Latest news with #SouthJordanPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Utah man, 41, messaged missing 15-year-old girl days before she disappeared: Documents
Related video: Father of missing Utah girl speaks after 2 out-of-state men charged in connection to her disappearance SALT LAKE CITY () — Utah officials have filed a search warrant after identifying a third man who reportedly had contact with , 15, who was last seen in Utah on April 21. Samuel Mitchell, 41, of Herriman, Utah, was reportedly communicating with Petrov through the Discord app, according to documents obtained by Officials found 'numerous alarming conversations and media' on a device hidden in Petrov's room. According to the conversations stored on the app, Mitchell and Petrov discussed meeting in person, and Petrov reportedly shared personal details with the suspect and asked him to kidnap her, the warrant states. At one point, the suspect shared a phone number with Petrov, and that number was identified as belonging to Mitchell. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'We love her a lot': Father of missing Utah girl speaks after 2 out-of-state men charged in connection to her disappearance Just after midnight on April 19, the last message from the victim to Mitchell read, 'IM RUNNING AWAY' and 'please don't contact me,' according to documents. Officials with the South Jordan Police Department requested a search warrant for Mitchell's phone, saying, 'There is probable cause that there is evidence of Enticement of a Minor and Exploitation of a Minor on this phone.' While investigating Petrov's device, detectives observed conversations between her and Mitchell that were 'sexual in nature.' It also appeared that certain messages and files had been deleted. No formal charges have yet been filed against Mitchell, and as of May 27, he was not in custody. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Alisa Petrov has been asked to call 801-840-4000 and reference South Jordan Case #SJ25-11568. Alisa Petrov, 15, was dropped off at school in American Fork, Utah, on April 21. Instead of going to school, family members said the teenager boarded a train toward Provo, Utah. Family members said nearby security footage shows the teenager walking away, and she hasn't been found since. She is said to be about 5'3″ tall and weigh about 122 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She is listed as a runaway juvenile and is said to be endangered. According to the , Alisa was last seen wearing a grey Harvard University shirt, a black hoodie, baggy jeans, and a dark backpack. It was later reported that she may have been trying to get to Las Vegas, and another tip revealed that she may have been communicating with a man in Texas. Officials in Texas City posted on social media on May 9 to ask for the public's help in the search for Alisa. As of May 16, Alisa's family was reporting that she still has not been found. South Jordan police have asked anyone with information on her whereabouts to call 801-840-4000 and reference South Jordan Case #SJ25-11568. On May 20, the South Jordan Police Department confirmed that a Florida man and a Texas man were being charged in connection with Alisa's disappearance. Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, of Miami, Florida, is , including aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation. Another man — William Taylor Glines, 37, of Texas City, Texas — is facing 10 charges. According to the South Jordan Police Department, Glines was charged with attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation. Both men are accused of communicating with Alisa through social media and encouraging her to send inappropriate photos and videos. Even after learning that the girl was underage, both men allegedly continued with the sexual conversations and asked the victim to send them inappropriate photos and videos. Utah prosecutors have requested that no bail arrest warrants be issued for both suspects. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Abigail Jones contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Newsweek
Two Men Charged in Connection to Missing Teen Girl Last Seen In Utah
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two men from Florida and Texas have been charged with multiple child exploitation offenses in connection with missing 15-year-old Alisa Petrov, South Jordan police said in a press release. Newsweek left a phone message with the South Jordan Police Department for comment on Wednesday. The Context In 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Crime Information Center recorded over 533,000 missing youths in the United States. On April 21, Petrov walked away from her school, American Fork High School, in a Provo, Utah, suburb, the South Jordan, Utah, police department said in a May 20 press release. "Alisa reportedly asked multiple people to aid in her travel to Las Vegas, Nevada," the police department said. Photo of Alisa Petrov who has been missing since April 21, 2025. Photo of Alisa Petrov who has been missing since April 21, 2025. What To Know Two men, Matthew Nicholas Menard and William Taylor Glines, reportedly communicated with Petrov before she went missing. Menard, a 35-year-old male from Miami, Florida, has been charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation related to Petrov. Local news outlet Fox13 reported that Menard and Petrov were speaking on Instagram, with plans to meet in Las Vegas. A second man, 37-year-old Glines from Texas City, Texas, has also been identified in relation to the case. The police have filed the same charges against him, as well as attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. What People Are Saying The Find Alisa website states: "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. We all want you to come back home. You will not get in trouble for running away. We are not mad at you. We absolutely love you regardless of what happened, and you are welcome home at any time. 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." What Happens Next The search efforts to locate Petrov are still underway. She is currently listed as a runaway juvenile who is endangered. Any information related to her case should be reported to law enforcement. There is currently a $20,000 reward for information in her case.
