Donel was abducted from his home by an unknown person posing as a photographer. His mother had previously had a photographic portrait made of the baby. An unidentified Caucasian male arrived at their house on December 20, claiming to have the photos in his black briefcase. Trammel let him inside; Donel was asleep at the time. While he was there, the man asked for a drink of water and Trammel left the room to get him one. When she returned, both Donel and the man were gone. The abductor was approximately 6'0 and had brown hair, a mustache and a thin build. He was wearing a long-sleeved white dress shirt, a dark tie and dark-colored trousers. He has never been identified. Donel was wearing light blue pajamas with a Care Bears cartoon character pattern imprinted on them.