South Elgin girl abducted in 2017 is reunited with her father after a tip from a Plato’s Closet employee
SOUTH ELGIN — Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser and South Elgin Chief of Police Jerry Krawczyk announced on May 16 that 40-year-old Heather Unbehaun, formally of the 500 block of East Illinois Street in Wheaton, has been taken into custody by authorities in Asheville, North Carolina.
According to Mosser, Heather was charged with the offense of child abduction, a Class 4 felony, back in July of 2017 after she allegedly abducted her then 9-year-old biological daughter, Kayla, which violated a 2012 court order that granted permanent custody to Kayla’s father, Ryan Iskerka.
In a GoFundMe Iskerka created to assist in locating his daughter, it was stated that Kayla was last seen with her mother at a Fourth of July parade in Wheaton. Police interviews from that time explained that Heather was seen packing her belongings up to the roof of her car and telling family and friends that she would be going on a camping trip to an unknown location in Wisconsin.
Iskerka expected Heather and Kayla to return on July 5, 2017, for their court-ordered parenting time exchange, however, when the mother-daughter pair didn’t show up, authorities were immediately contacted.
A Kane County judge then proceeded to issue a warrant for Heather’s arrest and set her bail at $10,000 with 10% ($1,000) to apply for bond.
Since that time, South Elgin police have pursued numerous leads and tips, as well as worked with police agencies from around the country to locate Kayla and Heather.
According to the South Elgin Police Department, on May 13, authorities in Asheville, North Carolina notified officers in South Elgin about a tip they had received from an Asheville Plato’s Closet store employee who recognized Heather from an episode of Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” and recalled that Kayla was a reported missing child.
The store employee immediately notified Asheville police, who then contacted the South Elgin Police Department to confirm the identities of the two individuals.
After the pair were positively identified as Heather and Kayla, Asheville police arrested Heather and placed the now 15-year-old Kayla into the custody of the North Carolina Division of Social Services, which later reunited her with her father.
“I’m overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case,” said Iskerka in a statement made through the NCMEC. “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.”
Buncombe County, North Carolina authorities have charged Heather with the felony offense of extradition-fugitive from another state. Her next court appearance will take place on July 11 at the Buncombe County Courthouse.
Heather posted her $25,000 bond on May 16 and was released from custody. She declined to waive extradition.
“Thanks to all of the law enforcement agencies around the country who have assisted in the search for this child and Heather Unbehaun over the last six years,” said Mosser.
Krawczyk also shared his gratitude for the hard work that was put into the investigation.
“We are overjoyed to report that the child is in good condition and in good spirits since being reunited with her father. We would like to thank the Asheville Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the citizens across the United States who have provided tips to us,” he said.
The case currently remains under investigation. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the South Elgin Police Department at 847-741-2151.
