ASHEVILLE, NC – Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted when she was 9 years old by her non-custodial mother Heather of South Elgin, Illinois in 2017, has been found in Asheville, ABC 7 in Chicago reported Monday.
Police arrested Heather Unhebhaun in Asheville over the weekend, according to the report.
The store owner apparently recognized Kayla from an episode of Netflix’s parental abduction series “Unsolved Mysteries” and called the police.
LATEST NEWS ‼️
NCMEC is excited to share that Kayla Unbehaun has been FOUND SAFE in North Carolina!
Kayla was just 9 years old when she was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Heather Unbehaun of South Elgin, Illinois, on July 5, 2017. Kayla’s father, Ryan, asked NCMEC to… pic.twitter.com/5O7bpEjIhT
— National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (@MissingKids) May 16, 2023
Heather Unbehaun is being held on $250,000 bond and is awaiting extradition. Kayla is now in protective custody.
South Elgin police said Kayla was last seen on July 4, 2017. Her father, Ryan, went to look for her at her mother’s house on July 5, but she was not there.
“I am so glad Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and all the law enforcement agencies that assisted with her case. We ask for privacy as we return to meet and navigate this new beginning,” the father said in a statement.
Heather Unbehaun was charged with child abduction. It’s unclear if more charges will be filed.
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