I can't be sure if she deleted them, because I did empty the recycle bin before I realised the folder was gone.

I have tried to recover them, but no luck so far.

Is it possible that she has somehow renamed the folder in such a way that it is unable to be found??

the reason I ask is that during one of my searches the directory that the files were in before they disappeared:

C:\Documents and Settings\Joanne\My Documents\My Pictures\camcorder

showed up something like this

C:\Documents and Settings\Joanne\My Documents\My Pictures\\\['camcorder

I tried to open a file from it, but had no luck and now I can't find it in a search again.

was I just seeing things? Are they gone forever???