A Utah teenager who vanished nearly 18 months ago has been located safe in Oregon, bringing an end to an exhaustive search that spanned more than 500 days, authorities announced Sunday.
Kylie Arellano, now 17, disappeared from her family’s residence in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025, when she was 15 years old. Federal and local authorities said she was safely recovered on Sunday afternoon after law enforcement officers in Oregon acted on intelligence developed by federal investigators in Utah.
Officers discovered the teenager with a 39-year-old man, who was taken into custody without incident, according to a joint statement from the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office. Officials have not publicly named the man or detailed the specific charges he may face.
Multi-Agency Effort Across State Lines
The safe recovery capped a massive investigation involving multiple law enforcement departments across several jurisdictions. Alongside the FBI’s Salt Lake City office and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, the operation included assistance from the Oregon State Police, the FBI’s Portland field office and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
“Tonight, local police in Oregon brought a minor who had been missing for a year and a half to safety, acting on information provided by our FBI Salt Lake City Field Office,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. Patel added that authorities remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and issued a stern warning against anyone using violent online spaces to exploit minors.
A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that the suspect is alleged to have initially connected with the teenager on Snapchat prior to her disappearance.
Long Search Across Multiple States
During the year-and-a-half search, investigators chased leads and reported sightings across the United States and abroad. Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey had previously called on members of the public to retain and submit any photographic or timestamped records that might assist detectives in tracing the girl’s whereabouts.
The recovery also followed the recent disclosure of previously sealed investigative documents. Search warrants reviewed by local television station KUTV on Oct. 29 showed that detectives had previously examined the teen’s mother, Stephanie Coleman, regarding past allegations of physical abuse and inconsistencies surrounding text messages on the night of the disappearance. Coleman denied any involvement in her daughter’s disappearance or abuse, providing records of timestamped evening messages and telling investigators she believed her daughter had been groomed and abducted by someone encountered on the internet.
Following news of the recovery, family members voiced deep gratitude for the persistent efforts of search teams. On social media, Arellano’s grandmother thanked agents and local departments for working tirelessly to locate the teenager and ensure her safe return.
Federal officials noted that the case remains under active investigation and said no additional details regarding the circumstances of the recovery or upcoming legal proceedings would be released immediately.
