Circumstances of Disappearance
Police say Tonetta Carlisle was abducted on March 15, 1989, by unknown individuals outside 615 Hamilton Avenue, Chattanooga, as she was walking home from school. Chattanooga police say Tonetta left City High School at approximately 14:55. Five minutes later a witness saw Tonetta being dragged into a tan and yellow van by several unidentified suspects. The witness was able to give police the license tag number of the van. Two days later the owner of the van allegedly used in the abduction was found dead in the vehicle. Police say he had died of asphyxiation, and they believe that he killed himself. The owner had just been released from prison for rape.

An extensive search of the area where the van was found, by more than 300 police, sheriff's deputies, blood hounds and volunteers, failed to find any trace of Tonetta.