Parsons was last seen at approximately 5:00 a.m. on August 30, 2007 by her daughter at the residence they shared in the 100 block of Sir David Way in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was supposed to have lunch with friends at 12:30 p.m. that day, but never arrived. When her daughter returned from work at 2:00 p.m., Parsons was gone. Her van was still at the residence with the keys inside it, and no personal belongings were missing other than her purse. She has never been heard from again.

Parsons left the television on and the door unlocked, with key inserted, when she disappeared, and she did not leave a note, which is uncharacteristic of her. She did not normally walk anywhere, preferring to drive her car instead. She was in good physical and mental health at the time of her disappearance, with no history of dementia, and is described as an active, social woman with many friends. Her hobbies include crossword puzzles and dancing. She belonged to the Heritage United Methodist Church in 2007.

Parsons's automatic teller machine (ATM) card was used at Sam's Town Casino in Las Vegas the day after she went missing. Authorities never believed Parsons used the card herself, because her image was not seen on the casino's surveillance video footage. Her driver's license and Social Security card were found lying on the floor inside the casino, near one of the exits. Investigators identified the man who used the ATM card, but did not arrest him. They stated he found Parsons's purse and cellular phone in a trash bin and is not a suspect in her disappearance.

Investigators believe Parsons was lured away or abducted from her residence by someone she knew and trusted. There were no signs of forced entry to her home. Parsons kept a strict routine at the time of her disappearance and it is uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning. She is not wealthy; she lived on a retirement fund and Social Security checks. Foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved. Her family said they planned to hold a memorial service for her in 2008.