Utah teen found safe in Oregon after extensive 500-day search

Kylie Arellano, now 17, was last seen at her home in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025, when she was 15 years old. Her disappearance prompted a significant investigation involving federal and state agencies, which followed numerous unconfirmed reports.

Law enforcement in Oregon, collaborating with the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, recovered Kylie and took a 39-year-old man into custody without incident. She was found with the man.

The FBI’s Salt Lake City field office stated that no further information would be released due to the ongoing nature of the case.

FBI Director Kash Patel expressed gratitude for Kylie’s safe return and affirmed the agency’s commitment to holding those responsible accountable. Patel also issued a warning to individuals exploiting children online, stating that the FBI and its partners are actively pursuing them.

A law enforcement source indicated that the suspect allegedly connected with the teenager on Snapchat prior to her disappearance.

Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey previously encouraged the public to preserve any photographic or timestamped evidence related to potential sightings.

Recent unsealed search warrants revealed that investigators had examined Kylie’s mother, Stephanie Coleman, and questioned her regarding a 2024 allegation of physical abuse. Discrepancies in text messages from the night of Kylie’s disappearance and unusual marks found in the home were also subjects of inquiry. Coleman denied any involvement in her daughter’s disappearance or abuse, providing timestamped text messages and attributing the marks to an injured cat. She suggested Kylie may have been groomed and lured away online.