After Six Year Search, 15-Year-Old Kayla Unbehaun Found Safe in North Carolina

After a six year search, Kayla Unbehaun, a 15-year-old girl from Illinois, has been found safe. Kayla was 9 years old when she went missing in 2017 while in the care of her mother, Heather Unbehaun. Her disappearance was featured on Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children had been raising awareness about her and posting age-progressed photos of what she might look like.

On Saturday, someone recognized Kayla at a shopping center in Asheville, North Carolina and called the police. Kayla’s father, Ryan Iskerka, said in a statement, “I’m overjoyed that Kayla is home safe.”

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children said in a statement, “We are so thankful that Kayla has been found safe and we are looking forward to reuniting her with her family.”

The police have not released any information about the circumstances of Kayla’s disappearance or her mother’s whereabouts. It is unclear if any charges will be filed in connection with the case.

Kayla’s safe return is a reminder of the importance of raising awareness about missing children and the power of the public to help bring them home. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children encourages anyone with information about missing children to contact their local law enforcement agency or the center’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.