Evitts was last seen during her lunch hour on February 28, 1977 in Kansas City, Missouri. She had her watch adjusted, browsed several stores on the Plaza, drove to a drugstore on Main Street and Westport Road, and bought coffee and an umbrella. Evitts's yellow 1970 MG sports car with license plates numbered JOE 4869 was found back in its customary space in the Plaza Center Building's parking garage that afternoon, but there was no sign of her and she nas never been heard from again. Her purse and some other belongings were found ten days later, under a bridge in southeast Kansas City, near Unity Village.

Evitts was employed at a law firm at the time of her disappearance. Her loved ones stated she was very attached to her car and it would be uncharacteristic of her to walk anywhere when she could drive. She was born and raised in Coffey, Kansas and was a former queen nominee at Kansas State University, where she studied clothing and retailing. She lived in Overland Park, Kansas at the time of her disappearance, was happily married and was not having romantic or financial problems. Evitts is described as a meticulous person, both about her appearance and her possessions.

Evitts's disappearance is considered suspicious, but little evidence is available in her case. Her husband had her declared legally dead seven years after she was last seen.