Howard was last seen leaving Riverside Family Dentistry, where she worked as a dental hygienist, on Highway 78 in Riverside, Alabama at 1:00 p.m. on June 2, 2009. She has never been heard from again. After her disappearance, her vehicle was found abandoned at her workplace.

The day before she vanished, Howard asked her boss for three days off work. She said she wanted to take a short vacation. Her husband of eight years was unaware of this. Howard has an adult son, and had worked for the dental clinic for six years. She lived with her husband in Pell City, Alabama. Although there's no evidence of foul play in her case, it's uncharacteristic of her to be out of touch with her family. Howard's case remains unsolved.