A small child who was taken by her mother in July 2017 has been located as a result of her participation on the Netflix original series Unsolved Mysteries.
Kayla Unbehaun, nine years old at the time of the kidnapping, was found in Asheville, North Carolina, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In 2017, Heather Unhebhaun, her mother, was detained when it was alleged that she had taken her from South Elgin, Illinois.
When Kayla was taken by her non-custodial mother, she was just nine years old.
Local sources state that on July 5, when Kayla’s father went to pick her up from her mother’s house, he was unable to locate her. On July 4, Heather allegedly packed her car and left with Kayla.
Kayla was nine years old when she vanished, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children posted an age-progression photo of her online as well. A Facebook group was set up to raise awareness, and the local news would occasionally publish an article regarding her absence.
In addition, Kayla had an appearance on the Netflix revival of Unsolved Mysteries, which ultimately resulted in her rescue.
A store owner who saw an episode of the show recently noticed Kayla and alerted the police, according to WSOC-TV.
Heather was taken into custody by the authorities, and Kayla, who is now fifteen, was given protective custody.
“I’m so happy Kayla is back home safely. I would want to express my gratitude to all of the law enforcement organizations that helped with her case, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the South Elgin Police Department. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to every fan of the “Bring Kayla Home” Facebook page, who contributed to the continuation of her narrative and the raising of awareness. In a statement, Kayla’s father said, “We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.”
In custody with a $250,000 bond, Heather is awaiting extradition to Illinois.
