Because of her inclusion on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries revival, a young girl who was kidnapped by her mother in July 2017 has been located.
Kayla Unbehaun, nine 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 arrested on charges of removing 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, Kayla’s father went to pick up his daughter from her mother’s house but was unable to locate her. On July 4, Heather allegedly packed her car and drove away with Kayla.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children posted an age-progression photo and a picture of nine-year-old Kayla online since she vanished. To raise awareness, a Facebook page was set up, and occasionally the local news would publish an item on her disappearance.
Additionally, Kayla had a cameo on the Netflix remake of Unsolved Mysteries, which ultimately resulted in her rescue.
A store owner who recently saw an episode of the show reportedly saw Kayla and alerted the police, according to WSOC-TV.
Kayla, who is now 15 years old, was placed in protective custody when authorities arrested Heather.
“Kayla coming home safely makes me very happy. I would want to express my gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the South Elgin Police Department, and any other law enforcement organizations that helped with her case. I also want to express my gratitude to all of the fans of the “Bring Kayla Home” Facebook page, who played a crucial role in raising awareness and preserving her narrative. In a statement, Kayla’s father said, “As we rekindle our relationship and navigate this new beginning, we ask for privacy.”
Heather is still awaiting extradition to Illinois and is being jailed on a $250,000 bond.
