Courtesy: Nikolai Petrov
Share this @internewscast.com

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) Utah officials confirmed that two men are being charged in connection with the disappearance of Alisa Petrov, a 15-year-old Utah girl who was last seen on April 21. Alisa has not yet been found, and her family is now offering messages they want to share with her and the public.

affiliate KTVX spoke with Nikolai Petrov, Alisa’s father, on Tuesday, almost exactly a month since Alisa was last seen. He shared an “important message” for his daughter.

“We really want her to come back home. We will not get her in trouble. We want to be a complete family again,” Nikolai said.

Nikolai also encouraged parents to be aware of what their children are doing and to keep track of who their kids are talking to online.

“There should probably be some understanding that it’s not a privacy issue but a safety issue instead because there are a lot of really weird people online who may take advantage of kids being curious and naive,” Nikolai said.

Alisa’s father said her family wants her to come back home and said they “don’t care what she was trying to do.”

“We love her a lot and that’s why we want her to come back,” he said.

Who is Alisa Petrov?

Alisa Petrov, 15, can be seen in the photos above, shared with KTVX by her father, Nikolai Petrov.

She 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 Utah Transit Authority (UTA) 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 said 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?

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, 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.

Sarah Murphy contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

FEMA Extends Critical Housing Support for Maui Wildfire Survivors Through 2027

HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced on Friday that U.S. authorities…

TikTok Concludes Agreement to Launch U.S. Enterprise

TikTok announced on Thursday the formation of a new U.S.-based entity. This…

Orlando Welcomes New Leadership with Swearing-In of 22nd Fire Chief

ORLANDO, Fla. – This Friday, Jason Revoldt is set to be officially…

Palm Bay Resident Allegedly Confines Child in Room for Days with Limited Amenities, Authorities Report

PALM BAY, Fla. – Authorities have apprehended a 61-year-old man from Palm…

EU Commission Pushes Forward on Mercosur Trade Deal Amid Parliament’s Delay Vote

FRANKFURT – Despite recent delays, the European Union remains poised to initiate…

Turkey Applauds Syrian Government Advancements Against Kurdish-Led Forces

ANKARA – In recent developments, Turkey is marking significant progress in Syria,…

Spanish Prosecutors Dismiss Sexual Assault Allegations Against Julio Iglesias

MADRID – Spanish state prosecutors have decided to halt their initial inquiry…

Braving the Flames: How Chilean Firefighters Combat Drones, Arsonists, and Assaults Amid Deadly Wildfires

FLORIDA – In Chile, firefighters and security forces are confronting one of…

Collins and Mills Respond Differently to Major ICE Operations in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – In the midst of a highly watched Senate race,…

Tragic ICE Detainee Homicide: Private Guard’s 911 Call Reveals Alarming Details

WASHINGTON – A tragic incident unfolded at a Texas detention facility where…

Vance Highlights Trump Era Achievements on Abortion Policy at Washington Event

In a spirited address to anti-abortion advocates, Vice President JD Vance urged…

Stidham Enters the Race: A Bold Bid for Tennessee House District 2

Sullivan County’s own Commissioner, Gary Stidham, has officially declared his candidacy for…