A 15-year-old girl from Utah who’d been missing for nearly six weeks has finally been found safe, over 500 miles away in Colorado.
Police say she walked into a station on her own and told officers who she was. Her family had been desperately searching for her for weeks.
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Alisa left school and never came back
On April 21, 2025, Alisa Petrov was reported missing in South Jordan.
She’d been seen leaving her school in American Fork and didn’t return. Police said she later bought some items at a gas station, then got on a UTA train and got off at the Provo station.
Investigators believed she was talking to strangers online
Police believed Alisa had been trying to meet up with people she’d talked to through different chat apps and social media.
“Alisa is listed as a Runway Juvenile who is endangered,” the department stated at the time. “Any knowledge of her whereabouts should be reported to Law Enforcement immediately.”
She had sent a chilling message before vanishing
Two days before she went missing, Alisa sent a message to a man she’d been talking to on Discord.
“I’M RUNNING AWAY. Please don’t contact me,” she wrote on April 19 at 12:34 a.m.
Police found the messages on her iPad, which she’d left behind. Some of the chats had turned sexual, including mentions of condoms, sex games, and plans to meet up.
She had also given the man her Snapchat username. Investigators think some messages might have been deleted.
Six weeks later, she showed up at a police station
On June 1, Alisa walked into a police station in Colorado Springs and identified herself to officers.
They confirmed it was her. “Alisa’s identity was confirmed. Alisa is in good health and safe with Colorado officials,” the department said.
Her parents were told right away. Police said they were working with the family to bring her home.
Her family had put up a reward while she was missing
While she was still gone, Alisa’s family offered a $20,000 reward for any tips that could help find her.
Three men were charged during the investigation
During the search for Alisa, three different men were arrested.
Police said they’d been in touch with her before she disappeared, but none have been charged with actually taking her.
One man was involved in sexual chats with her
One of the men was 41-year-old Samuel Teancum Mitchell from Herriman, Utah. They’d connected on Discord, and police tracked him down using his phone number.
He was arrested and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and enticement of a minor.
Two others were also charged with serious crimes
Matthew Nicholas Menard from Florida was charged with enticing a minor, criminal solicitation, and aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. He later turned himself in.
Another man, William Taylor Glines from Texas, was arrested too. He’s facing charges that include aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted aggravated sexual exploitation.
Police said both men had talked to Alisa before she disappeared.
Her family thanked the community
After Alisa was found, her parents posted an update on the website they’d created during the search.
“Thank you everyone for all your help! Thank you for sharing the news, thank you for following, and thank you for the tips! Alisa walked into a police department today on June 1 2025. She was gone for almost six weeks.”
They also thanked South Jordan Police, Salt Lake City FBI, friends, and Jaz from the Missing In America Network.
“Also special thank you to our local community for praying!”
