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Search for missing teen zeroes in on neighborhood

Posted at 8:14 PM, Aug 09, 2013
and last updated 2013-08-09 20:26:27-04

NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) – FBI agents and state police are focusing their efforts to find a missing Virginia teenager on a neighborhood in Nelson County.

Seventeen-year-old Alexis Murphy of Lovingston has been missing for nearly a week.

About 100 law enforcement agents searched a neighborhood called Cannery Loop in Lovingston Friday.

Residents said FBI agents told them that their neighborhood is the last place a cell tower received a hit from Murphy's cell phone.

CBS 6 INVESTIGATES: According to Virginia State Police, 261 children have been reported missing as of Aug. 1.

CBS 6 INVESTIGATES: According to Virginia State Police, 261 children have been reported missing as of Aug. 1.

The FBI released two surveillance photos of the last time they believe Alexis was seen entering a gas station in Lovingston on Saturday.

Troy Brown, the girl’s father, said she borrowed his car that night to go shopping in Lynchburg. He said he shocked when the car turned up in Albemarle three days later.

Investigators have said nothing in the case indicates that Murphy ever went to Lynchburg the night she disappeared.

Brown said he has been frantic since his daughter vanished. To keep busy, he has been posting flyers with his daughter's picture. Since he has already posted flyers close to home, he has branched out as far as Harrisonburg to make sure all areas of the state are covered. [SPREAD THE WORD: Click here to share this post on Facebook]

“Alexis, I love you. I'm looking for you. I haven't given up. If you can hear this, come home,” Brown said Friday.

Additionally, Brown said his daughter never stayed out late, always called and came home on time. However, he said he was concerned about how much the 17-year-old shared about herself on Facebook and Twitter.

“You've got teens, you know there's always questions about this that,” Brown said. “ I'm a father, so you're going to think that way, you know, regardless.”

Alexis' grandmother said she was horrified to see what her granddaughter was sharing with the world. She fears Alexis was approached by the wrong crowd wherever she ended up Saturday night.

Stay with CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for the latest updates on the search for Alexis. 

COMPLETE COVERAGE: The Search for Alexis Murphy