A young girl taken by her mother in July 2017 has been found because she appeared on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said Kayla Unbehaun, who was nine when she was taken, was found in Asheville, North Carolina.
Her mother, Heather Unbehaun, was arrested for taking her from South Elgin, Illinois in 2017.
Kayla was nine years old when her mother, who didn’t have custody, took her.
Local reports say that Kayla’s father went to pick her up from her mother’s house on July 5 but couldn’t find her. Heather, her mother, had allegedly left with Kayla in her car on July 4.
Since she went missing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared a photo of Kayla at nine and an age-progression image online. A Facebook page was made to raise awareness, and occasionally, her story appeared in local news.
Kayla was also featured on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries, and this appearance helped in finding her.
According to WSOC-TV, a store owner who had recently watched an episode of the series recognized Kayla and called the police.
Authorities arrested Heather, and Kayla, now 15, was placed in protective custody.
Kayla’s father said, “I’m overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and all the law enforcement agencies who helped with her case. I also want to thank the followers on the ‘Bring Kayla Home’ Facebook page for keeping her story alive and spreading awareness. We ask for privacy as we reconnect and start this new chapter.”
Heather is being held on a $250,000 bond and is waiting to be sent back to Illinois.
