Karen Beard disappeared on January 15, 1991, after dropping her daughters off at her former in-laws' home in Kingston, Tennessee. She was expected to work the next day at a restaurant in Lenoir City but never arrived. That day, someone claiming to be Karen called a towing service to move her car, but the caller's voice did not match Karen's. Her lawyer reported her missing on January 23 after she missed an appointment.
Police found her apartment undisturbed, with her belongings—including her purse, wallet, and keys—left behind. Her car was discovered near the Clinch River, close to her former in-laws' home. Karen had been engaged in a contentious custody battle with her ex-husband, Reece Beard, whom she reportedly feared. She had a history of drug use but had been clean to focus on regaining custody of her children.