Kayla Unbehaun, a 9-year-old girl, was kidnapped in 2017 in the United States. Her case was recently featured in the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries." After her disappearance, an intense search was launched to find her. Fortunately, she has been rescued by authorities in North Carolina, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Ncmec).

 

Ryan Iskerka, Kayla Unbehaun's father, confirmed this in a statement posted on Ncmec's Facebook account on Monday. "I am thrilled that Kayla is safe at home," the message reads. "We ask for privacy as we reconnect and navigate this new beginning."

 

She was identified thanks to a Netflix series

 

According to WSOC, a store owner in North Carolina apparently recognized Kayla after seeing her in an episode of the Netflix show "Unsolved Mysteries" and alerted the police.

 

BREAKING NEWS ‼️

NCMEC is excited to share that Kayla Unbehaun has been FOUND SAFE in North Carolina!

Kayla was only 9 years old when she was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Heather Unbehaun from South Elgin, Illinois on July 5, 2017. Kayla’s dad, Ryan asked NCMEC to… pic.twitter.com/5O7bpEjIhT

— National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (@MissingKids) May 16, 2023

 

Kayla's mother, 40-year-old Heather Unbehaun, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping her daughter, and a judge set her bail at $250,000. She is now awaiting transfer to Illinois, as reported by WBTV.

 

The disappearance

 

NCMEC detailed that the last time Kayla Unbehaun was seen was on July 5, 2017, before she was allegedly kidnapped by her mother. On that date, her father, Ryan, went to an address in Wheaton, Illinois, to pick up Kayla, only to discover that Heather had packed her belongings and left with Kayla the day before, according to NBC Chicago.