Missing Illinois Girl, Featured On Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries', Found Safe In North Carolina After 6 Years

In a remarkable turn of events, a young girl whose mother in Illinois abducted was discovered safe after six years of disappearing. The breakthrough came when a store owner in North Carolina recognized her from a Netflix show.

Kayla Unbehaun was just nine years old when she disappeared without a trace while under the care of her mother, Heather Unbehaun.

The incident occurred on July 4, 2017, during a visit with her mother, who had visitation rights but not full custody.

The following day, Kayla's father, who had full custody, arrived at her mother's residence in Wheaton, Illinois, only to find both his daughter and her mother missing.

A search was initiated to locate the abducted child, but the leads grew cold over the years.

Nevertheless, Kayla's story remained in the hearts of many, and her case was featured on an episode of the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries" titled "Abducted by a Parent."

The Netflix episode shed light on the heartbreaking situation, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide. Little did anyone know that this exposure would lead to a breakthrough in the case.

After nearly six years of disappearance, a fortuitous sighting in North Carolina has led authorities to locate the missing child.

During a seemingly ordinary day, a store owner in North Carolina made a striking realization. According to WSOC, a store owner in Asheville noticed Kayla, now 15, at a nearby shopping center and recognized her from the Netflix show.

The store owner promptly alerted the police, who located and placed Kayla in protective custody. The familiar face he saw in his store resembled the girl from the Netflix show.

Kayla/Twitter

Acting swiftly, he alerted the authorities, who confirmed the remarkable truth: the girl was indeed Kayla Unbehaun, missing for six long years.

Twitter

The joyful reunion with Kayla's father brought tears of relief and marked the end of a lengthy and agonizing search.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the details of her life during those six years are now under investigation as authorities work to unravel the whole story.

Last month, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) released an age-progression photo of Kayla, showing how she may look now at 15.

Twitter

Ms. Unbehaun, Kayla's mother, was arrested and charged with one count of child abduction by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. She is currently held on a $250,000 bond; additional charges may follow.

The NCMEC, which had been actively sharing alerts to aid in the search for Kayla over the past five-plus years, shared a message from Kayla's father expressing his joy upon learning that his daughter had been found safe.

"I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and all the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case," he said. "We ask for privacy as we reconnect and navigate this new beginning."

Throughout the years, Kayla's father, Ryan, continued to raise awareness about his daughter's case through the Facebook page "Bring Kayla Home."

On January 6, he posted a birthday message to his missing daughter, expressing his longing for their reunion. He wrote,

"Happy 15th birthday, Kayla. I love you and miss you so much. I can't wait for the day that I get to see you again, hoping that each day I wake up will be the day. It could never come soon enough. I think of you every day, hoping and praying that you are safe and happy and will come back into my life soon."

After an agonizing six-year search, a remarkable turn of events has brought Kayla Unbehaun back to safety.

Thanks to the observant store owner in North Carolina who recognized her from the Netflix show, Kayla's whereabouts were finally revealed, leading to her reunion with her father.

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