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“What A Miracle!”: Missing 15YO Girl Found Alive Six Weeks After Mysteriously Disappearing
Teenage girl with long brown hair smiling softly, indoors near cosmetic displays, representing missing girl found alive.
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“What A Miracle!”: Missing 15YO Girl Found Alive Six Weeks After Mysteriously Disappearing

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Alisa Petrov, a 15-year-old girl who had been missing for six weeks after running away from home to meet an alleged p*dophile, has been found alive.

Alisa had vanished on April 21 after being dropped off at school in Utah, getting on a train out of town, as per The Daily Mail.

The teen walked into a police station in Colorado Springs on Sunday night (June 1) and identified herself.

Highlights
  • 15-year-old Alisa Petrov was found alive six weeks after disappearing to meet an accused p*dophile.
  • Alisa walked into a Colorado police station on June 1; she is reported to be in good health.
  • Three men linked to Alisa were arrested for s*xual exploitation of a minor.

Police said Alisa was “in good health.” It remains unclear where she was or if she had been held against her will.

RELATED:

    Alisa Petrov, 15, was found “in good health” six weeks after she was reported missing

    Smiling teenage girl with long brown hair wearing a light sweater, representing missing 15YO girl found alive news story.

    Image credits: Find Alisa

    “Alisa’s parents have been notified of her location and are working with South Jordan Police to bring her home,” police said.

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    After Alisa went missing, her parents Olga and Nikolai discovered an iPad she kept hidden in her dresser. The device reportedly contained messages she had exchanged with three accused p*dophiles, who are now incarcerated. 

    15-year-old girl found alive after six weeks, smiling and dressed in festive red with Christmas decorations behind her.

    Image credits: Find Alisa

    Alisa was dropped off at her school, about 32 miles south of Salt Lake City on April 21. However, instead of going to class, she convinced a man at a gas station to drive her to the local train station.

    Olga previously told The Daily Mail that her daughter had approximately $1,000 saved from pocket money and birthday gifts, so she suspected someone was “helping” Alisa.

    The teen had run away from her home to meet an accused p*dophile, 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas Menard

    Teen girl found alive after missing for six weeks, standing in a beauty store holding a skincare product confidently.

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    Image credits: Find Alisa

    Alisa got off the train in Provo, about 14 miles south of American Fork, and asked people to buy her a bus ticket to Las Vegas, where she had arranged to meet 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas Menard.

    Messages exchanged on Snapchat and Discord between Alisa and another man, 41-year-old accused p*dophile Samuel Teancum Mitchell, mentioned “su*cide” and “that she hates her parents,” police wrote in a probable cause affidavit for Samuel’s arrest.

    “Mitchell advised he had met a girl online who was mad at her parents and had started cutting herself.”

    Teen girl found alive after six weeks missing, standing indoors holding a box, wearing a light purple top and long hair.

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    Image credits: Find Alisa

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    Alisa reportedly asked Samuel to “k*dnap her” and eight days before she ran away sent him locations of where she was planning to go.

    She messaged the man, “Like r we [for real] meeting?? like please confirm please before tonight confirm if we r meeting pls bring c*ndoms.”

    Her parents found conversations with Matthew and two other older men accused of p*dophilia

    Teenage girl found alive after six weeks missing, wearing a black graphic tee and making hand signs indoors.

    Image credits: Find Alisa

    The 41-year-old replied that they couldn’t meet because he was feeling unwell. After that, Alisa decided to meet another man believed to be Matthew Nicholas Menard, a tech sales executive who had spent months grooming her.

    According to the affidavit, Samuel told police that Alisa “mentioned that she met” another man in Florida and “had an interest in that guy.”

    Teen girl smiling in ski gear with helmet and reflective goggles during a snowy day at a ski resort.

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    Image credits: Find Alisa

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    Two days before she vanished, Alisa reportedly messaged Samuel saying, “IM RUNNING AWAY, please don’t contact me,” suggesting she was planning to meet Matthew, who was in Las Vegas for a business trip.

    Alisa and Matthew had been exchanging messages since January 17.

    On April 30, Miami police seized Matthew’s phone after Alisa’s parents found his texts on her device. 

    On May 20, he was charged with two counts of aggravated s*xual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and three counts of criminal solicitation. He and Alisa never met.

    The three men she had texted have been arrested and charged with s*xual exploitation of a minor

    Family smiling together celebrating near a decorated Christmas tree, symbolizing relief after missing girl found alive.

    Image credits: Nikolai Petrov/Facebook

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    The third man arrested in connection to the case is 37-year-old William Taylor Glines from Texas, who was put behind bars on May 8.

    William allegedly tried to convince Alisa to send her photos and videos of her unclothed.

    On his phone, police found no such videos and photos of Alisa but discovered conversations with two other underage girls who had agreed to send him the content he requested.

