Jaquilla was last seen in bed in her Wichita, Kansas residence in the 1600 block of north Volutsia Street, near 15th and Hillside Streets, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on September 5, 2001. She was discovered missing at 3:00 a.m. She has never been heard from again. There were no signs of forced entry to the residence and no indication of a struggle, and the family's dog hadn't barked. The back door was broken at the time of Jaquilla's disappearance, and therefore was not locked.

Jaquilla lived with her mother, Eureka Scales, her younger brother, two uncles and her maternal great-grandmother, Mattie Mitchell, at the time of her disappearance, and had no contact with her father. Because her Eureka was only fourteen years old when she had Jaquilla, she asked Mitchell to have custody. Jaquilla stated preschool the day before her disappearance. That night, her mother was staying with a friend and Mitchell had charge of the children. Social workers removed Jaquilla's younger brother from their home and placed him in the custody of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services shortly after Jaquilla disappeared, due to concern about living conditions in the residence and about Jaquilla's disappearance. The boy was not returned to his mother's care until August 2004, almost three years later.

Police are not sure whether or not Jaquilla was abducted. Her mother believes she is still alive. Eureka said her daughter was a very talkative child in 2001 and liked to wear colorful barrettes in her hair. Her favorite toy was a doll that could turn over by itself. Jaquilla's case remains unsolved.