Brazzel was last seen at approximately 1:45 a.m. on May 27, 1995 in Everett, Washington. She was departing from Kodiak Ron's Pub in the 12200 block of Airport Road at State Route 99 South at the time of her disappearance, carrying a red wallet-sized purse with long straps. Brazzel's white 1993 Ford Probe with the Washington license plate number 081GDL was discovered three days later parked half a block from her residence in Keeler's Corner Apartments in the 4500 block of 164th Street southwest in North Lynnwood, Washington. The passenger window was broken out, but there was no broken glass present. There was a small spot of blood on the passenger door. The car had been driven 25 miles since the last time Brazzel put fuel in it. Authorities located evidence that suggested Brazzel entered her apartment after returning from the bar. She has never been heard from again.

Brazzel was employed as a hairstylist at the Great Clips salon in Mill Creek, Washington in May 1995. She quit her job on May 25, two days prior to her disappearance. She never picked up her last paycheck. Her mother stated that she had a close relationship with her daughter in 1995 and said that Brazzel often visited her daily. Brazzel's loved ones told authorities that it is uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning. Extensive searches of the surrounding area produced no clues as to her whereabouts. Brazzel's parents are divorced and her father resided in New Jersey at the time of her disappearance. A psychic claimed that Brazzel's remains were anchored to a car chassis in a river near Monroe, Washington shortly after she vanished. Her father financed a search of the river, but no evidence was located.

In May 2011, authorities announced they'd identified Danny Ross Giles as a suspect in Brazzel's disappearance and in the murder of Patti Berry, a 26-year-old woman who disappeared in July 1995 and was found stabbed to death a week later. Investigators said DNA testing had linked Giles to samples from Brazzel's car and the crime scene in Berry's case. He was in prison for felony indecent exposure at the time of the announcement, and has other convictions for sex crimes, including a 1987 rape conviction. Giles hasn't been charged in connection with either woman's case. Authorities are trying to have him civilly committed as a dangerous sex offender.

Several unconfirmed sightings of Brazzel were reported in 1997 after her father appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Authorities believe that Brazzel disappeared under suspicious cicumstances. Foul play is suspected in her case, which remains unsolved.