By Karim Hammam
A 17-year-old girl who disappeared from Garden City, Utah, in May 2025 has been found safe in Oregon, and a 39-year-old man has been arrested, authorities said Tuesday. The recovery concludes a search spanning more than 500 days.
Multi-agency effort leads to arrest
The teenager was located last Sunday following a joint operation by Oregon law enforcement, the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office in Utah. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, according to the FBI.
FBI director warns of ‘gore groups’
FBI Director Kash Patel said the girl was brought to safety based on intelligence from the Salt Lake City field office. He condemned online communities known as “gore groups” that target and extort children, vowing to use every tool to combat such exploitation.
Teen identified as Kylie Arellano
Local reports identify the teenager as Kylie Arellano, who was last seen by her family on May 29, 2025. Her mother, Stephanie Coleman, told NBC’s Dateline that they exchanged texts at 9:44 p.m. that night; Arellano’s phone shut off eight minutes later. The family discovered her missing the next morning, finding her jacket in the driveway and her Xbox gone.
Mother celebrates safe return
On Monday, Coleman posted on the “Help Bring Kylie Arellano Home” Facebook page: “My babygirl was found SAFE today!! We did it KOAS ARMY.” Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances of the disappearance or recovery, citing the ongoing investigation.
