Dad of girl missing for six years speaks out after she's found alive

An Illinois dad who has been reunited with his daughter after she was abducted almost six years ago has said he is ‘overjoyed’.

Kayla Unbehaun was just nine years old in July 2017 when she was first reported missing by her dad Ryan Iserka.

He raised the alarm after going to collect her from her mother Heather Unbehaun’s house and finding them both gone.

Ryan had full custody of his daughter, with Heather only having visitation rights.

In the almost six years that have followed, Ryan has never given up hope of finding his little girl, launching a fundraiser to help search efforts and running a Facebook page called Bring Kayla Home.

Kayla’s story appeared on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries, which is what later led to her being found.

A store owner in a shopping mall in Asheville, North Carolina recognised Kayla, now 15, after seeing the show and called police.

On Saturday (May 13), The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children confirmed that Kayla Unbehaun was found alive and safe.

NCMEC

In a statement, her delighted dad 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 of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case.

“I also want to thank all of the followers on the 'Bring Kayla Home' Facebook page, who helped keep her story alive and were instrumental in spreading awareness."

He closed out the statement by requesting privacy ‘as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning’.

Lt. Diana Loveland of Asheville, North Carolina Police Department, said: "It is unusual but it's good that when someone does suspect that they recognise someone, no matter how old the story might be, that they are not afraid to give us a call so we can come and investigate."

ABC

While details of her recovery have not yet been disclosed, Kayla was taken into protective custody.

Her mom was arrested and is accused of kidnapping her daughter back in 2017 and was held on a $250,000 bond, awaiting extradition.

Yesterday (May 16), Asheville authorities confirmed Unbehaun had made bail and been released.

Asheville Police Lt. Jonathan Brown added: “What’s most unusual [about the case] is the ability to stay off the grid, if you will, for that period of time.

"Typically we leave a technological bread crumb and those are usually very easy and quick to be tracked down. This was not.”

Topics: Crime, Netflix, US News, True crime

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at UNILAD who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.