A young girl abducted by her mother in July 2017 has been found safe in North Carolina, thanks in part 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 at the time of her abduction, was located in Asheville, North Carolina. Her mother, Heather Unbehaun, who had taken Kayla from South Elgin, Illinois, was arrested.
Kayla was taken by her non-custodial mother on July 4, 2017. Her father went to pick her up the next day but found her missing. Heather had reportedly packed up and left with Kayla, leading to a widespread search.
Since Kayla’s disappearance, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had circulated an image of her as a nine-year-old, along with an age-progression photo. A Facebook page dedicated to finding her and various news articles kept her story in the public eye.
Kayla’s appearance on Unsolved Mysteries played a crucial role in her rescue. According to WSOC-TV, a store owner who recognized Kayla from the show alerted the police. Authorities then arrested Heather, and 15-year-old Kayla was placed into protective custody.
In a statement, Kayla’s father expressed his relief: “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 involved in her case. I also appreciate everyone who supported the ‘Bring Kayla Home’ Facebook page and helped keep her story alive. We ask for privacy as we reconnect and start this new chapter together.”
Heather is currently held on a $250,000 bond and awaits extradition to Illinois. While it will take time to rebuild their lives, the return of Kayla marks the beginning of a new chapter for her and her family.
