On the day of her disappearance, Leatherwood was staying at her cousin's home and her husband came and brought her back to their residence. When they arrived at the house, Leatherwood's leg was bruised and swollen and she was limping. Their children were there and saw her injury, and her husband said he would take her to the doctor in the morning. Leatherwood's children left late that night and never saw their mother again. Her husband stated he did take her to the doctor, parked the car and went inside to wait in the waiting room, but she never arrived for her appointment and never checked in with the receptionist. She left her purse behind and within a week her husband had sold many of her belongings and burned the rest. Within six months he had filed for divorce and put their home up for sale, and after seven years he had her declared legally dead and cashed in her life insurance policy.