The family of 15-year-old Jael Martinez says they want police to take a ransom call they received "very seriously" just in case it was authentic.

Celeste Arias, Martinez's mother, says the caller told them, "My dad got him tied up in the basement, and we will kill him. Do you want him dead now or do you want him dead later?"

Arias says they received the call Sunday and immediately reported it to the police.

The family says Martinez was last seen around 1:15 p.m. last Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Central High School.

Martinez is described as 6 feet tall and was last seen wearing gray-colored hooded sweatshirt and gray-colored sweatpants.

"It could be kids joking around, but why would, why would anybody be playing like that? I think they should be taken seriously, because they are asking for money. If they had him, and they are asking for money, I mean, this is serious. My son could be laying down, my son could be dead right now. Who knows?" Arias says.

The city of Bridgeport released a statement today saying in part, "The City of Bridgeport Police are actively investigating this incident and conducted interviews on Sunday with various individuals. They also have their Federal law enforcement partners involved. This is an active investigation."