SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – A Miami man turned himself in to a suburban Salt Lake City police department Wednesday to face charges in connection with the disappearance of a missing Utah teen.
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Police in South Jordan, Utah announced that Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, is facing several charges in the Beehive State, including aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. They said he was booked into the Salt Lake County jail.
Menard, listed in public records as a resident of the Silver Bluff neighborhood, is accused of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with 15-year-old Alisa Petrov, who was last seen on April 21 after running away from home.
Authorities said the two talked about meeting in Las Vegas and Menard, among other things, suggested they hire a prostitute to engage in group sex.
Multiple Salt Lake City news outlets reported that Petrov was last seen getting off a train in Provo, Utah and asking where Las Vegas was.
Court documents stated that a judge ordered Menard, who “has no connection to Utah,” be held without bond.
Authorities announced earlier this month that William Taylor Glines, 37, of Texas City, Texas, was also facing charges in the case after they said he communicated with Petrov
Police announced this week that a third man, Samuel Mitchell, 41, of Herriman, Utah, was arrested for communicating with the girl.
Salt Lake City ABC affiliate KTVX, citing court documents, reports that authorities found “numerous alarming conversations and media” on a device hidden in Petrov’s room, including a message where Petrov asked Mitchell to kidnap her.
Utah authorities were still looking for Petrov as of Thursday and said she is considered endangered.