Melissa was last seen in her hometown of Rancho Cordova, California on December 2, 1993. She had an argument with her mother at 11:00 p.m. on December 1 and left the house angry. At 3:00 a.m., she was seen sitting on a car hood in the parking lot of an apartment complex on White Rock Road. The area around the White Rock Road complex was frequented by pimps and drug dealers in 1993 and was considered dangerous. Melissa's brother stated he saw some suspicious people near her apartment in the days prior to her disappearance, and he believes they may have been involved in her case. She is considered to be missing under suspicious circumstances and foul play is suspected in her disappearance.