Emma departed from her daughter's residence in Stillwater, OK on 08/31/1998. She was planning to drive to a religious retreat at a Benedictine monastery near Pecos, NM. It has been established that Emma purchased gasoline at a station in Santa Rosa, NM at approximately 3:00pm that day. She was familiar with the route to the monastery.

Emma's 1997 white four-door Honda Civic with Arkansas tag #672-AOK was discovered on 09/13/1998, locked and abandoned, on Forest Road 375 near the Glorieta Baldy Peak in the Santa Fe National Forest. This location is approximately 10 to 15 miles from Route 63. Emma's car became lodged (high centered) on a large rock in the road. Authorities believe Emma walked away from the vehicle to locate assistance, but it is unclear where she headed. (Information retrieved from NamUs.gov)