Missing Utah Teen Alisa Petrov Found Safe in Colorado After Six-Week Search
After nearly six weeks of worry and unanswered questions, 15-year-old Alisa Petrov from South Jordan, Utah, has been found alive and well—over 500 miles away in Colorado.
The teenager, whose disappearance sparked a multistate search and a criminal investigation into online exploitation, walked into a police station in Colorado Springs on Sunday evening and identified herself, ending a harrowing chapter for her family.
Alisa was last seen on April 21 after leaving her school in American Fork. Initially labeled a runaway, her case soon revealed troubling signs of online grooming and potential trafficking.
Investigators traced her digital footprints back to disturbing messages exchanged with 41-year-old Samuel Teancum Mitchell. According to court documents, the two had communicated through s*xually explicit messages and discussed meeting in person.
In one message sent just after midnight on April 19, Alisa told Mitchell, “I’M RUNNING AWAY. Please don’t contact me.” She left behind her iPad, which later became a key piece of evidence—uncovering conversations about s*x, condoms, and escape plans. Police used a reverse search on Mitchell’s contact number to identify him as a suspect.
Her whereabouts remained unknown until June 1, when she unexpectedly entered the Colorado Springs Police Department and told officers who she was. Authorities confirmed her identity and reported that she was physically unharmed and receiving care from local services.
Her last known location before resurfacing had been a train platform in Provo, captured on surveillance footage. Her family, desperate for answers, had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.
The South Jordan Police Department confirmed Alisa’s recovery the following day, but said it’s still unclear how she made her way to Colorado or whether she had been coerced or detained during her disappearance. The investigation remains active.
Samuel Mitchell was arrested last week and now faces multiple charges, including five counts of s*xual exploitation of a minor and one count of enticement of a minor—both serious felonies. Two additional suspects have also emerged in the case:
William Taylor Glines, 37, who is being held in Texas, and 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas Menard, who surrendered to authorities in Florida. Both men are under investigation for potential involvement in Alisa’s disappearance.
While Alisa’s safe return has brought immense relief, her case shines a harsh spotlight on the dangers of online predation and the growing threat of digital exploitation targeting minors. It also underscores how quickly vulnerable youth can be drawn into dangerous situations, often across state lines.
As the legal process unfolds and more details come to light, Alisa’s recovery offers hope—but also a sobering reminder of the vigilance required to protect children in an increasingly connected world. For now, her family is grateful to have her back, even as the long road toward healing and justice begins.