“I’m Alisa”: Missing Utah Teen Found Safe After Six Weeks in a Case That Raised National Alarm

On the evening of June 1, a quiet but extraordinary moment unfolded in Colorado Springs: a 15-year-old girl, missing for nearly six weeks, walked into a police station and said the words that countless people had been waiting to hear.

“My name is Alisa Petrov.”

With that, a harrowing chapter came to a close—and a new one, filled with hope and healing, began.

Alisa, who vanished from American Fork, Utah, on April 21, had been classified as an endangered runaway, prompting a multi-state search that involved law enforcement, the FBI, digital forensics teams, and a growing online community determined to find her.

According to investigators, the teen had been in contact with several adults through anonymous chat and social apps—raising serious red flags from the start.

Surveillance footage traced her early movements: stopping at a gas station to buy supplies, then boarding a Utah Transit Authority train before getting off in Provo. Witnesses later said she’d asked for help reaching Las Vegas. For weeks, her trail went cold.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she resurfaced—alive, uninjured, and ready to come home.

Police confirmed Alisa was in good physical health and is now in protective custody while arrangements are made to reunite her with her family. Her parents, who had created a dedicated website and social media campaign to aid the search, shared the news with a mixture of gratitude and emotion.

“Thank you everyone for all your help!” they wrote. “Alisa walked into a police department today, June 1. She was gone for almost six weeks.” They extended heartfelt thanks to the South Jordan Police Department, the FBI in Salt Lake City, and organizations like the Missing in America Network for their unwavering support.

While Alisa’s safe return has been celebrated, the investigation that surrounded her disappearance has led to darker revelations.

Three adult men have been arrested in connection with online communications they had with Alisa before she vanished. Although none are currently charged with directly aiding her disappearance, the charges they face are serious.

• Matthew Nicholas Menard, of Miami, was charged with criminal solicitation, enticing a juvenile, and aggravated s*xual exploitation of a minor. He turned himself in on May 28.
• William Taylor Glines, from Texas, faces similar charges stemming from prior contact with Alisa.
• Samuel Mitchell, of Herriman, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of child s*xual abuse.

Law enforcement officials say the arrests underscore the escalating dangers teens face online—and the importance of vigilant monitoring by families, schools, and tech platforms.

Alisa’s story, though unsettling, ends on a rare and precious note in missing person cases: she is alive. She found her way to safety. And her voice, silent for so many weeks, has returned.

As her family begins the process of healing and authorities continue to pursue justice, her case leaves behind more than headlines. It leaves a reminder that beneath every alert is a child with a story, a family with aching hearts, and a community capable of extraordinary compassion.

And in this case, that compassion helped bring one young girl back home.