A young girl that had been abducted from home in July 2017 was found, thanks to her appearance on Netflix’s reboot of Unsolved Mysteries.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children announced that Kayla Unbehaun, who was nine years old when she was taken, was located in Asheville, North Carolina.
Keep reading to learn the rescue details..
Heather Unbehaun, her mother, who allegedly abducted her from South Elgin, Illinois in 2017, has been arrested.
Kayla was only nine when her non-custodial mother took her.
According to local reports, Kayla’s father went to pick her up from her mother’s house on July 5, but Kayla was nowhere to be found. Heather reportedly packed her car and left with Kayla on July 4.
Since her disappearance, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared images of nine-year-old Kayla and an age-progression photo online. A Facebook page was created to spread awareness, and occasional articles about her disappearance appeared in local news.
Kayla’s appearance on Netflix’s reboot of Unsolved Mysteries ultimately led to her rescue.
According to WSOC-TV, a store owner who had recently watched an episode of the series recognized Kayla and called the police.
Authorities arrested Heather, and Kayla, now 15, was placed into protective custody.
“I’m overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and all the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case. I also want to thank the followers of the ‘Bring Kayla Home’ Facebook page, who helped keep her story alive and spread awareness. We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning,” Kayla’s father said in a statement.
Heather is currently being held on a $250,000 bond and is awaiting extradition to Illinois.
Though it will take time for everyone to catch up on the lost years, we are relieved that Kayla is back home. Now is the time for healing to begin.
