DeWitt lived with her son on Oxford Road in Mansfield, Louisiana in 1996. Her son last saw her at approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 27, 1996. He discovered that the carport door was open at their residence at 1:00 the following morning and his mother had disappeared. DeWitt has never been heard from again. None of her personal belongings or identification was taken with her.

Authorities initially believed that DeWitt walked away from her residence during a heavy thunderstorm on the evening of September 27. Investigators questioned a man who lived near DeWitt as a potential suspect, but he was not involved in her disappearance. Authorities now believe that she may have opened the door to her home during the night she vanished and allowed unidentified assailant(s) access to her residence. Investigators theorize that DeWitt was possibly abducted by person(s) who prey on the elderly and believed she would be carrying a large amount of cash. Her case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected.