Kayla Unbehaun Now: Did Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries Help Solve Abduction?

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds and mysteries, I can honestly say that Kayla Unbehaun’s story is one of the most gripping real-life adventures I’ve ever encountered. I remember watching her case unfold on Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3, feeling a sense of hopelessness as the days turned into years with no sign of Kayla or her mother Heather.


9-year-old Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted by her mother, Heather Unbehaun, in 2017, has recently been located due to an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. At the time of the abduction, Kayla resided in Chicago’s South Elgin suburb. Heather, who did not have custody rights, took Kayla out for a Fourth of July parade and was last seen afterward. The day after the event, it was reported to Kayla’s custodial father, Ryan Iserka, that Heather had taken Kayla on a camping trip; however, they failed to return.

In 2023, Ryan Iserka met up with Kayla Unbehaun once more, this time following a dedicated crime enthusiast recognizing the girl from an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. A woman identified Kayla, then fifteen, in a shop in Asheville, North Carolina, and subsequently contacted the authorities. This incident took place shortly after the premiere of Kayla Unbehaun’s Unsolved Mysteries episode on Netflix in November 2022. Following the discovery, the police in North Carolina apprehended Heather Unbehaun, Kayla’s mother, on a warrant for being a fugitive. She was under investigation for charges like kidnapping and child abduction.

In each episode of Unsolved Mysteries, they delve into numerous unexplained cases. The fourth volume of this popular mystery series debuted on Netflix, featuring fresh unresolved mysteries. One such case from Volume 3, episode 9 titled “Abducted by a Parent,” focuses on Kayla Unbehaun’s disappearance. The summary goes: When a parent takes their child without custody, the pain is indescribable for the one left behind and they relentlessly search for them. Could you possibly assist these parents in locating their children?

Kayla Unbehaun’s Unsolved Mysteries episode helped solve the abduction

As reported by CNN, Heather and Kayla Unbehaun were together on July 4, 2017. However, an abduction took place. Earlier in the year, a court had granted Ryan Iserka full custody of Kayla, with Heather being allowed unsupervised visitation. Despite sharing custody, Heather decided to relocate to Georgia with their daughter, prompting Iserka to seek full custody.

In 2016, a judge gave Ryan Iserka full authority to decide about medical treatment and care for his minor daughter, Kayla Unbehaun, as it was found that Heather Unbehaun had been interfering with Kayla’s health matters. By early 2017, Iserka became the primary guardian of Kayla. However, on July 4 of that year, both Kayla and Heather went missing when the child was under Heather’s care.

The case of Kayla Unbehaun’s abduction gained notable attention following its appearance on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3, episode 9. This exposure eventually led to her rescue. According to The Guardian, Heather Unbehaun was the one who took Kayla to a Fourth of July parade. The day after, when Ryan Iserka, Kayla’s custodial father, went to pick her up, he was informed by Heather’s relatives that “she had gone on an unspecified camping trip in Wisconsin.”

According to The Independent, Heather Unbehaun was supposed to have a scheduled parenting time handover on July 5 at 7 p.m. However, neither Heather nor Kayla appeared for the court-ordered exchange and didn’t return afterwards. Iserka promptly contacted the police who initiated an investigation. During their interviews, authorities discovered that Heather Unbehaun was last spotted loading her possessions onto the roof of her car. Furthermore, they learned that Heather had deleted all her social media profiles and switched off her phone.

The case of Kayla Unbehaun became well-known when Ryan Iserka reported her missing, leading to accusations against Heather. Over subsequent years, investigators pursued numerous fruitless leads, while Iserka’s requests for assistance went unanswered. Later on, an image of Kay Unbehaun was featured in the November 2022 episode of Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries. At the end of the show, photos from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) were displayed, featuring Kayla.

In May 2023, luck favored the resolution of the case when a woman identified Kayla and her mother, Heather Unbehaun, at Plato’s Closet consignment store. The chance encounter occurred on May 13 at Westgate Regional Shopping Center in Asheville, North Carolina. The woman recognized Kayla from the missing person poster, and an employee promptly contacted the authorities.

Kayla Unbehaun’s Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3 episode 9 is streaming on Netflix.

Read More

2024-08-06 18:42