Related video: Father of missing Utah girl speaks after 2 out-of-state men charged in connection to her disappearance
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah officials have filed a search warrant after identifying a third man who reportedly had contact with Alisa Petrov, 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 ABC4.com. 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.
Alisa Petrov texts Utah Man: ‘IM RUNNING AWAY’
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.
Who is Alisa Petrov?
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 Utah Department of Public Safety, 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.
Who has been charged in Alisa Petrov’s disappearance?
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 facing six charges, 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.
Abigail Jones contributed to this report.
