Photo: South Jordan Police Department
An underage girl who went missing for nearly six weeks in Utah after having disturbing conversations with at least three men was found safe more than 500 miles away from her home.
Alisa Petrov, 15, of South Jordan, walked into the Colorado Springs Police Department Sunday (June 1) night, KUTV reports. Petrov was reported to be in good health, however, police haven't determined how she got to the station or whether she was held against her will during the time of her disappearance.
Petrov was reported missing on April 21, two days after sending the last message in a sexual conversation with a 41-year-old man, according to an affidavit obtained by KSL TV.
“I’M RUNNING AWAY. Please don’t contact me,” Petrov wrote on April 19 at 12:34 a.m. to an initially unnamed man in Herriman, Utah, whom she reportedly met on the Discord app. The man was later identified as Samuel Teancum Mitchell, 41, after authorities performed a reverse search of the phone number he gave to Petrov, according to KUTV.
The chats between Petrov and Mitchell became increasingly sexual, which included discussions about condoms and sex games, and the two had planned to meet in person, according to the affidavit. The messages were discovered on Petrov's iPad left behind in her bedroom after her disappearance.
Petrov also shared her Snapchat name with Mitchell and some messages are suspected to have been deleted, according to the warrant. Mitchell was arrested last Wednesday (May 28) and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (second-degree felony) and enticement of a minor, while two other men were charged for communicating with Petrov while two other men were charged for communicating with Petrov prior to her disappearance.
William Taylor Glines, 37, was detained in Texas and Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, surrendered in Florida Wednesday night. Glines was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, first-degree felonies, and criminal solicitation and Menard was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticing a minor, and three counts of criminal solicitation.
Petrov was last seen on security video leaving a train platform in Provo prior to being found safe at the police station in Colorado. Her family had previously offered a $20,000 reward for any information that would've led to her being found and returning home safe.