Pearl was last seen in Vallejo, California on May 25, 2016. She was walking to the school bus stop, shortly before 7:00 a.m. when a witness saw an armed man (later identified as 19-year-old Fernando Castro) dragging her across a pedestrian overpass along Interstate 780 near Taylor Avenue. Pearl was screaming for help, and the witness heard at least one shot. The witness called 911. When the authorities arrived, they found a bloodstain and Pearl's cell phone on the overpass, but there was no sign of Pearl or her abductor. The following afternoon, Castro was sighted driving in San Luis Obispo County, California. Officers with the California Highway Patrol and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office chased his vehicle into Santa Barbara County.

There was a shootout between police and Castro, and Castro was killed. Pearl wasn't with him at the time of his death and she has never been heard from again. Castro was killed more than 300 miles south from where Pearl was taken. When police searched his car they found Pearl's blood in the trunk, but they said it was not a large amount, not enough to indicate she'd been seriously injured or killed. Pearl was last seen wearing a black and white zip-up jacket, a gray sweatshirt, black pants, pink, black and white Nike Turfs shoes, and a black Raiders beanie cap. Carrying a black and turquoise backpack with a Joker emblem on it. She has light brown hair, blue/green eyes. Pearl's hair was dyed green at the time of her disappearance and the left side of her lower lip is pierced.