Barkley was last seen at her place of employment, the Pipe Furniture Store in the 9600 block of 66th Street in Pinellas Park, Florida, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on May 29, 1981. She was working alone at the time of her disappearance. Her brother went to the store at 1:30 p.m. and she was gone, leaving her cigarettes and purse behind. Barkley has never been heard from again. There were no indications of a struggle at the store, but a calculator and pencil were on the floor. Barkley's brother reported her missing at 7:00 p.m. when she didn't return to the home they shared.

Barkley's four-door 1973 Plymouth Fury disappeared with her. The vehicle had a brown vinyl top, a beige bottom, Florida license plates numbered JZT-780, and a sticker on the right side of the back bumper reading "Single and Loving It." A few days later, the car was found abandoned in a parking lot outside Studio 19, a rock club at the southwest corner of U. S. Highway 19 and State Road 60 in Clearwater, Florida. Some of Barkley's belongings were inside the vehicle, which was low on gas. Few details are available in her case. She is presumed to be deceased.