Kylie Arellano has been found safe. (Rich County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
A Utah teenager who disappeared nearly a year and a half ago has been found safe in Oregon, bringing a nationwide search that lasted 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. Authorities followed dozens of unconfirmed sightings before locating and safely recovering her Sunday.
Kylie Arellano was reported missing in 2025 and 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.
Kylie was found with a 39-year-old man in Oregon. Authorities took the man 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 U.S. and in other countries,” officials said.
Federal government office in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Google Maps)
“As this case is ongoing, no further information will be released at this time,” the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office said in a statement Sunday.
Federal authorities also acknowledged the assistance of Oregon State Police, the FBI’s Portland field office and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
“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 Media.
KEEP READING: Ukraine Hit by Hacking Attack Sending Fake Radiation Threat Alerts
“We are grateful she can return home, and we will continue working with our partners to hold those responsible accountable,” Patel added.
Weeks before her rescue, Kylie Arellano’s 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 investigators had pursued reported 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 multiple states. (Rich County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook)
Additional details about the investigation emerged in the days before Kylie was found.
Unsealed search warrants reviewed by KUTV on Oct. 29 showed that investigators had previously scrutinized Kylie’s mother, Stephanie Coleman, and questioned her about a 2024 allegation of physical abuse.
There were also questions about discrepancies involving missing text messages from the night Kylie vanished and suspicious marks in the home.
Coleman had denied having any role in her daughter’s disappearance or abusing her, providing timestamped “good night” text messages from May 29, 2025.
She said the marks were caused by an injured cat and maintained that Kylie had likely been groomed and lured away by someone she encountered online, the outlet reported.