UPDATE: Teen who said she's being held captive found safe

DETROIT (WJBK) - UPDATE (9 p.m.): China Stallworth is back home. She was found by a family at a house of friends near Cherrylawn and Chalfonte. 

She was turned over to police for questioning and was reunited with her father and grandmother.

Her family says that she was distraught over the medical condition of her mother.

Original story below: 

A River Rouge family is frantically searching for a missing 15-year-old girl who they say sent a message saying she was being held captive on Detroit's west side.

Police scoured neighborhoods trying to track down China Stallorth. Helicopters, police and border patrol swarm a house on Winthrop and Schoolcraft to find the missing girl.

Missing flyers went out on Monday for the missing teen -- but that was before the messages were sent to her mom. The messages appeared to be rushed and indicated China was in trouble and in a house somewhere on Winthrop.

Her family says she ran away because her mom is sick and dying, and China is having a hard time coping with it. But after seeing the messages, her friend Oaisha Stillwell says they're worried she may be held against her will.

"I'm concerned she just texted like please come get her. We can't get her until she comes outside," Stillwell said. "She just needs to come home. She's 15. Everybody's looking for her. All her family and friends are looking for her. Please come home China."

That's how police got involved.  We're told she has family in the border patrol, so officers from that department came out to help in the search.

Police say It was clear she still has her phone. With that information, they were able to trace it to a house on Winthrop.

With guns drawn police were ready to break in and rescue China if need be, until the homeowner showed up.

The homeowner gave consent to a search and police went inside. They didn't anyone in the home and are now back to square one. They're asking anyone with information to call police.