Patty Vaughan lived in La Vernia, Wilson County, Texas, with her husband and three children. Vaughan and her husband were in the middle of a trial separation and her husband moved out of their residence. On 12/25/1996, Vaughan met with her husband at their house in order for her husband to celebrate Christmas with their children. Vaughan's intention was to drop their children off at her relatives' house in San Antonio and see her new boyfriend later that evening. Vaughan and her husband reportedly got into an argument earlier in the day on 12/25/1996. Vaughan's husband indicated Vaughan became upset later in the evening and left the house in her minivan. Vaughan's family filed a missing persons report on 12/26/1996 with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office and her minivan was located off of Loop 1604 the same day. Vaughan's body was never located.