Tilwanda Cheatham was last seen in Aiken, South Carolina on August 11, 1989. She was visiting relatives when she became angry with her mother and left her home with spare change from a jar in her mother's kitchen. Two neighbors last saw her at a Quik Stop convenience store a few blocks from home at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Two weeks after Tilwanda disappeared, her grandmother was arrested and charged with obstructing justice in her case. Despite investigations, no leads have been found, and it is unclear what happened to Tilwanda, who was an honor roll student at the time of her disappearance.