After 6 Years of Agony, Missing Girl Found Thanks to a Documentary

In 2017, Ryan Iskerka’s life was turned upside down when his 9-year-old daughter, Kayla, suddenly went missing in Illinois, USA. On the day she was supposed to return home from a scheduled visit with her mother, Heather Unbehaun, Kayla never showed up — and vanished without a trace.

At the time, Ryan and Heather were going through a difficult and contentious divorce. The court had granted full custody of Kayla to Ryan, while Heather was allowed only limited visitation rights. Ryan immediately reported the disappearance to the police, suspecting that Heather had abducted their daughter.

Over the next six years, Ryan never stopped searching. With the help of friends, family, and volunteers, he kept Kayla’s story alive on social media, constantly sharing photos and updates in hopes of a breakthrough. Yet, no clues emerged, and Heather remained hidden, moving from place to place with Kayla.

Then, in 2023, everything changed. Ryan participated in a Netflix documentary focusing on unresolved missing persons cases. The episode featuring Kayla gained significant attention, and not long after, a tip came in from a viewer who believed they had seen a woman and teenage girl resembling Heather and Kayla in a small town in North Carolina.

Authorities acted on the information, and to everyone’s astonishment, Heather and Kayla were found. Heather surrendered to the police, and Kayla was safely reunited with her father. Now 15, she is beginning the difficult process of adjusting to a new life and reconnecting with the world she left behind.

Ryan is supporting his daughter every step of the way, helping her heal and rebuild their bond after so many lost years.

Kayla’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of public awareness and community involvement in missing persons cases. Thanks to the media, social networks, and a caring public, a young girl was found — proving that hope should never be lost.