Alta Alpantenco, 73 and siblings – Rebecca Del Bosque, 48; Victoria Highsmith, 47; Sharon Highsmith, 45 and Jeffrey Highsmith, 42 – November 26.
The Fort Worth Police Department announced that they have completed official DNA testing which confirmed Melissa’s identity as a missing child.
For more than half a century, her parents and siblings had searched all over the country for her – but she lived only ten minutes away.
They eventually found her through DNA samples from her children that were shared on genealogy website 23andMe.
