Pate was last seen near her family's residence on Crumpler Avenue near The Roxy Club in Unadilla, Georgia at approximately 7:00 p.m. on September 4, 1998. Her family planned to attend a football game that evening. Her older sister decided to get gasoline for her car and pick up Pate afterwards. When she returned from the gas station, she realized Pate was missing. The authorities were summoned after Pate's family was unable to locate her later in the night. She has never been seen again.

Authorities have received numerous tips regarding Pate's disappearance, but no solid evidence has been located to guide them to her whereabouts. Investigators explored the possibility that Quentin "Droopy" Kendrick, one of her family's neighbors in 1998, may have been involved in her case. Kendrick was arrested in 2001 and charged with several counts of sexual assault. He resided approximately 300 yards from Pate's home at the time she vanished. A search of his property did not yield any clues as to Pate's whereabouts. Kendrick is not believed to have been involved in her disappearance.

Pate is described as an outgoing child who loved skating and new clothes in 1998. She was involved with her family's church. Authorities believe that Pate may have been abducted by someone she was familiar with at the time. The neighborhood where she lived had a high crime rate. Her case remains unsolved.