The FBI has issued a warning and plans to crack down on online “gore groups” known for exploiting and harming children. This announcement followed the rescue of Kylie Arellano, a 17-year-old who was found alive after going missing for over 500 days.
Rescue and Arrest
Kylie Arellano went missing from her home in Utah on May 29, 2025. She was discovered in Oregon alongside a 39-year-old man who has been taken into custody by local law enforcement officials. The FBI is prioritizing the investigation into nihilistic “gore groups,” especially focusing on a violent group known as 764.
“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,” stated FBI Director Kash Patel following the arrest. “We are grateful she can return home, and we will continue working with our partners to hold those responsible accountable.”
Patel further emphasized efforts against exploiters: “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.”
Newsweek has reached out to the FBI for more details.
Who Is Kylie Arellano?
Kylie Arellano’s rescue concluded a multiagency search involving numerous state and federal officers. She disappeared from her family home in Garden City, Utah, when she was 15 years old. The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Rich County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, pursuing leads nationwide and internationally over 521 days.
In addition, Oregon State Police, FBI Portland, and the Utah Department of Public Safety were crucial in locating Kylie. Although details of Kylie’s disappearance remain unclear, a law enforcement source informed Fox News that the suspect had contacted Kylie via Snapchat before she was reported missing.
The FBI and Rich County Sheriff’s Office have stated that no further information on the suspect, including their identity or specific charges, will be released currently, as the investigation continues.
Before Kylie’s recovery, new investigation documents revealed officers had previously questioned her mother, Stephanie Coleman, regarding allegations of physical abuse in 2024. Discrepancies involved missing text messages from the night Kylie vanished. Unsealed documents by KUTV stated Kylie had run away in 2024 after accusing Coleman of choking her, though her mother denied the accusation.
“That was the last time Kylie ran away,” Coleman told KUTV last week. “She was not being choked by me.”
Coleman explained her actions, “I would take my thumb and try to rub her face, trying to get her to calm down,” adding, “I know this makes me look bad, but I’ve never abused my child.”
Coleman previously suspected her daughter might have left with someone she met on social media, but this remains unproven. She voiced frustration over efforts to involve law enforcement in her daughter’s search.
Upon learning of Kylie’s discovery, an X account claimed to belong to her grandmother proclaimed: “KYLIE ARELLANO HAS BEEN FOUND AND RESCUED!!!!! Thank you to everyone who has prayed and shared her posts!!”
Understanding ‘Gore Groups’
The FBI has been raising awareness about “gore groups” like 764 over the year. These groups allegedly blackmail minors into committing violent or sexual acts, sharing footage among members. Built upon extremist ideologies promoting societal collapse, these groups encourage violence.
Members use encrypted chats to identify vulnerable individuals, manipulate them, and force them to produce extremist content. Such content includes self-harm, harm to others including animals, and exploitation of siblings, alongside threats of violence, suicide, and murder.
These groups provide detailed guides on exploiting victims, often targeting those with depression or mental illness. Victims have reportedly been as young as 13.
Recently, 764 leader Prasan “Trippy” Nepal pled guilty to conspiracy to commit child sexual exploitation after being arrested by the FBI. Scheduled for sentencing in March 2027, Nepal faces 15 to 30 years in prison.
“This is the latest victory in the FBI’s work to dismantle the violent 764 network,” Patel noted in an October 9 statement. “Prasan Nepal, a leader of 764, pleaded guilty for exploiting juveniles—not only breaking the law himself but recruiting others for heinous conduct targeting kids online.”
“Dismantling 764 and their online network has been a top priority,” continued Patel. “Last year saw a nearly 500 percent increase in arrests related to 764, thanks to our partnerships. We are finding these criminals nationwide. We will use all resources to protect children and bring abusers to justice.”
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) helpline at rainn.org.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Shakeema Edwards.
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