Illinois Girl Found Safe In North Carolina Nearly 6 Years After Her Mom Reportedly Kidnapped Her

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that a 9-year-old Illinois child who was allegedly abducted by her mother over six years ago has been found safe. The center said Monday night that Kayla Unbehaun, now 15 years old, was located in North Carolina.

"I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe," Kayla's father, Ryan Iskerka, said in a statement.

According to WLOS-TV, someone recognized Kayla over the weekend in a shopping center in Asheville, North Carolina, and alerted the police.

The missing children center has been spreading the word about her and sharing age-evolved images of what she would look like on Bring Kayla Home, a Facebook page.

Additionally, an episode of the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries" focused on her disappearance.

According to WBTV, Heather Unbehaun, Kayla's mother, was detained on a $250,000 bond and was awaiting extradition to Illinois. After Kayla went missing the missing children's center claims that a warrant was issued for her arrest.

According to Iskerka, who spoke to CBS News Chicago, Kayla was supposed to be picked up in 2017 after spending a few days with her mother around the Fourth of July.

He claimed that after the holiday, Heather Unbehaun's family informed him that Kayla and she never returned from a camping trip.

Iskerka thanked the investigators and those who had helped spread the word about Kayla over the years in his statement on Monday night.

"We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning," he said.