FBI recovers missing Utah teen in Oregon after 500 days

Kylie Arellano returned to safety on Sunday after a 500-day search that spanned multiple states. The 17-year-old was last seen at her home in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025, when she was 15. Law enforcement in Oregon located her with a 39-year-old man, who is now in custody.

The recovery marks the end of a complex federal and state investigation. The FBI's Salt Lake City field office and the Rich County Sheriff's Office worked directly with Oregon officials to find the teen. Authorities confirmed the man was taken into custody without incident. The FBI stated that detectives pursued leads from across the United States and other countries for more than a year.

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the recovery in a statement to Fox News Digital. He said local police in Oregon acted on information provided by the Salt Lake City field office. Patel noted that the agency will continue working with partners to hold those responsible accountable. He specifically warned groups using online platforms to target children, stating that the FBI is using every available tool to protect America’s children.

Investigators credited several agencies for their assistance in the operation. The Oregon State Police, the FBI's Portland field office, and the Utah Department of Public Safety all contributed to the effort. The FBI said the case remains ongoing and that no further details would be released at this time.

A law enforcement source indicated that the suspect met Arellano on Snapchat before she disappeared. Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey previously urged the public to save any photographic or timestamped evidence. Detectives chased unconfirmed sightings across multiple states during the lengthy search.

New details emerged from unsealed search warrants reviewed by KUTV on October 29. Investigators had examined Arellano's mother, Stephanie Coleman, regarding a 2024 allegation of physical abuse. Coleman denied any role in the disappearance. She provided timestamped text messages from the night her daughter vanished and attributed suspicious marks in the home to an injured cat.

Coleman maintained that her daughter was likely groomed by someone she met online. The family had last seen Kylie at their Garden City home on May 29, 2025. The teen's safe recovery in Oregon ends a period of uncertainty that lasted nearly a year and a half.