This weblog is in regards to the disappearance of American lady Amy Lynn Bradley in 1998. Amy was travelling on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship together with her household when she disappeared. There are various conspiracy theories about this one and a few individuals consider there’s a likelihood that Amy might nonetheless be alive.
Amy Lynn Bradley was born on Could 12, 1974 in Petersburg, Virginia. Her dad and mom are Ron and Iva Bradley, and he or she had a brother, Brad.
On the time of her disappearance, Amy had been dwelling in Chesterfield County, Virginia. She attended Longwood College and graduated with a level in bodily schooling. She attended the college on a basketball scholarship.
Amy loved sports activities and was well-known for being a powerful swimmer. She had beforehand labored as a lifeguard.
After her commencement, Amy was planning to start out working at a pc consulting agency. She had plans for the longer term – she had simply moved into a brand new residence and had adopted a bulldog named Daisy that she was resulting from choose up shortly after her cruise completed.
Amy determined to go on the cruise together with her household in celebration of her commencement. On March 21, 1998, Amy, Bradley, Iva and Ron boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas. Their vacation spot was Curacao. The group had a household suite. The ship departed from San Juan and made its first cease in Aruba. The ship was just one yr previous in 1998. It stood 11 tales tall and 915 toes lengthy. Ron had received the cruise by way of his job in insurance coverage gross sales. The prize solely lined prices for he and Iva, however they’d provided to pay for Brad and Amy to additionally attend.
The primary few days of the cruise appeared uneventful. Amy despatched this postcard to a pal. “Hey Woman!. It’s beautiful right here. We depart for Aruba Tomorrow. […] I’ll be house Sat. at 10:00.”
Amy had taken 15 rolls of digicam movie together with her on the holiday. She informed pals that she wished to create a photograph collage for her espresso desk.
After the household bought off the ship and loved a day in Aruba, they bought dressed up and went to a black-tie dinner at one of many eating places. The household had images taken there by knowledgeable photographer.
On Monday March 23, Amy and Brad determined to go to the nightclub on the ship. The ship’s band known as ‘Blue Orchid’ had been enjoying. Amy and Brad had been ingesting alcohol.
Amy was seen ingesting with one of many band members that evening – his identify was Alister Douglas, often known as Alister. We’ll discuss with him as Alister ongoing. They had been captured by a videographer dancing collectively at one level.
Brad would later say that Alister danced a ‘little too shut’ to Amy and that “she needed to inform him to again off just a little bit.”
Alister has since mentioned that he left the celebration at round 1am.
Some stories point out that Ron wakened at 2.45am and was fairly frightened that Brad and Amy weren’t again. Brad had apparently nearly gotten into some hassle for dancing with a married lady earlier that evening. Ron went to verify on the youngsters and located them within the Viking Lounge, which was one other nightclub on the ship. He mentioned Brad was dancing with another ladies, and Amy was chatting with crew members.
Brad determined to return to the household cabin at round 3.35am. The ship used a key card system that recorded Brad’s key getting used to entry the room at the moment. Amy’s key was used to entry the room round 5 minutes later.
Brad has mentioned that he went onto the balcony with Amy they usually chatted for some time. He mentioned he went to sleep and that he believed Amy stayed up for just a little longer earlier than going to sleep herself.
Ron has mentioned that he wakened between 5.15am and 5.30am on March 24. He mentioned he bought as much as verify on the youngsters and noticed that Amy was sleeping on the lounge chair on the balcony of the cabin. He would later inform the media that he “might see Amy’s legs from her hips down. […] I dozed again off to sleep. The balcony door was closed, as a result of if it hadn’t been closed, I’d have gotten up and closed it.” Some stories say that Amy had been feeling seasick and maybe was sleeping outdoors in order that the recent air might assist.
Ron wakened once more at 6am, and by that time, Amy was gone. Her cigarettes and lighter had been additionally lacking. He mentioned that the balcony door was open to 14-16 inches extensive. The sneakers that Amy was carrying that evening had been discovered within the cabin, in addition to her ID.
He later mentioned, “I left to try to go up and discover her. Once I couldn’t discover her, I didn’t actually know what to assume, as a result of it was very a lot not like Amy to go away and never inform us the place she was going.”
