Bloodcurdling update in hunt for 15 year-old Utah girl who vanished after running away from home headed for disturbing destination
Two men have been charged with allegedly luring a missing girl across the country for sex and soliciting nude photos.
Alisa Petrov, 15, disappeared and hasn't been seen since she was dropped off at her school in Utah on April 21.
Instead of going to class, Alisa bought supplies at a nearby convenience store, which was caught on CCTV, then got on a train from her suburb of American Fork to Provo, about 45 miles south of Salt Lake City.
She exited the train in Provo and asked multiple people to help her get to Las Vegas, the South Jordan Police Department said.
'Alisa is believed to be attempting to meet individuals she met online using multiple social media platforms and chat applications,' police said.
Those men are allegedly Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, from Miami and William Taylor Glines, 37, from Texas City, Texas.
Glines was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation.
He was also charged by police in Texas with possessing more than 50 child sexual abuse images or videos.
Menard was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation.
Glines was arrested by the Texas City Police Department on May 8 and denied bail, but Menard is still at large.
Both have lengthy histories of petty crimes, but no past child sex convictions.
Alisa had her phone with her, but when South Jordan Police searched the Petrov family home they found an iPad hidden in a dresser.
Inside they found disturbing Instagram messages between Alisa and Menard going back to January 17, most of which were sexual in nature.
'At one point (Menard) asked (the girl), "Are u secretly 15 lol" to which (she) responded... 'of course (y)eppers I'm actually in middle school",' police wrote in charging affidavits.
Despite knowing how young she was, they continued to talk and 'the conversations are largely sexual in nature'.
'[Menard] over the course of several months, corresponded with [the teen] for the purpose of soliciting sex, sodomy, and child sex abuse material from the minor,' it continued.
'[He] discussed in graphic detail his intent to sexually abuse the child. [He] encouraged and engaged with [the teen] all from the state of Florida, where all his substantial ties to the community and resources are.'
Eventually, the pair made plans to meet in Las Vegas - where Alisa told witnesses she was heading - and then go to his home in Miami.
'Matt tells the victim he will fly to Las Vegas for a business trip later in May, and she can lay low until he gets there,' the warrant alleged.
'They then planned to fly to Los Angeles, CA, together for several days, before ultimately going back to Miami, FL, where Matt lives.'
Local police contacted Menard, who they said admitted talking to Alisa on Instagram, and seized his phone. However, he was not arrested.
Glines was identified through a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and arrested.
Whether Alisa made it to Las Vegas and met either of the men is unclear, as is what happened to her after she was seen in Provo, Utah
He allegedly started talking to Alisa on February 3 and at one point said he was 'double checking' that she was 14 or 15.
Many other conversations detailed in charging documents included disturbing explicit sexual language, and allegedly nude photos.
Whether Alisa made it to Las Vegas and met either of the men is unclear, as is what happened to her after she was seen in Provo, Utah.
Petrov's desperate family are offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information on her whereabouts.
They set up a website where they have desperately appealed to the teen.
'Alisa, if you can see this, please know that we love you, we will always love you. We miss you. All of your friends and our friends are very worried too,' her family said.
She was spotted on surveillance footage making a purchase at a local gas station before boarding a UTA train.
'We all want you to return. You will not get in trouble for running away. We are not mad at you. We absolutely love you regardless of what happened.
'We just want you to return back so that we are together as a happy family who care about each other, and we will try our hardest to make you happy. Please come back.'
Police said the teen is classed as an endangered runaway.
She is described as being about 5ft, 3in tall and weighing about 122lbs.
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