Buenfil was last seen on the morning of December 27, 2011, at the Citgo gas station located at the corner of SR 19 and CR 42 in Altoona, Florida. She was accompanied by Terry McDowell, an acquaintance, and the two were captured on the store’s surveillance footage. Later that day, it is believed that McDowell’s black pickup truck became stuck on Railroad Grade Road, just south of Forest Road 14 in the Ocala National Forest, around 3:00 PM. According to McDowell, Lacey left on foot, heading south to seek help, but she has not been seen or heard from since. Bloodhounds tracked Buenfil’s scent to U.S. 19, where the trail abruptly ended. McDowell passed away in a fire in April 2013.