Mother Accused of Abducting Daughter Turns Herself In After Six Years on the Run
In a surprising development, Heather Unbehaun, the woman accused of abducting her daughter from an Illinois suburb six years ago, has turned herself in, marking a dramatic conclusion to a case that garnered national interest. The 15-year-old Kayla Unbehaun is now safely reunited with her custodial father after recently being discovered in North Carolina. Heather Unbehaun is currently in custody at the Kane County Adult Justice Center in Illinois, facing abduction charges with no bail option.
This turn of events comes just days after Kayla was located and safely returned to her father, Ryan Iserka. Heather Unbehaun’s arrest occurred in North Carolina based on a fugitive warrant issued from Illinois, charging her with kidnapping and child abduction. While initially held on a $250,000 bond, Unbehaun secured her release on Tuesday morning after posting bail, as confirmed by Asheville Police Department spokesperson Samantha Booth.
The case began on July 4, 2017, when Kayla was allegedly taken by her mother after attending a parade in South Elgin, a suburb of Chicago. Following the parade, Unbehaun told Iserka that they were going on a camping trip, but neither returned, prompting a felony warrant for her arrest on kidnapping charges.
A significant breakthrough occurred when a vigilant citizen in Asheville recognized Kayla from a Netflix episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” that focused on parental abductions. The individual alerted authorities, leading to Kayla’s safe discovery and Unbehaun’s subsequent arrest.
The court records outline a contentious custody battle between Unbehaun and Iserka. Iserka had received full custody of Kayla in early 2017, while Unbehaun was granted only unsupervised “parenting time” visits. Court documents indicated serious concerns over Kayla’s well-being, with a judge previously granting Iserka sole authority over medical decisions, citing Unbehaun’s alleged interference with her daughter’s healthcare.
Iserka’s attorney, John Vojta, expressed apprehension regarding Unbehaun’s release on bond after her six-year status as a fugitive. Meanwhile, Iserka and Kayla have returned to Illinois together. In a heartfelt statement, Iserka expressed gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, law enforcement, and supporters from the ‘Bring Kayla Home’ Facebook page for their assistance in reuniting him with his daughter.
As the legal proceedings continue, Heather Unbehaun is scheduled to appear in court again at the Kane County Judicial Center on Wednesday morning. The numerous twists and turns of this case continue to captivate public interest.
