From Weaverville, California US. Donna was staying home from school for unspecific reasons and at that time, she told her grandfather she was running away. He helped pack her packs believing she was only kidding and wasn't really going to do it. Donna disappeared afterwards. She was last seen by a witness around 2:30 PM by the Joss Historical House museum. Her mother reported her missing at 11:00 at night. Until 28 years later Wayne Harvey Smith who was a family friend confessed he murdered Donna.