Shemaeah was last seen at her apartment in Yuma, Arizona on February 10, 1989. She lived with her mother, Valerie, her sister, Lecresha Kirklin, and Valerie's boyfriend, Alvie Copeland Kiles. Kiles had moved in with the family four months after his release from prison. He had a long-standing abuse problem with alcohol, cocaine and heroin. That afternoon, he told a neighbor he had killed Valerie and her daughters. He stated he killed Valerie in an argument because he had stolen her food stamps to buy cocaine. Then killed the children because they began crying. On February 11, the police went to the residence and found Valerie's body wrapped in a blanket in the hallway. She had been beaten to death. There were indications of a struggle in Valerie's bedroom and blood all over the home. Shemaeah's remains were never located, but her blood was found on a mattress in her family's apartment.