On July 1, 1995, Gilbert vanished while attending the Girdwood Forest Fair in Girdwood, Alaska. She was last seen with David Combs. According to Combs, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the car they were using failed to start due to a drained battery caused by leaving the lights on. Combs left to seek help from a nearby friend but was unable to locate the friend’s residence. When he returned to the car, Gilbert was no longer there. Combs stated he assumed Gilbert had gone back to the fair. Upon trying the car’s ignition again, the vehicle started. He returned to the fairgrounds and searched for Gilbert until 1:00 a.m. without success. The following morning at 7:00 a.m., Combs contacted Gilbert’s sister, with whom she lived, to see if she had made it home. When it became clear that Gilbert was missing, her sister and family drove to Girdwood, announcing her name onstage at the fair and searching the grounds and surrounding woods before notifying law enforcement. An extensive search effort involving tracking dogs and helicopters failed to uncover any trace of Gilbert. Combs has not been named as a suspect.