Raylene and her sister were living with their father in Ruston, Louisiana in 1983. Raylene's eight-year-old sister told authorities that their father, Raymond Helsley Jr., had severely abused Helsley during the morning hours of January 5, 1983. When her sister left for school, Raylene was laying immobile on the couch. When her sister returned home in the afternoon, she claimed that Raylene had disappeared.

Raymond maintains that he only left Raylene alone in their residence for approximately one hour during the day; when he came home, she had vanished. He stated he believed she had run away. Raylene has never been seen again. Raymond was later charged with child abuse in connection with the beating Raylene received on the day of her disappearance. Her sister testified at the trial. Raymond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He was convicted and sentenced to the maximum, ten years in prison. Authorities believe he murdered his daughter and buried her body about one and a half miles from his home, but there is insufficient evidence to charge him.

Due to the conflicting reports from family members and the lack of evidence, Raylene's case is still classified as a non-family abduction.