Noel Annette Marcotte was 19 and a senior at Monte Vista High School when she vanished from the Sutro Baths/Cliff House area of San Francisco on the night of March 24, 1990. Described as sweet and cheerful, she loved horses and competed for years; official records list her as white, 5 feet 4 inches, about 110 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, pierced ears, and two head scars.

Around 10:15 p.m. Noel was with about fourteen friends on the rocky shoreline near Point Lobos Avenue. Witnesses say she slipped while reaching to tie a shoelace, struck her head, and fell into the cold, turbulent Pacific. Friends scrambled into the surf and called authorities; the Coast Guard, Park Police and volunteers conducted an extensive search by boat, shore and air. Nothing belonging to Noel was recovered and the search was later suspended. Records list her as a lost or injured missing person, Golden Gate National Recreation Area Police case 90-1879; dental X-rays are on file.