After Ron searched the widespread areas of the cruise, he wakened the remainder of the household and informed them Amy was lacking at 6:30 am.
Two passengers would come ahead and say they noticed Amy at round 6am. They mentioned she had her room key, cigarettes and a lighter and that she was using the elevator to the highest of the ship.
One other witness would say that she noticed Amy across the identical time, with Alister.
“I noticed Amy and the band member stroll over and as much as the following deck above us,” alleged the witness. “And about 10 minutes later, he got here strolling round by himself.”
One witness mentioned that they noticed Alister give Amy a drink containing a darkish liquid round this time.
After Amy’s household realized that she was lacking, they reported it to staff of the ship. The ship was about to dock in Curacao. 2,000 individuals had been about to disembark and perform their day journey.
The household pleaded that everybody be requested to stay on board so {that a} seek for Amy could possibly be carried out. Staff informed them that it was too early to make a ship-wide announcement over the PA system.
By 7.50am, many of the passengers had disembarked to go to the port and the crew then agreed to make an announcement. “Will Amy Bradley please come to the purser’s desk?”.
Amy’s mom pleaded with captain Kjetil Gjerstad to distribute an image of the lacking woman across the ship, however he turned her down, saying: “I can’t do this. I cannot alarm the passengers.”
For an entire (?) 45 minutes between 12.15pm and 1.00pm, cruise ship employees looked for Amy. Throughout that point, they apparently searched all 999 rooms, eating places and different facilities.
The Bradley’s bought off the boat and went into the city to see if they might discover Amy. They had been informed by the captain that the boat wouldn’t anticipate them to return. Even when they didn’t discover Amy, they needed to be again on the ship that night because it was resulting from set sail once more.
After no signal of her was discovered on the ship, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard carried out a 4 day search that ended on March 27, 1998. Royal Caribbean Cruise Traces additionally chartered a ship to seek for her. The Coast Guard used three helicopters and a radar airplane to seek for Amy.
The final consensus from throughout the Royal Caribbean camp was that Amy had ‘fallen’ over the balcony and had died at sea. Ron has mentioned that he by no means purchased this concept as when he first woke at 5.30am, the balcony door was closed. He mentioned by 6am it was open, indicating that Amy had left the cabin in that point interval.
Ron’s employer flew right down to Curacao to supply his assist. He chartered a personal airplane to take Ron and Iva to St Martin, which was the following port of name for the ship. When no hint of Amy was discovered there, the couple demanded a gathering with the ship’s captain. They informed him that the FBI wished to come back onto the ship to analyze. They had been informed by Royal Caribbean that this was not allowed – the ship was not registered within the US and was in overseas waters.
Ultimately, Royal Caribbean did comply with let two FBI brokers on board. They requested that the authorities be wearing plain garments, in order to not alarm different passengers.
The FBI didn’t appear to make a lot progress within the investigation. They did apparently say that they thought Amy didn’t plan to be away from the cabin for lengthy as she had left her ID behind.
It was additionally found that through the 45 min search of the ship, solely widespread areas and crew quarters had been searched. The captain mentioned that he didn’t need any passengers who had remained on board to be disturbed.
The FBI brokers did query Alister. He informed them that he had danced with Amy till 1am, when she had principally informed him that she was not and he went on his means. Brad would say that on the morning of Amy’s disappearance at 9am, he was out trying to find his sister. Alister approached him and mentioned that he was ‘sorry about what occurred to his sister’. This was earlier than any announcement had been made publicly on the ship or earlier than the scenario was extra extensively recognized.
Amy’s household regarded again on the cruise and realized that there had been another unusual occasions. On the evening earlier than Amy vanished, she went to the on line casino with Brad. Their dad and mom had drinks with a few of Ron’s colleagues. There was a crew member who had apparently been giving Amy ‘the creeps’ since they’d been on the cruise. He requested Ron and Iva to move on an invite to Amy to go ingesting with them in Aruba. They informed Amy and he or she mentioned that she didn’t need to go.
