‘Strangers who lured her out of the house: Utah teen missing for over a month was in contact with ‘predators’

The disappearance of 15-year-old Alisa Petrov from South Jordan, Utah, has garnered national attention and prompted a multi-state investigation. Petrov was last seen on April 21, 2025, when she left her school.

Later that day, she was captured on surveillance footage at a UTA train station in Provo, where she reportedly asked for assistance in getting to Las Vegas. Investigators uncovered that Petrov had been communicating with multiple adult men through various online platforms.

According to Salt Lake City’s Fox 13 Now, a hidden iPad found in her room revealed conversations with a user named “samitch” on Discord, later identified as 41-year-old Samuel Mitchell of Herriman, Utah.

The messages, exchanged approximately eight days before her disappearance, were explicit, including discussions about meeting up. But in one message dated April 19, Petrov wrote, “I’m running away, please don’t contact me.”

Police arrested Mitchell, but he has not yet been charged amid the ongoing investigation. Utah police have said, “There is probable cause that there is evidence of Enticement of a Minor and Exploitation of a Minor on this phone.”

Two more men have been charged

Further investigation led to the identification of two additional men: 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas Menard from Miami, Florida, and 37-year-old William Taylor Glines from Texas City, Texas. Both men have been charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation.

Glines faces additional charges, including attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. Authorities allege that both men communicated with Petrov before her disappearance, with plans to meet in person.

“When we first heard about Texas, we were hopeful that they will find her there,” Alisa’s father told Utah’s KUTV.” He added, “but then the news came out that they just arrested individual and they didn’t find Alisa, so we are back to square one.”

Petrov was last seen in a Harvard t-shirt

Petrov is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing baggy jeans, a gray “Harvard University” T-shirt, a black hoodie, and carrying a dark school backpack. Her family has expressed deep concern for her safety and is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

Referring to her niece’s disappearance, Alisa’s aunt said, “What troubles me is Alisa was talking to some strangers who lured her out of the house. Unfortunately for this generation, there is far more access for the children to be in contact with predators.”

Authorities believe Petrov may be attempting to meet individuals she connected with online and could be headed to Las Vegas. She is considered an endangered runaway. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the South Jordan Police Department at 801-840-4000 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).