Bethea was reportedly last seen in the parking lot of a bar located on Birmingham Highway in Montgomery, Alabama. She was in the company of Charles Hokkins and Nina Gene Slaught at the time. She had been staying with Slaught for a few days prior to her disappearance.

Slaught has reportedly given conflicting stories as to what happened to Bethea on the night of her disappearance. In her statement to police, she said she last saw Bethea leaving in the company of Hopkins, but rumors have circulated that Slaught may have been involved in Bethea's disappearance. There is no evidence to support the stories, however, and no one has been charged with wrongdoing in Bethea's case.

Bethea left behind a husband and three teenage children when she vanished. She has a history of leaving home, but always stayed in touch with her family before and was never gone long. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.