We additionally talked about that the household had gotten dressed up in black tie and had skilled images taken. Ron went to get the images later and located that every one the images of Amy had been taken. The photographer mentioned they’d undoubtedly been printed out, which implies that another person took them.
Amy’s household finally flew again to Curacao, the place the ship had docked on the day of her disappearance. They thought it might be most probably that she had been someway trafficked off the ship or that one thing had occurred to her and he or she was nonetheless in that location. They ended up having to return house with out their daughter.
Over time, there have been many reported sightings of Amy.
One month after she disappeared, a Curacao cab driver contacted Amy’s household. He mentioned that he had seen her whereas the ship was docking and that she was operating by way of the parking zone, searching for a telephone. He mentioned that he vividly remembered her inexperienced eyes, which had been described on her lacking particular person poster. He additionally claimed to have seen Amy different occasions on the island however his claims have by no means been verified.
In August 1998, two Canadian divers reported seeing Amy on a diving seaside in Curacao referred to as Playa Porto Marie. One of many males, David Carmichael, testified for a Federal Grand Jury. He mentioned that Amy was with two males, one who matched Alister’s description. David yelled out to a pal asking about diving gear. When Amy heard him communicate English, she walked in direction of him. David mentioned that the person resembling Alister got here and ushered the girl away. David mentioned that Amy would maintain him and attempting to subtly talk. David was positive that this lady had the identical distinctive tattoos as Amy – a Tasmanian satan on her left shoulder, blue gecko on her navel, Chinese language character on her ankle, and Japanese solar on her again.
In January 1999, US Navy Petty Officer William Heffner mentioned that he noticed a lady at a brothel in Curacao and that she claimed to be Amy. He mentioned Amy was with a Hispanic lady. He acknowledged she informed him that “her identify was Amy Bradley and [she] begged him for assist”, explaining that she was held towards her will and never allowed to go away.
“She mentioned, ‘My identify is Amy Bradley. Please assist me,’” Ivy mentioned. “He didn’t know anyone was lacking. He informed her there was a naval ship 5 minutes down the dock, that she might depart. And he or she mentioned, ‘No, you don’t perceive. Please assist me. My identify is Amy Bradley.’”
William mentioned he didn’t do something about this encounter on the time as he believed he can be in hassle for being at a brothel. He got here ahead to authorities after he retired (three years later) and recounted his expertise.
In 1999, a person named Frank Jones approached the Bradley household. He was a self-proclaimed Navy Seal. He mentioned that he had expertise and a workforce who could possibly work with him to rescue Amy. He informed the Bradleys that Amy was being held by Colombian personnel in a excessive safety housing complicated. The workforce apparently gave correct descriptions of Amy’s tattoos and likewise reported a couple of lullaby that Amy’s mom used to sing for her.
Over the approaching months, the Bradleys gave Frank $210,000 as funding for the seek for Amy. Frank would finally admit that he had made the entire story up and it was a rip-off. He was charged with mail fraud in 2002 and was sentenced to 5 years in jail.
In 2005, a lady named Judy Maurer claims to have seen Amy in a division retailer restroom in Bridgetown, Barbados. Judy mentioned that Amy entered the restroom, accompanied by 4 males. The lads had been threatening her relating to an alleged deal they’d made. The lads left Amy in order that she might use the restroom. Amy then spoke to Judy and mentioned her identify was Amy and he or she was from Virginia. The lads then re-entered and dragged her away.
Judy known as authorities and composite sketches of the boys and the girl had been created and made public.
Amy’s dad and mom appeared on Dr Phil in 2005. On the episode, they mentioned a photograph of a lady that had been emailed to them. The girl resembled Amy. The Bradleys mentioned the picture recommended to them that Amy had probably been offered into sexual slavery/trafficked. The images had been discovered by a member of a company that tried to trace victims on websites that featured intercourse employees.
The images had been on a web site promoting “all inclusive erotic holidays” for $2,750.
“Once I first regarded on the image, it wasn’t the Amy I do know,” her mom mentioned. “The image seems like a harsh and tormented Amy”.
The girl within the picture was a intercourse employee referred to as Jas.
Extra witnesses reported seeing Amy in 2007, this time at a restaurant in Aruba. They mentioned she was having dinner with 4 males.
