A father never gave up on finding his daughter after she was taken from him. Even after six long years of searching, he never lost hope that one day he would see his little girl again. Every day, he prayed for her safety, holding on to the dream that she would eventually return home.
For any parent, the thought of losing their child is terrifying. It’s a fear that haunts every mother and father. For one dad, this nightmare became a reality, and he spent the next six years of his life praying for his daughter’s safe return.
Kayla Unbehaun went missing in 2017, and her dad, Ryan Iskerka, held on to hope that he would one day see her again. Even though he had no way of knowing if she was safe or happy, he would occasionally post on social media to share how much he missed her.
On January 5, 2023, Ryan wrote a heartfelt birthday message to Kayla, who was turning 15. He wrote, “I think of you every day, hoping and praying that you are safe, happy, and that you will come back into my life soon.”
Ryan had been granted sole custody of Kayla after her mother, Heather Unbehaun, tried to undermine him in court. Even though Kayla had been missing for six years, Ryan clung to the hope that she still remembered how much he loved her and the good times they had shared as a family. He continued to pray for her return, writing, “And I’ve loved you through all of this.”
At the time Kayla disappeared, the family lived in South Elgin, Illinois. Ryan feared he might never see his daughter again, but he couldn’t let go of the hope that she would return. He revealed that Kayla’s mother had taken her without permission and without telling him.
Ryan shared the story of how his ex-wife had taken their daughter without his consent. At first, he and Kayla’s mother were happily married, but as time went on, problems arose, and they decided to separate. This led to a long custody battle, and eventually, they agreed on shared custody of Kayla.
Heather wanted to move to Athens, Georgia, with Kayla, and although Ryan didn’t want to stop her, he wanted to make sure he could still see his daughter regularly. They were in the middle of setting up a visitation schedule when Heather suddenly packed up and moved without telling Ryan.
Ryan only found out about the move during a phone call with Kayla. Feeling betrayed, he decided to file for child support and visitation rights. Heather saw this as “a declaration of war,” and their legal battle grew even more intense. Heather did everything she could to delay the visitation schedule, making it harder for Ryan to see his daughter.
During this difficult time, Ryan barely got to see Kayla. Their contact was limited to a few hours on Skype, and in-person visits were rare, only happening when Heather returned to town for the holidays. Ryan could feel the distance growing between them, and he noticed that Kayla seemed more and more distant each time they talked.
Eventually, after Heather tried to keep Ryan out of Kayla’s life, the court awarded him sole custody of their daughter. Kayla moved in with Ryan, and for a while, it seemed like things were finally getting better. But then, in July, Heather took Kayla on a camping trip. When Ryan went to pick Kayla up on July 5, there was no sign of her.
Heather had disappeared with their daughter. On July 29, 2017, a felony arrest warrant was issued for Heather. Ryan wrote to his daughter, “I will never give up on you.”
After six long years of searching, Ryan finally received the news he had been praying for. In May 2023, Kayla was spotted in a store in Asheville, North Carolina, by a clerk who recognized her. The clerk immediately contacted the police, who quickly responded.
The store employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, said, “It was the right thing to do.”
After Kayla was found, Lt. Diana Loveland from Asheville urged others to report any similar sightings in the future, saying, “It is unusual, but it’s good that when someone does suspect that they recognize someone, no matter how old the story might be, that they are not afraid to give us a call so we can come to investigate.”
The Asheville Police quickly found Heather and took her into custody. She was held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility in North Carolina on a $250,000 bond.
Over the years, Kayla’s case had attracted a lot of attention. Ryan and his family created a Facebook group called “Bring Kayla Home,” where they shared updates and raised awareness about her abduction. Kayla’s story was even featured on Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries,” which was how the store clerk recognized her.
Ryan was overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who had kept Kayla’s case alive. He wrote, “I’m 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.”
The six years of separation had taken a toll on Ryan’s relationship with Kayla. In his statement, he asked for privacy as he worked to rebuild his relationship with her. Determined never to lose his daughter again, he reflected on his journey, saying, “There is nothing I want more than to have you back in my life.” And now, finally, she is.
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