Lost at 15, rescued after 500 days thanks to a game!

Kylie Arellano, who vanished in Utah on May 29 2025, was found alive in Oregon about 18 months later. The 15‑year‑old girl, who disappeared at that age, is alleged to have been abducted by 39‑year‑old Adam Hunter Harmel. Court documents claim that the girl suffered severe violence and abuse throughout the period she was held.

Forced the Teeth to Be Removed with Pliers

According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Harmel allegedly subjected the young girl to repeated violence and forced her teeth to be removed with pliers to conceal her identity.

It was alleged that Harmel kept Arellano in the basement of his home and shared a bed with the young girl. The suspect, who sought to prevent her escape, reportedly kept a knife under his pillow and forced the girl to lie against the wall of the bed.

Court documents state that the suspect claimed he wanted to start a family with the girl and that he repeatedly sexually assaulted her during 2025‑2026.

Met Online

According to information relayed by officials, Harmel offered Arellano, whom he met online in May 2025, money to come to Oregon, saying he had a problem with his buttocks.

Around May 29, 2025, the suspect traveling from Oregon to Perry, Utah, picked up the young girl there. According to the indictment, Harmel, as soon as Arellano got into the vehicle, threw his phone into a river in Logan Canyon. He then took the young girl to a house in Huntington, Oregon, and said he would not let her leave.

Another person living at the house, in a statement to the FBI, said that Harmel had brought a new girlfriend from Utah. The same person said he saw the young girl about two months after her arrival at the house, running toward the basement.

Saved 500 Days Later by Among Us

In the girl's rescue, the popular online game Among Us played an important role. In mid‑October 2026, Arellano, communicating with another child through the game, later moved the conversation to another social‑media app.

The young girl, who had no cellular data connection on the phone Harmel gave her, could only access the internet via Wi‑Fi. Arellano told the person he was talking to that she was being forced to stay in a man's house in Oregon and was not allowed to leave. The young girl also said she believed the police no longer searched for her.

While reporting the other player's parent to authorities, Arellano's mother also contacted the FBI.

In response, the teams that moved on the situation followed the video call conducted on November 1. During the call, the young woman showed the knife the suspect kept under his pillow and details supporting his claim of being held captive.

Rescued in Operation, Suspect Arrested

On the same day, the Oregon State Police and federal teams staged an operation at Harmel's home. Kylie Arellano, who had reportedly been held captive for about 18 months, was rescued unharmed. The young woman was taken to a hospital for a health check and treatment.

Searches at the suspect's home reportedly uncovered knives, air guns, and lubricants intended for sexual use. Harmel was arrested during a traffic stop in Ontario, Oregon.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Melissa Holyoak emphasized in a statement released by the Department of Justice that the priority in the case was the safe rescue of the young woman.

FBI Director Kash Patel delivered a message of resistance against those who target children. Patel said he would use all available means to bring to justice those who abuse children and protect society's most vulnerable.