In 2010, a jawbone washed up in Aruba. You’ll keep in mind that this is similar place that Natalee Holloway vanished from, so many individuals thought the stays might have belonged to her. As soon as authorities cleared the jaw as not belonging to Natalee, they apparently did no different testing. That is regardless of there have been at the very least 9 different vacationers that had gone lacking within the space. No DNA testing was carried out on the stays. The bone is claimed to be human and of caucasian origin. It had one tooth nonetheless connected to it.
“Utilizing the dental information of Natalee Holloway, similar to the situation of knowledge enamel and fillings, a comparability was made with the jawbone recovered on Aruba,” a launch mentioned. “Based mostly on these comparisons it could possibly be excluded that the investigated bone materials and molar got here from Natalee Holloway.”
This appears wild??
In 2021, Amy’s dad and mom made an announcement on InternationalCruiseVictims.org:
Amy, our stunning 23-year-old daughter, who had not too long ago graduated from faculty, vanished within the Caribbean on March 24, 1998.
My husband, son, Amy and I had been leisurely touring as a household through the time of her disappearance. The cruise ship was within the docking process within the port of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
F.B.I. and the next day, they boarded the ship in St. Thomas. The cruise line ‘lawyer’ was current throughout ALL interviews, but we had been prohibited. He was additionally current throughout our interview with the F.B.I. as nicely.
Once more, there are such a lot of questions that require solutions…Why would a multi-million greenback cruise line not assist in the seek for our daughter, Amy? To this date, the cruise line has did not cooperate with our household by means of data or help.
The one recognized information that now we have are: My husband and I took a cruise with our two youngsters and returned house WITHOUT our daughter, Amy…Her brother, Brad, returned house to Virginia WITHOUT his sister.
The F.B.I. has carried out an in depth investigation into Amy’s background…Her pals had been interviewed… our neighbors had been interviewed…her co-workers and pals had been interviewed. …her faculty coaches had been additionally interviewed. My husband, Ron, Brad and I took polygraph assessments.
On ‘America’s Most Wished’, the F.B.I. acknowledged they discovered no purpose for Amy to go away her household or trigger hurt to herself. Amy took 15 rolls of movie together with her to make a collage for her espresso desk. Whereas in Aruba, she purchased presents for her pals again house and likewise despatched postcards from Puerto Rico to her pals – On one postcard, she wrote, “Hey Woman, it’s beautiful right here. We depart for Aruba tomorrow! Take care, inform Madison and Niles good day. I’ll be house Sat. at 10:00. See ya, Amy.” On one other, she wrote, “Hey, it’s stunning right here. Outdated San Juan has bought some wonderful buildings. I’m taking footage. Possibly you possibly can see them at Easter? Want you had been right here. Amy.
On the day earlier than we left for trip, Amy had adopted a feminine bulldog, and he or she was to choose up ‘Daisy’ after we returned from our cruise. She had simply moved into her new residence and was beginning a brand new job on the next Monday. She had so many plans and was so blissful about all of them.
For the reason that time of her disappearance, now we have continued to seek for our daughter and search solutions for locating her. It’s believed that there are particular people within the Caribbean, and probably even in South America, who’ve data of Amy’s disappearance. All we would like is the protected return of our daughter. We proceed to plead with anybody who might have data of her whereabouts.
Please assist us discover our stunning and loving daughter, Amy! In case you have or know somebody who might have any data (as minor as it might appear), PLEASE, PLEASE contact us!
Amy was declared useless on March 24, 2010, twelve years after she disappeared. As of April 2025, after we are recording, Amy has been lacking for 27 years. In Could 2025, Amy shall be 51 years previous if she continues to be alive.
SOURCE LIST
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Amy_Lynn_Bradley
https://www.fbi.gov/wished/kidnap/amy-lynn-bradley
https://www.oxygen.com/deadly-waters-with-captain-lee/crime-news/cruise-ship-disappearance-of-amy-bradley-explained
https://net.archive.org/net/20211210151828/https://thecasualcriminalist.com/podcasts/the-disappearance-of-amy-lynn-bradley/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/information/us-news/family-fear-daughter-sold-sex-25559167
