Purpura was last seen at the Flying J Truck Stop on the south side of Indianapolis, Indiana on July 11, 2007. She has never been heard from again.

Hours after her disappearance, authorities stopped Bruce D. Mendenhall, a truck driver, in Nashville, Tennessee to question him about another woman who had been murdered. When investigators looked inside Mendenhall's truck, they saw it was covered with blood, and Purpura's shirt was inside the vehicle. Mendenhall had bloodstains on his clothing and dried blood on his hands and under his fingernails. Police later found a blood-soaked bag containing Purpura's cellular phone and automatic teller machine (ATM) card. The blood was later determined by DNA testing to be Purpura's.

A photograph of Mendenhall is posted below this case summary. He was arrested and charged with the murder of a Tennessee woman after being questioned on July 12. In April 2008, he was also charged with Purpura's murder. Authorities believe he is a serial killer and stated they found the blood of 10 different people inside his truck. Mendenhall has reportedly confessed the murders of six women in several states, including Purpura. He stated he met Purpura at the truck stop on State Route 37 & Insterstate 465. He said she was shot to death and her body was dumped in a trash bin near a Hardee’s restaurant on Harding Street, but denies being the actual killer. Authorities searched the trash bin but turned up no evidence. They believe it was hauled away with the rest of the garbage and incinerated.

In September 2008, investigators linked Mendenhall to another missing woman, Latisha Milliken, a homeless prostitute who disappeared in April 2007. They matched her DNA to blood in Mendenhall's truck. He has not been charged in connection with her case, however, and it remains classified as a missing person.

Purpura had a troubled life prior to her disappearance; she was involved with drugs and prostitution and was arrested multiple times for shoplifting and drug-related offenses. She left behind two children. Mendenhall is presently incarcerated in Tennessee, awaiting trial. He must complete his trial for murder in that state before he can be extradited to Indiana to face trial in Purpura's case. Purpura's body has never been found, but foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.

Above: Bruce D. Mendenhall