Missing 15-year-old girl last seen in Provo may have communicated with Texas man, according to cyber tip

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) — A 15-year-old girl who was reported missing in April may have communicated with a man living in Texas, according to a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Alisa Petrov was reportedly last seen walking away from her American Fork school on Monday, April 21. Detectives said she bought items at a nearby gas station before boarding a UTA train and getting off at a station in Provo. Petrov may have been trying to get to Las Vegas, Nevada, police said.

South Jordan police have reportedly received new information via a cyber tip that authorities in Texas have reason to believe Petrov was communicating with a man in their state. They have identified the individual and launched an investigation into the matter.

South Jordan police will be working closely with the Texas City Police Department on the outcome of their investigation, a press release from South Jordan PD states.

“We will continue all efforts to locate Alisa and follow any leads that may become discoverable from our Texas partners,” the release states.

Petrov is believed to be attempting to meet individuals she has communicated with online using multiple social media platforms and chat applications. She is currently listed as a runaway juvenile and is considered endangered. Any information regarding her whereabouts should be reported to police immediately.

You can reach the Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center at 801-840-4000. Petrov’s case number is SJ25-11568.

What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing. Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say.

When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to:

• Full name or nicknames.
• Recent photos.
• Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared.
• Gender/sex.
• Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos).
• Date of disappearance.
• Medical conditions.
• Last known location.
• Social media accounts.

Sorina Trauntvein contributed to this report.

Additional resources

For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah.

Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888
• National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): 833-872-5176
• National Runaway Safeline: 800-786-2929
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
• StrongHearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483