A Utah teenager, missing for over 500 days, was found alive and rescued in Oregon, federal authorities announced recently. Kylie Arellano, now 17, had last been seen by her family in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025. Her rescue followed a critical lead developed through an online video game, leading federal officials to arrest Adam Hunter Harmel, 39, in connection with her disappearance. Harmel faces a federal charge of transporting Arellano across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
"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." FBI Director Kash Patel.
The breakthrough in the extensive search came when Arellano, while allegedly held captive, managed to connect with another young girl through the popular online multiplayer game "Among Us." During their interaction, Arellano reportedly revealed her real name and conveyed that she was being held against her will, expressing concern that investigators might have ceased their search for her. This crucial information prompted the other girl's mother to immediately contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Upon receiving the tip, FBI agents swiftly arranged a video call with Arellano. During this call, she provided investigators with details about how Harmel allegedly brought her to his home. She also reportedly showed investigators a knife she kept beside her bed, signaling her situation. Oregon State Police and federal authorities acted rapidly on the information gathered from the video call, locating Arellano and rescuing her the very same day. Law enforcement officials apprehended Harmel during a traffic stop.
Stephanie Coleman, Arellano's mother, had previously shared the harrowing account of her daughter's disappearance with NBC’s “Dateline” in December, as part of the program’s “Missing in America” series. She recounted their last exchange before Kylie vanished. "She goes, ‘I love you, Mama. Goodnight.’ I said, ‘I love you too, baby girl,'" Coleman recalled. "That was at 9:44 p.m. Her phone turned off at 9:52 p.m." The family discovered Kylie was missing the following day, finding her jacket in the driveway but her Xbox and some other belongings gone.
Investigators allege that Harmel had groomed the teenager online before traveling to Utah to pick her up. According to the allegations detailed in the criminal complaint, he then threw her phone into a river and transported her to his residence in Oregon. There, he allegedly held her captive in his basement, prohibiting her from leaving. The reports further claim that Harmel sexually assaulted Arellano repeatedly throughout 2025 and 2026, subjected her to repeated beatings, and even forced her to remove her braces with pliers. During the search of Harmel’s home, officers reportedly discovered various items, including knives, BB guns, and sexual lubricant.
Following the successful rescue, FBI Director Kash Patel released a statement acknowledging the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and issuing a stern warning to online predators. "We are grateful she can return home, and we will continue working with our partners to hold those responsible accountable," Patel stated. He specifically addressed groups that target young individuals online, adding, "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."
The news of Kylie's rescue was initially shared by her mother, Stephanie Coleman, in a dedicated Facebook group where supporters had followed the prolonged search. "My babygirl was found SAFE today!! We did it KOAS ARMY," Coleman posted, celebrating the end of the ordeal. The rescue concluded a period of over 500 days since Arellano's disappearance, bringing hope to a family and community that had tirelessly campaigned for her return. Harmel remains in custody, facing the federal transportation charge as the legal process unfolds. The case underscores the critical role of public vigilance and inter-agency cooperation in combating complex cases of child abduction and exploitation.
