Father of Illinois Girl Abducted by Mother Shares Statement about Case, Spreads Awareness about Parental Child Abduction in Chicago

In November, 2022, the popular online streaming platform, Netflix, released the series “Unsolved Mysteries,” a documentary series detailing various “mystery” cases that have not yet been solved. One of those cases featured a South Elgin, Illinois girl named Kayla Unbehaun who went missing in 2017, when she was only 9 years old. However, unlike many of the cases on the hit Netflix documentary show, Kayla was finally found and returned to her father. The terrifying parental child abduction case shows the nightmare that parents and children go through when a non-custodial parent abducts their child, and spreads awareness about parental child abductions in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

According to ABC 7 Eyewitness News Chicago, Kayla Unbehaun was found in 2023, after someone in a shopping mall called police to alert them that they believed they had seen the child and her mother after watching the “Unsolved Mysteries” episode documenting the young girl’s abduction. Heather Unbehaun, Kayla’s mother, was said to have turned herself in, rather than being picked up by police in North Carolina, where she is believed to have taken Kayla. NBC 5 Chicago reports that on July 5, 2017, Kayla’s father had attempted to pick her up from her mother at an address in Wheaton, but found out that Heather Unbehaun had absconded with their daughter.

Ryan Iskerka, Kayla’s father, had appreciative words to say for those who were involved in the safe return of his daughter. Iskerka stated, “I am 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. We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.”

Parental Child Abductions in Chicago – When a Non-Custodial Parent Takes a Child

The case of Kayla Unbehaun demonstrates an important point to Chicago parents: taking a child against a child custody order is a serious crime. Even if a person is the biological parent of a child, they must abide by child custody orders issued by the court. Taking a child against a child custody order may be considered a kidnapping or a child abduction.

For Chicago parents facing a parental child abduction of their child, it is important to act fast. Speaking with an experienced Chicago child custody lawyer is the best thing to do first to find out your rights, options, and the best next steps to take for the safe recovery of your child from their non-custodial parent.

Finding Legal Help in Chicago – Chicago Child Custody Lawyer

If you are in the Chicago area and you need legal help with your Chicago child custody case, contact the experienced Chicago child custody lawyers at the law firm of Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC. The experienced Chicago child custody lawyers at the law firm of Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC are here to help Chicago parents with their complex and challenging child custody issues. Contact the Chicago child custody lawyers at the law firm of Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC, and speak to a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

abc7chicago.com/unsolved-mysteries-kayla-unbehaun-netflix-heather/13265152/