Ales was last seen in Batesville, Mississippi on January 19, 1991. Police went to her house on Kyle Road after her postal carrier notified them that her mailbox had filled up. There were no indications of a disturbance at the home and nothing was missing, but Ales has never been heard from again. She left a coffee cup and a container of butter on the table. Authorities stated it looked like she had eaten breakfast and was starting to prepare lunch when she left the house for some reason.

Ales didn't own a vehicle, and she had no health problems or memory loss that could explain her disappearance. Her case remains unsolved.