Kayla Unbehaun, the 9-year-old girl who went missing from her home in Illinois in July 2017, has been found alive. Unbehaun was found in North Carolina last week. She was reportedly living with her mother, Heather Unbehaun, who has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and child abandonment.
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office said that Kayla was in good health and was reunited with her father and stepmother.
The sheriff’s office said that they received a tip about Kayla’s whereabouts on Friday, May 13, 2023. Deputies went to the home in North Carolina and found Kayla and her mother.
Heather Unbehaun was arrested and charged with kidnapping and child abandonment. She is being held in the Kane County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Kayla’s father, Michael Unbehaun, said that he was “overjoyed” to have his daughter back. He said that he had never given up hope that she would be found.
“I’m just so happy that she’s safe,” he said. “I can’t wait to get her home and start our lives together again.”
Kayla’s disappearance was featured on an episode of the Netflix series “Unsolved Mysteries” in November 2022. The episode featured interviews with Kayla’s family and friends, as well as investigators who were working on the case.
The episode also featured a composite sketch of a man who was seen with Kayla on the day she went missing. The man has never been identified.
The sheriff’s office said that they are still investigating Kayla’s disappearance and that they are not ruling out the possibility that there are other people involved.
Kayla’s story is a reminder that even the most difficult cases can be solved. It is also a reminder of the importance of never giving up hope.
