Missing teen held captive for nearly 2 years freed after chatting with fellow gamer
· Toronto Sun
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A Utah teen who was abducted and held captive in a basement for over 500 days was located by authorities in Oregon after she reached out to another child on the popular online video game Among Us .
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The young victim was identified as Kylie Arellano, who was just 15 when she was reported missing by her family in Garden City, Utah, on May 29, 2025.
Last week, the FBI announced that Adam Hunter Harmel, 39, of Huntington, Ore., was charged with transporting the teen across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to federal prosecutors, Harmel allegedly began grooming the victim on gaming platforms last year before he drove to take her to his home, where he allegedly held her captive for 520 days.
The teen was locked up in Harmel’s basement, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted and beat her, according to charging documents obtained by the New York Post .
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Missing teen reached out to fellow gamer
Citing the criminal complaint, the tabloid reported that the FBI received a tip on Nov. 1 from a mother of another girl who was chatting with the teen on Among Us .
The two reportedly began communicating on the multiplayer online game in October before moving their chat to another social media app, where the missing teen identified herself.
Once the FBI was notified, investigators jumped on a video call with the missing teen during which she explained how she ended up being held captive in a house in Oregon.
She reportedly showed a knife Harmel allegedly kept beside her bed.
Oregon State Police and FBI agents were able to quickly locate the now 17-year-old girl and rescue her from Harmel’s home.
Harmel was reportedly arrested during a traffic stop in Ontario, Ore.