Kylie Arellano, a Utah teenager missing for more than 500 days, was found safe in Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 1, authorities said. Her recovery followed an extensive search involving federal and state investigators, who pursued dozens of reported sightings that had not been confirmed.
Arellano is now 17. She was 15 when her family last saw her at their home in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025. According to a law enforcement news release, officers in Oregon located her while coordinating directly with the FBI's Salt Lake City field office and the Rich County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said the teenager was with a 39-year-old man, who was taken into custody without incident. A law enforcement source said the man allegedly met her through Snapchat before she disappeared. Officials did not release further information about the ongoing case.
The FBI's Salt Lake City office said its investigators and the Rich County Sheriff's Office had spent more than a year following leads from around the United States and other countries. Federal authorities also acknowledged assistance from Oregon State Police, the FBI's Portland field office and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital that local officers in Oregon brought the teenager to safety using information supplied by the Salt Lake City field office. He expressed gratitude that she could return home and said investigators would continue seeking accountability with their partner agencies. Patel also issued a warning to people using gore groups to exploit children and described the bureau's efforts against nihilistic violent extremism.
During the search last year, Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey said detectives had investigated possible sightings in several states. He asked members of the public to retain photographs or evidence carrying timestamps that could help authorities assess those reports.
Days before the recovery, unsealed search warrants reviewed by KUTV on Oct. 29 disclosed earlier scrutiny of Kylie's mother, Stephanie Coleman. Investigators had questioned Coleman about a physical abuse allegation from 2024. They also examined discrepancies concerning missing text messages from the night Kylie disappeared and suspicious marks inside the family's home.
Coleman denied abusing her daughter or being involved in her disappearance, KUTV reported. She supplied timestamped messages saying good night from May 29, 2025, and attributed the marks in the home to an injured cat. Coleman maintained that someone Kylie encountered online had likely groomed her and persuaded her to leave.
