Elshani was last seen in the 100 block of west Rockrimmon Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado at 1:15 a.m. on March 29, 2008. She has never been heard from again. On the evening of March 31, police investigating her disappearance went to her apartment in the 6000 block of Twin Oaks Drive. Officers heard a gunshot as they approached the residence. They found the body of Elshani's live-in boyfriend, Daniel Dereere, inside. He had committed suicide. There was no sign of Elshani at the scene and no indications of a struggle in the apartment. Dereere didn't leave a note.

Dereere took his own life the day before he was supposed to appear in court to answer to harassment and computer crimes charges. He allegedly hacked into Elshani's MySpace page in January 2008 and posted nude photos of her. She was dating her ex-husband, Wesley Bartle, at the time, but later reconciled with Dereere. Bartle isn't considered a suspect in her disappearance. Elshani's relationship with Dereere was troubled. In May 2007, they argued about phone calls Bartle made to Elshani, and she was arrested for assault after punching Dereere in the face. Dereere was arrested for assault in October 2007 after Elshani claimed he had used a stun gun on her nearly 20 times, but the case was dismissed in March 2008.

Authorities stated they found unspecified evidence when they searched Dereere's red Toyota 4Runner which indicated foul play may have been involved in Elshani's disappearance. Dereere drove the 4Runner to Woodland Park in Teller County, Colorado just hours after Elshani was last seen. A search of the park turned up no indication of Elshani's whereabouts.

Investigators believe if Dereere was involved in Elshani's case, he probably confessed his actions to someone prior to his death. No one has come forward with any information, however. Elshani's case remains unsolved.