Toni resided in White Bear Lake Township, Minnesota in 1997. She lived with her husband, Norman Bachman Jr., and his three sons. Toni was employed at Hamline University at the time. She was last seen at her family's residence in the 1700 block of Stillwater Street on April 25, 1997. Toni has never been heard from again. She was reported missing on May 12.

Norman allegedly gave authorities contradictory statements regarding his wife's whereabouts prior to her disappearance. Toni reportedly asked him for a divorce earlier in 1997; Norman was apparently not pleased by her request. Norman had been arrested for domestic assault against another woman in 1987, prior to his marriage to Toni. He was charged with misdemeanor assault against a girlfriend in August 1997, four months after Toni disappeared. The victim told authorities that Norman poked her in the chest and grabbed her around her throat. His young son witnessed the incident and called 911 emergency services. Norman pleaded guilty to the charges. He was arrested again in September 1998 after another girlfriend claimed he stabbed her and sexually assaulted her.

The Bachmans' residence was searched by authorities in May 1997, shortly after Toni vanished. Blood stains and human tissue were discovered inside their freezer and in their garage. DNA analysis proved that the blood and tissue were Toni's in September 1997. There have been no arrests in connection with her case, but foul play is suspected.

Norman filed for bankruptcy in the fall of 1997. He listed Toni's address as "unknown" on his forms. In 1998, he was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and stabbing a woman; he was sentenced to five years in prison and was required to register as a sex offender. Toni's family sued Norman for at least $50,000 in damages for Toni's wrongful death in June 2000, although he has never been charged in connection with his wife's disappearance. Her case remains unsolved.