Family Seeks Leads in 'Missing' Murrieta Teen

UPDATE 12:35 p.m. Oct. 26: Police said this morning they are assisting in the search for Alexandria "Lexi" Canestrelli, which includes routing a flier to other law enforcement, as well as looking into her most recent contacts.

Friends and family tonight are looking for information in the case of a 16-year-old Murrieta girl who was last seen four days ago.

Alexandria "Lexi" Canestrelli has not been seen or heard from since about 1:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, according to a flier posted on Facebook.

Alexandria was not at a dance class which she generally attends Tuesday evenings, according to a fellow dance student.

She is described as white, 5 foot 3 inches tall, weighing 125 pounds. She has blondish brown hair and blue eyes, with dimples and a slight cleft chin, and wears a built-in retainer in her lower mouth, according to the flier.

Someone close to the teen said it is "entirely possible that she ran away" because she has had some recent issues.

However, that person, a relative, believes the girl could be in danger because some of her friends told the relative that she mentioned a man she met on craigslist in San Diego.

"Lexi" did not take her cellphone, laptop or makeup and most of her clothes remained at home, according to her mother, Kristen Canestrelli, who said she was home at the time her daughter apparently left. Her daughter is enrolled in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District's Tenaja Academy, a home-school program.

Canestrelli said the Murrieta Police Department has been informed.

"According to our records she is still listed as missing, but I am not familiar with the follow-up investigation," Murrieta police Sgt. Don Weller said, referring questions to an investigations sergeant.

Meanwhile, her parents are worried because of past events involving craigslist and youths who have been abused.

"She is only 16 and we are trying to stay hopeful but we fear the worst because of the craiglist news," Canestrelli said.

"We are desperate to find her and make sure she is safe," her mother said, adding that she'd reported her daughter's disappearance to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Canestrelli is also diligently posting fliers at businesses around Murrieta.

Anyone with information should email pkcanestrelli@gmail.com or call 1-800-THE-LOST or the Murrieta Police Department at 951-696-3615.