On 09/26/76 Wilkins, along with two of her friends were on a sailboat when they encountered a storm. Wilkins was sitting on the right side of the boat when the winds caused the boat to keel to the starboard side which threw Wilkins from the boat. Wilkins had a seat cushion with her and she was last seen in the water holding onto the cushion. The sailboat was unable to turn around due to the high winds. Once rescue boats arrived to search, Wilkins could not be located and was never recovered.