For six years, Kayla Unbehaun’s disappearance haunted her family. She vanished from an Illinois suburb on July 4, 2017, after a camping trip with her mother, Heather Unbehaun. Her father, Ryan Iserka, had kissed his nine-year-old goodbye, never imagining it would be the last time he’d see her for years. Despite investigations and national attention, hope dimmed, but Ryan never gave up.
Then, in May 2023, a breakthrough came 600 miles away in Asheville, North Carolina. A local woman spotted a teenage girl who looked familiar and recognized her from a true-crime program featuring parental abductions. Police were called, and within 24 hours, Kayla, now fifteen, was located. She had been living with her mother under false identities.
The reunion with her father was emotional — years of grief melted away in a single embrace. Meanwhile, Heather was arrested on charges of child abduction and kidnapping and transferred back to Illinois to face court proceedings.
Ryan asked for privacy but expressed gratitude: “Kayla is home, and that’s all that matters.” Experts note that children in parental abduction cases often face long-term trauma, needing time and support to adjust. Kayla is now back in Illinois with family and counselors helping her rebuild her life.
For Ryan, the story is one of perseverance and unwavering love. “You don’t stop being a father just because someone disappears,” he said. “You keep hoping. And sometimes, hope answers back.”
Kayla’s return reminds the nation that recovery from loss often requires vigilance, compassion, and the belief that truth will find its way home.