500-plus-day search for Kylie Arellano ends as FBI warns of ‘gore groups’ targeting and exploiting children
A 17-year-old girl who disappeared last year from Garden City, Utah, has been found in Oregon, and a 39-year-old man has been taken into custody.
The recovery of the teenager took place last Sunday, following a 500-plus day search involving Oregon law enforcement, the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office and the Rich county sheriff’s office in Utah.
According to the FBI, the man was taken into custody without incident.
In a statement following the girl’s recovery, the FBI director, Kash Patel, said: “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.”
“We are grateful she can return home, and we will continue working with our partners to hold those responsible accountable. 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,” Patel added, referring to online communities that target and extort children and teenagers.
According to the FBI, investigators with the agency and the Rich county sheriff’s office had been working on the case for more than a year, following leads from across the United States and internationally.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s disappearance or recovery, citing the ongoing investigation.
However, local reports have identified the teenager as Kylie Arellano, who was last seen by her family on 29 May 2025.
Speaking to NBC’s Dateline last December, Arellano’s mother Stephanie Coleman said that on the night her daughter disappeared, the two had been texting.
“She goes: ‘I love you mama. Goodnight.’ I said: ‘I love you too, baby girl,’” Coleman told Dateline, adding that their messages were exchanged at 9.44pm. Arellano’s phone reportedly shut off just eight minutes later, at 9.52pm.
Arellano’s family noticed she was missing the next morning, with Coleman saying: “Her jacket was … left in the driveway. Stuff was packed, her Xbox was gone.”
On Monday, Coleman posted a message on the Help Bring Kylie Arellano Home Facebook page, saying: “My babygirl was found SAFE today!! We did it KOAS ARMY.”
The Guardian has approached Coleman for additional comment.
