Map, Timeline Tracks Discovery of Teenage Girl Missing for 500 Days

On May 29, 2025, 17-year-old Kylie Arellano vanished from her home in Garden City, Utah. She would not be found until November 1, 2026, when she was located at a property in Huntington, Oregon. Adam Harmel, 39, has been charged with transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in illegal activity involving a child.

Harmel is alleged to have met Arellano online before driving from Oregon to Utah to collect her. He drove her to his home in Huntington where he is said to have held her against her will, forbidding her departure and subjecting her to assaults. Harmel subsequently faced charges at a federal court in Boise, Idaho. The investigation commenced when Arellano began communicating with another child through an online game, disclosing her identity and the fact she was being held against her will.

This led the FBI directly to her location. Arellano's mother, Stephanie Coleman, had last communicated with her daughter on the night of her disappearance, after which her phone went offline. Her mother had appealed for information, with Arellano's phone remaining silent, perpetuating the search. Despite numerous sightings, the whereabouts of Arellano remained a mystery for over a year.

The FBI's investigation revealed alarming evidence of exploitation on gaming platforms often used by members of extremist groups targeting vulnerable children.