Missing Girl Found Alive 500 Miles from Home, 6 Weeks After Disappearance

After six long weeks of fear and uncertainty, 15-year-old Alisa Petrov of South Jordan, Utah, was found safe—walking into a Colorado police station on June 1, nearly 500 miles from home. Her disappearance on April 21 had left her family and community devastated, with hope fading as days turned into weeks.

Alisa was last seen leaving her school in American Fork. Just days earlier, she had sent a chilling message to 41-year-old Samuel Teancum Mitchell:
“I’M RUNNING AWAY. Please don’t contact me.”
Investigators later uncovered messages on her iPad revealing sexual conversations, plans to meet, and disturbing discussions about sex. Police quickly traced Mitchell and launched a broader investigation into multiple men suspected of involvement.

Security footage captured Alisa leaving a train platform in Provo, but after that, her trail went cold. Her family never gave up, even offering a $20,000 reward for information.

The breakthrough came when Alisa walked into the Colorado Springs Police Department. Authorities confirmed she was in good health and under the care of Colorado officials. While her safe return brought relief, questions remain about how she traveled so far and whether she had been held against her will.

Meanwhile, justice is moving forward. Mitchell has been arrested and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and enticement. Two other men, William Taylor Glines and Matthew Nicholas Menard, are also in custody as the investigation continues.

Above all, one truth stands out: Alisa is alive, ending a family’s nightmare and beginning her journey toward healing.