Teen Missing for Four Years, Featured on Unsolved Mysteries, Found Safe in North Carolina
After four long years, missing teenager Kayla Unbehaun has been found safe in North Carolina — thanks to the sharp eye of a Good Samaritan who recognized her during a routine shopping trip and alerted authorities.
Kayla’s disappearance gained national attention after being featured on Unsolved Mysteries in 2022, where her story captured the hearts of viewers and renewed hope that she would one day be located.
Kayla first vanished in 2017 while in the custody of her mother, Heather Unbehaun. Following Kayla’s recovery, Heather was arrested on a fugitive charge. Authorities have not yet disclosed where Kayla was living during her disappearance, or the circumstances that led to Heather’s arrest.
Her biological father, Ryan Iskerka, expressed overwhelming gratitude and relief, saying the family is now focused on healing and spending much-needed private time together.
The Unsolved Mysteries feature kept Kayla’s case in the public eye, but it was ultimately the vigilance of one bystander that led to her safe return. The case underscores the power of awareness and community action — proving that even one person’s attentiveness can change the outcome for a missing child.
For families still searching for loved ones, Kayla’s safe recovery is both a victory and a reminder that hope should never be abandoned.