A 15-year-old girl who was abducted by her mother six years ago from Illinois was found safe in North Carolina last week, thanks to a tip from a stranger who recognized them from a Netflix show.
Kayla Unbehaun was allegedly kidnapped by her non-custodial mother, Heather Unbehaun, in July 2017, after a Fourth of July parade in Wheaton, Illinois. Her father, Ryan Iskerka, who had full custody of her, reported her missing and launched a nationwide search with the help of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Kayla’s case was featured on an episode of Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” in November 2022, which highlighted parental abductions and showed an age-progression photo of Kayla. The show was seen by millions of viewers and generated hundreds of tips for NCMEC.
One of those tips came from a woman who was shopping at a Plato’s Closet in Asheville, North Carolina, on May 13. She noticed Kayla and Heather Unbehaun in the store and recognized Heather from the show. She alerted a store employee, who called the police.
The police confirmed the identities of Kayla and Heather and arrested Heather on a fugitive charge. Kayla was placed in protective custody and later reunited with her father, who flew to North Carolina to see her.
“I’m overjoyed that Kayla is home safe,” Iskerka said in a statement released through NCMEC. “I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case.”
He also thanked the followers of the “Bring Kayla Home” Facebook page, which he created to raise awareness about his daughter’s disappearance. “We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning,” he said.
Heather Unbehaun was released on bail and is expected to appear in court in North Carolina on July 11. She faces a charge of child abduction in Illinois, which carries a possible sentence of one to three years in prison.
Reference：
- Abducted girl featured on Unsolved Mysteries found safe in NC, mother … | KRCR News Channel 7 | May,16,2023
- Kayla Unbehaun: missing girl found thanks to Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries | The Times | May,17,2023
- Missing Illinois Girl Kayla Unbehaun Found in North Carolina | NBC New York | May,16,2023