Utah teen found after 500 days held captive in Oregon basement

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 08:13 · Archive

A 15-year-old Utah girl missing since May 2025 was found alive in Oregon after over 500 days, allegedly held captive by a 39-year-old man.

Kylie Arellano, now 17, was found alive in Oregon nearly 18 months after vanishing from Garden City, Utah on 29 May 2025 when she was 15. Adam Hunter Harmel, 39, has been charged with her alleged captivity in a federal complaint filed on 2 November in the US District Court for the District of Utah.

According to court documents, Harmel allegedly confined Arellano to the basement of his home, where they shared a bed. He allegedly beat her repeatedly and forced her to remove her braces with pliers to prevent her identification. To prevent escape, he allegedly kept a knife under his pillow and forced her to sleep against the wall.

Investigators allege that Harmel sexually assaulted Arellano repeatedly in 2025 and 2026, had expressed a desire to start a family with her, and transported her across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The complaint also describes a pattern of alleged grooming and isolation.

Arellano's mother held out hope during the 500-day search after finding her daughter's jacket discarded in the driveway and her phone turned off.

How it is being reported

• Oregon man allegedly held Utah teen Kylie Arellano captive, forced her to remove braces with pliersThe man allegedly confined the teenager to the basement, where the two shared a bed.New York Post · 5 Nov, 07:48
• Man allegedly held teen captive in basement, forced her to remove braces with pliers after Snapchat meetingKylie Arellano was allegedly forced to remove her braces with pliers and confined to a basement for over 500 days before her rescue in Oregon.Fox News · 4 Nov, 20:58

In this story: Kylie Arellano · Adam Hunter Harmel · Garden City · Utah · Oregon

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log