ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA — A heartwarming end to a years-long mystery has unfolded after Kayla Unbehaun, an Illinois girl who vanished six years ago, was found alive in North Carolina — thanks to a store worker who recognized her from an episode of Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries.
Authorities confirmed that Kayla, who was 9 years old when she disappeared, was spotted at a retail store in Asheville earlier this week. The store employee immediately contacted local law enforcement after recognizing her face from the popular true-crime documentary series.
Missing Since 2017
Kayla had been missing since July 2017, when she was allegedly abducted by her mother, who did not have legal custody. Her disappearance sparked multi-state alerts and widespread attention, but leads had grown cold over the years — until now.
According to police reports, the alert retail worker’s quick action led to Kayla being safely recovered and reunited with family members in Illinois. Officials have not released additional details about the mother’s current status or pending charges but confirmed that she was taken into custody without incident.
Recognized from Unsolved Mysteries
The extraordinary discovery came after Unsolved Mysteries featured Kayla’s story in one of its episodes focused on long-term missing children. The episode included age-progression photos and details about the case, which appear to have played a direct role in her identification…