A Utah teen named Kylie Arellano, who disappeared nearly a year and a half ago, has been located in Oregon. Her discovery ends a prolonged search effort across the country, spanning over 500 days.
Kylie Arellano, now 17, was last seen by her family at their residence in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025, when she was 15 years old. Her disappearance sparked a wide-ranging federal and state investigation, involving dozens of unconfirmed sightings before her recovery on Sunday.
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Kylie Arellano was found with a 39-year-old man in Oregon. The Rich County Sheriff’s Office had initially reported her missing in 2025. Law enforcement officers in Oregon, in collaboration with the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, safely recovered her, according to a law enforcement news release. The man accompanying her was taken into custody without incident.
The investigation, active for over a year, pursued every lead received from across the U.S. and internationally, according to a statement from the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office. They have indicated that no further information will be released at present, as the case remains ongoing.
Federal authorities have expressed gratitude to multiple organizations for their assistance, including the Oregon State Police, the FBI’s Portland field office, and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “Local police in Oregon acted on information from our FBI Salt Lake City Field Office to bring a minor missing for a year and a half to safety. We are grateful she can return home and will continue collaborating to hold responsible parties accountable.”
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Kylie’s disappearance marked its 500-day anniversary online shortly before her rescue. Her grandmother expressed gratitude to the law enforcement agencies involved in locating her. She conveyed her appreciation on X, writing, “THANK YOU for all you and your agents and teams are doing to find our baby girl, Kylie Arellano, and bring her home!!!”
An investigation revealed that the suspect may have initially contacted Kylie via Snapchat before her disappearance. Last year, Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey encouraged public cooperation in preserving photographic or timestamped evidence, as detectives chased sightings reports across various states.
Recent developments in the investigation were disclosed a few days prior to Kylie’s recovery. Unsealed search warrants reviewed by KUTV on October 29 revealed investigators’ scrutiny of Kylie’s mother, Stephanie Coleman, questioning her about a 2024 allegation of physical abuse. They also examined discrepancies in missing text messages and suspicious marks at the home.
Coleman denied involvement in her daughter’s disappearance or any abusive behavior, providing timestamped “good night” text messages from the night Kylie vanished. She attributed the marks to an injured cat, suggesting Kylie had been groomed and lured away by someone encountered online, according to the report.
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