Heather Unbehaun, accused of abducting her daughter from an Illinois suburb six years ago, has turned herself in, ending a high-profile case. Unbehaun is now in custody at the Kane County Adult Justice Center in Illinois, facing abduction charges without bail.
Days before her surrender, Kayla Unbehaun was found safe in North Carolina and reunited with her custodial father. Heather Unbehaun was arrested in North Carolina on a fugitive warrant from Illinois for kidnapping and child abduction. Initially held on a $250,000 bond, she was released after posting bail on Tuesday, according to Asheville Police Department spokesperson Samantha Booth.
Kayla was abducted on July 4, 2017, after a parade in South Elgin, Illinois. Heather told Kayla’s father, Ryan Iserka, they were going camping but never returned. A felony warrant was issued for Heather’s arrest.
The breakthrough came when someone in Asheville recognized Kayla from Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” and alerted authorities.
Ryan Iserka thanked law enforcement and supporters for reuniting him with Kayla. Heather Unbehaun’s next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Kane County Judicial Center.
The Father of These Hollywood Stars Once Disowned Them, Saying They Were ‘Dead’ to Him
Years of public scrutiny surround a Hollywood family’s rift involving a once-celebrated father and his children. After a painful estrangement, whispers of reconciliation have emerged. Can the wounds of the past truly heal?
The father, a musician and actor, enjoyed fame in the ’70s but faced personal turmoil as tensions rose with his children amid the glitz. What began as a passionate romance with their mother in 1975 quickly soured, leading to their divorce in 1981. While initially devoted to his children, his absence grew, exacerbated by their mother’s rising fame and new relationship.
By 2015, the situation exploded when the eldest child posted a scathing Father’s Day message on Instagram: “Happy Abandonment Day.” The father reacted with heartbreak, claiming betrayal and mourning the loss of his children. He blamed their mother for fostering a narrative that painted him as an absent parent, accusing her of “parental alienation” and insisting he tried to maintain a relationship.
As the siblings found success in Hollywood, the estrangement became public. The daughter honored her mother’s partner on Father’s Day, deepening their father’s feelings of rejection. He declared that he no longer recognized them as his children, claiming he had “set them free.”
Despite the pain, Bill Hudson often reflected on the love he once had for his children, cherishing memories of their early years together. He expressed sadness over their separation, particularly following the Father’s Day posts that struck him deeply.
Kate and Oliver Hudson have voiced their complex feelings about their father. Kate has noted that while the estrangement is difficult, she harbors no resentment and has expressed a desire for his happiness. Oliver initially reacted with sarcasm but has since indicated an openness to reconnecting.
In May 2024, Bill confirmed that steps toward reconciliation were underway, stating, “We are warming up.” The family appears to be mending their fractured relationship through small gestures of understanding, signaling hope for a fresh start after years of hurt.
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