    William was charged with aggravated s*xual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation.

    Additionally, he was charged with possessing more than 50 s*xual images or videos involving children.

    It remains unknown who Alisa was with during the time she was missing

     

    Family reunited smiling indoors celebrating after missing 15-year-old girl found alive six weeks after disappearing mysteriously

    Image credits: Nikolai Petrov/Facebook

    Samuel was arrested last Wednesday (May 28) in the Salt Lake County Jail and charged with five counts of s*xual exploitation of a minor.

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    Olga said she and her husband “regularly checked” Alisa’s phone but never found anything “suspicious.”

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    “Everything seemed to be normal, just classmates, neighbors,” she described.

    “We never thought she could be talking to strangers in this way… but she was sneaky and we didn’t know. I wish we figured this out sooner and could help her.”

    Officer Shaun Becker of the Colorado Springs Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and detectives are “going to continue to do everything they can to figure out what happened,” as per local outlet KSL 5.

    “This investigation isn’t over. If anything, it’s just beginning.”

    People expressed relief at the news that the 15-year-old had been found in good health

    Comment from Liz Smith expressing joy about a missing 15-year-old girl found alive after six weeks.

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    Facebook comment expressing joy and relief about a missing 15-year-old girl found alive after six weeks.

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    Comment from Edgar Cruz Reynoso expressing hope that the missing 15-year-old girl found alive avoids family tension.

    Comment expressing gratitude for the amazing update on the missing 15-year-old girl found alive after six weeks

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    Comment from Sheila Woodbury expressing hope and relief that a missing 15YO girl was found alive after six weeks.

    Comment about missing 15-year-old girl found alive after six weeks, highlighting the need for counseling and support.

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    Facebook comment from Donna Reeves saying prayers were answered, relating to missing 15YO girl found alive after six weeks.

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    Comment saying wow amazed and glad missing 15YO girl found alive after six weeks of disappearance

    Comment from Cheryl Bills Freeman expressing relief that the missing 15-year-old girl was found alive and safe.

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    Marina Urman

    Marina Urman

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Read more »

    With a degree in social science and a love for culture, I approach entertainment journalism at Bored Panda with a research-driven mindset. I write about celebrity news, Hollywood highlights, and viral stories that spark curiosity worldwide. My work has reached millions of readers and is recognized for balancing accuracy with an engaging voice. I believe that pop culture isn’t just entertainment, it reflects the social conversations shaping our time.

    Read less »
    Marina Urman

    Marina Urman

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    With a degree in social science and a love for culture, I approach entertainment journalism at Bored Panda with a research-driven mindset. I write about celebrity news, Hollywood highlights, and viral stories that spark curiosity worldwide. My work has reached millions of readers and is recognized for balancing accuracy with an engaging voice. I believe that pop culture isn’t just entertainment, it reflects the social conversations shaping our time.

    What do you think ?
    TruthoftheHeart
    Community Member
    6 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This girl needs to be sat down and explained to do about how lucky she is there are children who disappear and are dead within an hour. They should definitely look into why she ran away but most of the time it was something stupid and now she's had to learn a very unfortunate lesson in life about trusting strangers.

    Aldryx Andromeda
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely. It's a little alarming that nobody is bringing up why she felt the need to run away in the first place? She's only fifteen--this behavior is learned. There is something seriously going on at home that needs adressing. I hope she and the family figure out how to ensure her safety in the future.

    Load More Replies...
    Donna Peluda
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the last photo father seems a bit hands on, looks creepy as fûck.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ditto. Mom, who looks remarkably like daughter, looks the sort of person that just spent six weeks crying. Dad... is just creepy. I wonder if he's the reason she wanted to be gone? Lucky for her she didn't end up gone gone.

    Load More Replies...
    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least this provided police with evidence against multiple men. Can't really comment on anything else until there is more info imo.

    Load More Comments
    TruthoftheHeart
    Community Member
    6 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This girl needs to be sat down and explained to do about how lucky she is there are children who disappear and are dead within an hour. They should definitely look into why she ran away but most of the time it was something stupid and now she's had to learn a very unfortunate lesson in life about trusting strangers.

    Aldryx Andromeda
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely. It's a little alarming that nobody is bringing up why she felt the need to run away in the first place? She's only fifteen--this behavior is learned. There is something seriously going on at home that needs adressing. I hope she and the family figure out how to ensure her safety in the future.

    Load More Replies...
    Donna Peluda
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the last photo father seems a bit hands on, looks creepy as fûck.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ditto. Mom, who looks remarkably like daughter, looks the sort of person that just spent six weeks crying. Dad... is just creepy. I wonder if he's the reason she wanted to be gone? Lucky for her she didn't end up gone gone.

    Load More Replies...
    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least this provided police with evidence against multiple men. Can't really comment on anything else until there is more info imo.

    Load More Comments
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