Rice was last seen at approximately 10:00 p.m. on August 3, 2005 in the vicinity of Old Military Road and Old Stage Road in Central Point, Oregon. She went to the home of a childhood friend, Carrie Haskett. Haskett stated Rice appeared dirty and confused and was probably off her medication. Haskett gave her a clean shirt, a straw hat, some chocolate and a bottle of water, but she refused to drive Rice to her father's home several miles away on Snowy Butte Lane. A few minutes after Rice left, Haskett got in her car and tried to find her, but could not. Rice has never been heard from again.

Rice lived in foster homes for twenty years prior to her disappearance; she began living on her own for the first time in her life five months before she went missing because no area foster homes would accept her. Her daughter helped her move into an apartment, but she was evicted shortly before her disappearance. Rice called 911 emergency services or sought treatment in hospital emergency rooms several times after she left foster care. Her daughter stated she had significant problems because of her schizophrenia and had been committed to the state mental hospital at least once. The day before her disappearance, Rice told her daughter she had four teeth pulled out because voices told her to do so. Her daughter recommended she go to a hospital, but Rice refused to do so.

Rice has a history of leaving without warning; her schizophrenia has caused her to walk or hitchhike long distances, discarding her belongings along the way. She had never previously been gone more than four days without contacting her daughter, however. Rice's daughter believes her mother is either deceased or living on the streets. There have been several unconfirmed sightings of her in transient camps since her disappearance. Her case remains unsolved.