Federal authorities have charged Adam Hunter Harmel, 39, with transporting a 15-year-old Utah girl across state lines for alleged sexual exploitation after she was held in captivity for 500 days, according to court documents.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed that Kylie Arellano was rescued on November 1, 2025, following a tip from another minor who played an online game with her. Arellano had been missing since May 29, 2025, when she vanished from her home in Garden City, Utah.
Harmel, a resident of Huntington, Oregon, was arrested and federally charged with traveling across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Prosecutors allege he forced Arellano to remove her dental braces with pliers, kept a knife beneath his pillow, and made her sleep against the wall in his bed to prevent escape.
Arellano’s disappearance triggered a multi-agency search involving the FBI, local law enforcement, and federal authorities across the U.S. and overseas. Investigators pursued dozens of leads before Arellano’s distress signal in the online game Among Us led to her rescue.
How the Rescue Unfolded
On October 2025, Arellano engaged in an online game session with another minor, revealing she was being held against her will in an Oregon residence. The child’s mother contacted the FBI, which then monitored video calls between the two minors. During these calls, Arellano confirmed she had been communicating with Harmel since May 2025, when she was 15.
Authorities executed a rescue operation and located Arellano at Harmel’s home in Oregon. She was found unharmed but in distress, according to federal affidavits.
Background and Allegations
Arellano was last seen by her family on May 29, 2025, after exchanging goodnight messages with her mother. Her phone went offline shortly after, and her belongings were found abandoned near her home.
Harmel allegedly groomed Arellano on social media and gaming platforms, convincing her to travel to Oregon under false pretenses. He reportedly told her he was disabled and offered her money to leave Utah. Once in Oregon, he destroyed her phone and confined her to his residence.
Legal Proceedings
Harmel faces federal charges, including transportation of a minor for exploitation. The case has been assigned to the U.S. District Court of Utah. No trial date has been set.
Arellano’s family has not publicly commented on the case beyond confirming her safe recovery. Authorities continue to investigate potential additional charges or accomplices.