Local residents are rallying behind the effort to find two teenage girls who have been missing for three days, posting more than 1,000 fliers on telephone poles and mailboxes, creating a YouTube.com video and Web site, forwarding mass e-mails to family and friends, and holding prayer vigils.

Meanwhile, a Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesman said Monday that investigators believe the girls ran away and do not suspect foul play.

"At this time, all leads indicate these two girls have run away," said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez, a spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department

Fifteen-year-old French Valley resident Alexis "Lexi" Bailey and 16-year-old Murrieta resident Julianne Buzzelli, both Temecula Preparatory School students, were at Alexis' home Friday before they sneaked out just before midnight. They have not been heard from since.

Julianne's mother said that while her daughter has run off for a few hours at a time before, this situation is different.

"All my gut instincts as a parent tell me otherwise," Donna Buzzelli said.

Michael Bailey, Lexi's father, has similar feelings.

"Lexi has never done this before," he said, referring to the notion that she ran away. "It's just hard as a parent to believe they would take off like this for so long."

Both parents point out that the girls left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, which they believe indicates they weren't planning to run away.

"They left with nothing, nothing it all," Michael Bailey said. "That is what our concern is."

The girls' disappearance has prompted a groundswell of community support and concern, with thousands of missing person fliers posted in the area. A Monday prayer vigil at Calvary Chapel Murrieta was the second since Sunday, when the Buzzellis held a midnight gathering at their home that 35 people attended.

Also, a video with pictures of Julianne has been posted on YouTube.com, with her mother's phone number listed for those who have leads. A Web site, www.findbuzzellibailey.com, has also been created.

"The community has been amazing," Donna Buzzelli said.

Michael Bailey agreed.

"I am glad the community is involved," he said. "Getting their face out and having extra eyes looking around is going to be the best thing that could happen."

The girls were spending the night at Alexis' house Friday and then left together. Michael Bailey said that when his wife went to say goodnight to the girls at 11:45 p.m. they were gone.

The latest information available about their whereabouts came from Julianne's cell phone. One of the last calls dialed was to a cab company around 2:40 a.m. and the call was traced back to an area near the Pechanga Resort & Casino. There is no indication they were picked up by a cab, however. Now, the phone is off or dead.

Donna Buzzelli said investigators are following a variety of leads based on Julianne's cell phone records from Friday, but nothing concrete has come up.

Sixteen-year-old Brie Merlo said that while her best friend, Julianne, has sneaked out before, something feels wrong this time around.

"Every hour that goes by makes it more and more harder to deal with," she said.

Sgt. Gutierrez said the Sheriff's Department has put three investigators on the case to search for the girls. He added that local teens who might know how to get a message to the girls should let them know that everyone is very worried about them.

"Hopefully they don't feel like they are in some type of parental trouble," he said. "The best bet is to call mom, reach out."

Donna Buzzelli is emphatic that her daughter did not run away. She described her daughter as a devout Christian who recently served as a counselor to junior high school girls at a church retreat.

"She is not emotionally distressed," she said. "She is very bubbly, very friendly, very flirtatious. She is fun-loving, a wonderful girl."

Michael Bailey said his daughter is a "typical teenager," outgoing, pretty and intelligent. She enjoys soccer and was looking forward to the school year, he said.

"We are actively looking for them, and if they are in any kind of trouble they can come home," he said. "We love them. We miss them. We want them to get home safely."