Jaquilla was last seen in her bed at her home in Wichita, Kansas, around 12:30 a.m. on September 5, 2001. By 3:00 a.m., she was missing and has not been heard from since. There were no signs of forced entry or struggle, and the family's dog didn't bark. The back door, which was broken and couldn't lock, was found open.

Jaquilla, who had recently started preschool, was living with her mother, Eureka Scales, her younger brother, two uncles, and her great-grandmother, Mattie Mitchell. Eureka, who was only 14 when she gave birth to Jaquilla, had asked Mitchell to care for her daughter. That night, Eureka was staying with a friend, leaving Mitchell in charge.

After Jaquilla's disappearance, social workers removed her younger brother from the home due to concerns about the living conditions and the circumstances surrounding Jaquilla’s disappearance. He was not returned to his mother until August 2004. Eureka and her son now live nearby.

Police are unsure if Jaquilla was abducted. Her mother believes she is still alive. Jaquilla, described as talkative and fond of colorful barrettes and a self-turning doll, remains missing, and her case is unsolved.