Esquivel was last seen in Mason City, Iowa on June 10, 1983. She resided in the 1600 block of north Pennsylvania Avenue with her young daughter at the time. Esquivel's daughter spent the night of June 10 with her grandparents, because Esquivel said she was going out with friends. She has never been heard from again. After her disappearance, her bed was found turned down as if she had been about to go to sleep.

Esquivel left her driver's license and wallet behind, and her Social Security number has not been used since she went missing. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance are unclear.