Kayla Unbehaun: Know about the missing-girl case featured in Netflix’s ‘Unsolved Mysteries’

Kayla Unbehaun has gained the world’s interest, as she was found safe in North Carolina, six years after she was reported missing in Illinois. She is now 15 years old. Remarkably, she was identified in Asheville, North Carolina by the owner of a store who watched an episode of the Netflix show. South Elgin, her hometown’s police have confirmed that she was recovered safely.

Kayla’s case was featured in Episode 9 of Unsolved Mysteries’ Volume 3. Now 15 years old, Kayla was abducted from South Elgin in July 2017 at the age of nine. Her noncustodial mother is Heather Unbehaun. On July 28, 2017, Heather became the subject of a national arrest warrant that authorized her extradition. This warrant was issued after the South Elgin Police Department shared information about the child's disappearance with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. Kayla, the missing child, was then added to the national database dedicated to missing children.

Kayla’s father, Ryan Iserka had been searching for his daughter since her disappearance in 2017. However, police finally found her safe on May 13 after the store owner alerted the Asheville Police Department, who confirmed the identity of the girl with South Elgin police. Heather was arrested on her warrant and Kayla was held in protective custody until her father could see her.


Heather has been released from the Buncombe County Detention Center. It is to note that Iserka was awarded Kayla’s full custody in 2017 where she was supposed to reside with his wife and her two children. Heather was allowed weekly visitations. On the day she was found missing, Iserka had travelled to Illinois to pick Kayla up but both his daughter and Heather were not found. Now, Kayla has been reunited with her father and the family is reportedly receiving social services for assistance in the process.

FAQs:

When did Kayla Unbehaun go missing?
In July 2017

How old is Kayla Unbehaun now?
15 years.