An often repeated conspiracy theory held that Gotlib had been abducted by the Soviet government to force her parents to return to Russia. Both FBI and the Gotlib family had dismissed this theory. Another theory was that she had left voluntarily after having trouble adapting to life in the United States.[1] Investigators and her family dismissed this as well, saying she gave no indications of anxiety prior to the disappearance, and if she had run away voluntarily she likely would have taken some money or possessions, and made contact eventually.[2]