A missing 15-year-old girl from South Jordan, Utah, has been found safe in Colorado after a six-week disappearance that prompted an extensive investigation into three men. Alisa Petrov walked into the Stetson Hills police station in Colorado Springs on Sunday night, identified herself, and was confirmed to be in good health.
Despite being found safe, authorities are still working to determine how Alisa made her way to Colorado, and whether she was held against her will during her disappearance.
The Disappearance and Investigation
Alisa went missing on April 21, just two days after sending a final message to a 41-year-old man she had been communicating with online. She had been chatting with three different men, who have since been charged with exchanging explicit messages with her. Alisa had kept these communications on a secret iPad hidden in her dresser, which was discovered during the investigation.
Her disappearance was a cause of great concern for her parents, Nikolai and Olga, who were desperate to locate her. The South Jordan Police Department, along with the Salt Lake City FBI, worked tirelessly to investigate and track down leads.
Alisa’s Journey
After being dropped off at school, Alisa did not enter the building as expected. Instead, she convinced a man at a gas station to drive her to the train station. She then boarded a train to Provo, Utah, about 14 miles south of American Fork, and sought help to get a bus ticket to Las Vegas, where she had planned to meet 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas Menard.
Nikolai Petrov/Facebook
Alisa’s parents, who had been regularly checking her phone, never suspected she had been talking to strangers in this way. “We never thought she could be talking to strangers in this way… but she was sneaky and we didn’t know,” said her mother, Olga. “I wish we figured this out sooner and could have helped her.”
A Joyful Reunion
The Petrov family is relieved to hear of Alisa’s safe return. Nikolai Petrov shared the good news on social media, expressing their gratitude for the support they received during this difficult time. “We are all really happy that Alisa is found and looking forward to seeing her!” he wrote. “Special thanks to the South Jordan Police Department who worked on weekends, and to the Salt Lake City FBI who helped them.”
South Jordan Police Department
Alisa’s parents are now planning to travel to Colorado to bring her home.
Ongoing Investigation
Despite Alisa being found safe, the investigation is ongoing to determine exactly what happened during her six weeks of absence and the circumstances surrounding her contact with the three men. Authorities are continuing to look into the situation to ensure that all aspects of the case are fully understood.
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