Durham was last seen at her family's residence at Royale Apartments at the corner of Colonial Drive and Magnolia in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, which she shared with her mother and older sister. Her mother and sister left, asking her to vacuum while they were gone. When Durham's family returned to their residence two hours later, they found it unlocked with no indication of forced entry. Durham's purse, clothes, makeup and all other personal belongings were undisturbed inside. The vacuum cleaner standing upright in the living room.

Agencies classify Durham's case as that of a runaway or a possible non-family abduction. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear; there is very little evidence as to her fate. Authorities originally thought she was a runaway, but now they believe other forces may have been at work in her disappearance. Durham had had to change schools and move to a new apartment and she was unhappy about this, which was part of the reason investigators believed she had run away. She also gotten into trouble with the law; she acted as a lookout for other children while they stole money out of vehicles in a restaurant parking lot. Durham was given community service for her role in the crime, and her sister stated she wasn't worried about it. All the charges against her have now been voided.

Durham attended Prior Middle School in 1990, and was a good student. Her hobbies at the time of her disappearance included camping, tennis, dancing and going to the beach, and she was very spiritual from a young age. She hasn't had any contact with her family or friends since she went missing. Her family never believed she had run away.

Police have investigated the possibility that Durham's disappearance was connected to Mark Riebe and William Alex Wells III, who are suspected of having kidnapped and murdered a woman in Santa Rosa, Florida, in 1989. So far they have not found any link between Durham and the suspects, but the possibility has not been ruled out. Investigators believe Durham remained in the area for a short time after she disappeared, but if she was on the streets she probably did not survive long. Many rumors have circulated about Durham's disappearance but none have been substantiated.

Durham's mother now lives in South Carolina. Durham remains missing and her case is unsolved.