Caroline Karimi, Calif. teen, disappears on way to work, report says

(CBS) CHEVIOT HILLS, Calif. - Caroline Karimi, an 18-year-old from Southern California, has been missing since early Monday morning when she left her house to head to work, but never showed up, CBS Los Angeles reports.

Dr. Ardeshir Karimi, the missing teen's father, told the station he last saw his daughter around 7 a.m. at their home in Cheviot Hills, on L.A. west side. He said she was headed to the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, where she worked as a volunteer.

After leaving her home, the 18-year-old stopped at the Cheviot Hills Shopping Center to pick up food. Security cameras show her walking into a store, grabbing food and then returning to her car and driving away, the station reports.

"She was going to the hospital. She put the hospital uniform on, she got to her car, she got lunch for herself to go to the hospital. She was going there. I don't know why it got interrupted," said Karimi. "We didn't notice anyone around her. I keep watching the security camera of five minutes after she left and nobody was following her."

Prior to leaving the parking lot, Caroline Karimi reportedly texted her mother that she was headed to work.

"I hope somebody gives a clue where Caroline is and we can use that clue to find her," said Karimi. "As a father, (I'm thinking), 'Is she alive? Dead? Is she kidnapped? Tortured?' You name it. It's hard to get the negative thoughts out of your brain."

The station reports there has been no activity on the missing teen's Facebook or e-mail accounts. Her cellphone has reportedly been turned off.

The teen was scheduled to take a flight Wednesday from Los Angeles to Boston, Mass. for a family gathering, her family says.

Caroline is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 135 pounds with brown hair, green eyes and a fair complexion. She was last seen wearing a dark blue hospital shirt, white pants and orange and blue shoes.

She was reportedly driving a 1997 green Toyota Prius with California license plate number 5YVV475.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact Dt. Alma Mercado of the LAPD's Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800.