Kylie Arellano has been located safely. (Rich County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
A Utah teenager who disappeared nearly 18 months ago has been found safe in Oregon, bringing a nationwide search lasting more than 500 days to an end.
Kylie Arellano, now 17, was last seen by her family on May 29, 2025, at their home in Garden City, Utah. She was 15 at the time.
Her disappearance prompted a broad federal and state investigation, with authorities following dozens of unconfirmed sightings before finding her Sunday.
Kylie Arellano, reported missing in 2025, was found with a 39-year-old man in Oregon. (Rich County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
Oregon law enforcement officers, working with the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, recovered the teenager safely, according to a law enforcement news release.
Authorities said Kylie was with a 39-year-old man in Oregon. He was taken into custody without incident.
“The FBI and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office have been actively investigating this case for more than a year and pursuing every lead received from across the United States and other countries.”
Federal government office in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Google Maps)
“Because the investigation remains active, no additional information will be released at this time,” the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office said Sunday.
Federal officials also thanked Oregon State Police, the FBI’s Portland field office and the Utah Department of Public Safety for helping with the operation.
“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 told News Outlet.
“We are grateful she can return home, and we will continue working with our partners to hold those responsible accountable,” Patel said.
Weeks before Kylie Arellano was found, her mother marked the 500-day milestone online. (Rich County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
“To anyone using gore groups to target and exploit children: the FBI and our partners are coming for you.
“We are using every tool at our disposal to combat nihilistic violent extremism, bring offenders to justice and protect America’s children.”
A law enforcement source said the suspect allegedly met the teenager on Snapchat before she disappeared.
Last year, Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey said detectives had followed reports of possible sightings across several states. He urged the public to preserve any photographic or timestamped evidence.
Kylie Arellano was found with a male suspect who was taken into custody after a search spanning several states. (Rich County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
Additional details about the investigation surfaced just days before Kylie was located.
Unsealed search warrants reviewed by KUTV on Oct. 29 showed investigators had previously examined Kylie’s mother, Stephanie Coleman, and questioned her about a 2024 allegation of physical abuse.
Investigators also examined discrepancies involving text messages missing from the night Kylie disappeared, along with suspicious marks found inside the home.
Coleman denied any involvement in her daughter’s disappearance and denied abusing her. She provided timestamped “good night” text messages sent on May 29, 2025.
She said the marks were caused by an injured cat and maintained that Kylie may have been groomed and lured away by someone she met online, according to the outlet.
