Missing Destiny Isabella Mercado Update: 14-Year-Old Girl Was Traveling To Convenience Store

Police in California are searching for a missing teenage girl who was last seen in San Fernando on Saturday.

The girl, identified as 14-year-old Destiny Isabella Mercado, texted her mother Saturday asking for permission to go to the local 7-Eleven store at Hubbard and Borden streets. No one in the family heard from her after that, the San Fernando Police Department said. It's believed that Destiny was at home when she sent the message.

Officers found the child's phone on the road after it was thrown from a vehicle. It remains unclear who threw the phone away. Mercado was traveling in a light gray or silver Mazda. Authorities have released surveillance images of the car.

Police on Sunday distributed flyers, which said it was unclear whether Mercado was a runaway or if her disappearance was tied to "suspicious circumstances."

However, her family said the teenager has never run away from home before and they don't believe she would do such a thing.

"A lot of thoughts crossed through my mind, including kidnapping for sex trafficking," Mercado's mother, Angelica Pelayo-Hicklin, said, KTLA reported. "I hope that's not the case."

Carlos Villanueva, the missing girl's father, said he believed his daughter was in danger.

"We believe she's in danger because we know Destiny… I'm the stepmom, but I take care of Destiny with all of our kids together and this is so heartbreaking," said Corina Villanueva, Mercado's stepmother.

The girl was described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

During the investigation, police found that Mercado was barred from meeting her boyfriend, who lives in Palmdale. However, the reason behind this was unknown, My News LA reported. Authorities said they were looking into all possible angles. The identity of the boyfriend has not been revealed.

Police urged the public to come forward with any information that could help locate the missing teenager.