Men from Texas, Florida charged in connection to disappearance of 15-year-old Utah girl

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — As the search continues for Alisa Petrov, 15, who was last seen in Utah on April 21, charges were filed against two men from out of state in connection with her 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.

South Jordan Police allege both Menard and Glines communicated with Petrov before she left school on April 21, 2025 — the day of her disappearance.

Court documents for Menard say he communicated with Petrov while he was in Florida. The two allegedly “discussed in detail about meeting each other in Las Vegas.” South Jordan police had previously said that Petrov had asked people to help her get to Las Vegas.

Menard and Glines were identified after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found a social media account for the victim that showed she was communicating with the suspects.

Documents allege that both men had separately asked if the victim was 15, to which she reportedly said to one, “[y]eppers I’m actually in middle school.” Documents also said the conversations with the victim were “largely sexual in nature,” with both men reportedly asking the victim to send explicit photos and videos

“[Menard] verified at different points throughout his conversation with [the victim] that he was aware [she] was a minor,” charging documents for Menard state.

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.

Who is Alisa Petrov?

Alisa Petrov, 15, was dropped off for 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 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.