Missing Girl Found Six Years Later, Mother Accused of Abduction Surrenders in Illinois

Heather Unbehaun surrendered days after her daughter, Kayla Unbehaun, was found in North Carolina. The missing girl was allegedly abducted by Heather in Illinois six years ago.

On July 4, 2017, Heather Unbehaun, then 34, reportedly took her daughter, Kayla Unbehaun, then 9, to a parade. However, when Ryan Iserka, Kayla’s custodial father, went to pick the girl up the following day, he was told that Heather took her on a camping trip. Unfortunately, John Vojta, an attorney for Iserka, stated that Heather and the missing girl never returned.

An article in CNN states that according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a felony warrant for kidnapping was issued for Heather on July 28 that year. Reportedly, the warrant states that Heather abducted the missing girl from South Elgin, a suburb in Chicago.

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Missing Girl Found Six Years Later

According to Stefanski, in the evening of May 13, the missing girl, now 15, was eventually found at a shop in Asheville, North Carolina six years later. Reports say Kayla was recognized by someone from an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” on Netflix. Thereafter, the person notified an employee of the shop, who then reported to the authorities.

Days after the missing girl was found, Heather, now 40, surrendered to the authorities. To date, she is facing charges of kidnapping and child abduction. In addition, Heather is being held while awaiting extradition at the Kane County Adult Justice Center in Illinois with a bond worth $250,000. Nonetheless, on May 16, Samantha Booth, spokesperson of Asheville Police Department, stated that Heather was released on bail.

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