Denise was last seen on March 10, 1984. She was on a double date with her boyfriend, Richardo Lupercio, and another teenage couple. They went to visit the cliff area near the Sutro Baths section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at 2:30 a.m. The area is near the Fort Mason Center. Denise was leaning against a guardrail when Richardo apparently leaned forward to embrace her. Denise lost her balance, when Richardo tried to grab her, they both fell thirty to fifty feet to the rocks and heavy surf below. Their friends couldn't see Denise after that, but saw Richardo lying on the rocks, screaming that he couldn't move. One of the pair's friends ran to the parking lot to get help, and the other friend ran down and tried to hold on to Richardo. Both Denise and Richardo were pulled out to sea, and were never seen again.