Missing Utah teenager found safe in Oregon; man arrested

A 17-year-old girl who disappeared from Garden City, Utah, in May 2025 has been found safe in Oregon, according to the FBI and the Rich County Sheriff's Office.

Recovery and Arrest

The recovery took place last Sunday following a search lasting more than 500 days. The operation involved Oregon law enforcement, the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, and the Rich County sheriff’s office in Utah.

According to a spokesperson for the Oregon State Police, troopers received a request from the FBI to assist with the recovery of the 17-year-old female. The teenager was located inside a home in Huntington, Oregon.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 39-year-old Adam H. Harmel. According to KSL, Harmel was arrested in Ontario, Oregon, and is being held at the Malheur County Jail. The FBI stated the man was taken into custody without incident.

Investigation Details

Local reports have identified the teenager as Kylie Arellano. Her mother, Stephanie Coleman, confirmed on Facebook that her daughter had been found safe.

Arellano was 15 years old when she disappeared on 29 May 2025. According to Coleman, the two had been texting at 9:44 p.m. on the night of the disappearance, and Arellano's phone shut off at 9:52 p.m. Coleman reported that the following morning, Arellano's jacket was left in the driveway and items, including an Xbox, were missing.

Law Enforcement Warnings

FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement regarding the recovery, stating, “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.”

Patel also addressed online communities, stating, “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.”

Detective Tanner Hulse of the Utah State University Police Department told KSL that these "gore groups" operate on platforms like Telegram and Discord. Hulse described these groups as decentralized entities that share photos and videos of violent incidents, such as mass shootings or murders. Hulse noted that these groups often target vulnerable teenagers and that monitoring online activity is important for parents.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Man arrested as girl, 17, found in Oregon after disappearing from Utah last year | Oregon | The Guardian
• ksl.com: FBI points to nihilistic extremists as missing Garden City teen is found safe after nearly 18 months | KSL.com

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.