Corey was last seen at the residence he shared with his mother in New Columbia, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1986. His mother left him in the care of a babysitter friend while she went to a nearby store for a pizza at approximately 12:10 a.m. Corey was asleep in his mother's bedroom at the time she departed. The babysitter had her two young children with her at the residence. Corey's mother returned at approximately 12:40 a.m. and discovered that her son had disappeared. Her friend told authorities that she never heard any noises from inside the house while Corey's mother was away. The child has never been seen again.

The door to the family's residence was open upon Corey's mother's arrival home. She and Corey's father were having domestic problems and were separated at the time their son vanished, but neither parent is suspected in his disappearance.

Authorities believe Corey was abducted by a non-family member. His case remains unsolved.