Miami Herald
11-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Alisa Petrov: Police Expand Search for ‘Endangered' Girl to Texas
Police have expanded the search for Alisa Petrov, a missing teenage girl from Utah, to Texas. Petrov, 15, was last seen on April 21. The South Jordan Police Department (SJPD), which is leading the investigation, said she walked away from her school in American Fork, went to a local gas station and later boarded a Utah Transit Authority train. She was last seen getting off the train in Provo, Utah, around 15 miles south of American Fork, and reportedly asked people for help getting to Las Vegas, which is nearly 400 miles away. The SJPD said she is listed "as a Runaway Juvenile who is endangered." The SJPD said on Saturday that it had received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identifying a man in Texas who is believed to have communicated with Petrov before she left school on April 21. The man's name was not released. The department said it will be "working closely" with the Texas City Police Department in their search for Petrov. It said Petrov is "believed to be attempting to meet individuals she met online" using multiple social media platforms and chat applications. In a post on Facebook, the Texas City Police Department said its Internet Crimes Against Children, Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Suppression Unit began assisting the SJPD on Thursday. "The Texas City Police Department remains committed to protecting our youth and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice," the department said in the post. "We will continue to update the public as more investigations reach their conclusion…" Newsweek has contacted the police departments for comment via email. Petrov's parents Nikolai and Olga Petrov told KSL-TV that they are worried their daughter was lured away by an adult or may have been trafficked. "That's what we are suspecting at the moment," Olga Petrov told KSL TV. "We have no confirmation, but concerns." Petrov's family set up a website to help locate Petrov, offering a $20,000 reward to anyone who provides "verifiable information that directly leads to Alisa's safe return." The South Jordan Police Department said: "We will continue all efforts to locate Alisa and follow any leads that may become discoverable from our Texas partners." Alisa Petrov's parents wrote on the dedicated website: "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. 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, and you are welcome home at any time." Anyone who has seen Alisa Petrov or has information about her whereabouts is urged to call 911 or their local police department. Related Articles Cities Make New Official Juneteenth, Pride Flags to Thwart GOPRepublicans Approve Sale of Federal Lands: Which States Have the Most?Republican Plan Would Sell Land in Two States: What to KnowFormer College Football Standout Quarterback Announces Sudden Retirement Following NFL Draft 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
A Utah girl left school and vanished... now cops have a disturbing prediction about where she is heading
A Utah girl who vanished after leaving school may be headed to Las Vegas to meet up with people she met online, police have said. Alisa Petrov, 15, disappeared on her way home from American Fork school on April 21. She was spotted on surveillance footage making a purchase at a local gas station before boarding a UTA train. She exited the train in Provo and asked multiple people to help her get to Las Vegas, Nevada, 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,' the force said in a statement. 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 5'3″ tall and weighing about 122 pounds. Surveillance footage showed her wearing a white shirt with darker lettering on the front. Officials told that Petrov had a phone and iPad with her, which investigators are trying to probe to see if their locations can be traced.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Missing 15-year-old last seen in Provo could be heading to Las Vegas, police say
PROVO, Utah () — A 15-year-old girl who was may have been trying to get to Las Vegas, Nevada, according to the South Jordan Police Department. Alisa Petrov was reportedly last seen walking away from her American Fork school on Monday, April 21. Detectives say she bought items at a nearby gas station before boarding a UTA train and getting off at a station in Provo. The South Jordan Police Department said they believe Alisa is attempting to meet with some people she met online through multiple social media and chat applications. 'Alisa is listed as a runaway juvenile who is endangered,' South Jordan PD said in a press release. 'Any knowledge of her whereabouts should be reported to law enforcement immediately.' Alisa is described as being about 5'3″ tall and weighing about 122 pounds. Officials previously told that Alisa had a phone and iPad with her, and detectives were actively investigating to see if the location data for either device was turned on. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the South Jordan Police Department by calling 801-840-4000 and referencing case #SJ25-11568. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
