CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #3

[leomoon]

So it was never a CAN (aluminum can) of warm beer? It was a cup she carried or a cup holder? Was it a paper cup inside or what type of holder was it containing the beer. Perhaps her relative was told.

 

[topockaz]

I live in the area, what's sad is everyone I asked has never heard of Barbara Thomas, missing. I tell them about what happen to her, according to RT and they can't believe it. No one that has lived in this area for anytime would go hiking in the hottest part of the day any where. This is a tristate, Calif., Az. and Nv.
Needles Ca. has a population of 5000, Laughlin Nv. has a population of 7000 and Bullhead City Az. 40,000. Most of the population live in Bullhead City and work in Laughlin Nv. Laughlin has 10 Casinos along the Colorado River. People that live in Laughlin, Nv. shop in Bullhead City Az., Laughlin has only one grocery store (Aldapes) and one Family Dollar. The best gas prices are in Fort Mohave Az. Laughlin gas prices is 1 dollar more then Bullhead City and Needles Calif. is 2 dollars more then Bullhead City. They had to go throw Fort Mohave to get to the I 40. From Bullhead City to Needles Ca. is less then 30 miles. They lived about 5 minutes from Laughlin Nv. If they left home at 8:30, they would have been in Needles in less then a hour. There would have been nothing, no gas station, no restaurants all the way to Kelbaker Road from Needles Calif. My red Flag is, if she hiked all the time, in the desert, where is her suntan? I get a suntan just from working to my car into a business. Today it was 122.

 

[Cherwell]

This one is a tough one.
As some have said, everyone does act differently when tragedy hits.
Going off of some comments by previous posters, the way I could see him possibly failing the lie detector test is if they did have an argument, etc and she wandered off....he felt responsible and “freaked” so he told a “white lie” which snowballed out of control the longer she wasn’t found. At that point there was no turning back especially if he already felt like a POI. Even guilt that she was with him when she disappeared.
Though on the other hand, this doesn’t necessarily explain why he went straight to kidnapping. Nor does it necessarily explain why he hasn’t corrected his statements since...

If this is the case (and I think it's feasible), we don't know whether he's amended his statement or not, do we?

As for the abduction theory, it doesn't change anything really. She's still vanished, so it remains a way to hope that she's alive somewhere.

 

[Charlot123]

If you think she is kidnapped or even ran off keeping her flight plans open could help determine if she is okay. If someone is missing people don't cancel credit cards right away. A plane ticket would be similar.

You are right because usually you would hope that the person will be found. Also, it is interesting whether the ticket had a cancellation warranty on it, or not. If not, you stand to lose a lot of money, but the carrier company can exchange your ticket in case of force major circumstances. And the latter point has to be legally confirmed by the police, in her case.

 

[10ofRods]

Revisiting this topic because I still don’t understand. Why hide the key under the rock? If they were walking together, wouldn’t he be carrying the keys? He was apparently carrying water and a camera but doesn’t bring the keys? That part of his story is the most suspicious to me. It’s like he made it up so he wouldn’t need to have the keys be missing with BT.

Wow. Good catch. I kept thinking about it, because that detail really bugged. But yes, if he had said he carried the keys, he'd also have to say that he'd given the keys to Barbara and that they had disappeared along with her. Wowsa.

 

[Nerissa]

I also wonder if BT fell in a crevice how likely is it that searchers & dogs would NOT find her...? How deep do they go?

RT's story is so specific: it's not: I was taking pictures then she was gone....

It is to paraphrase: she was going back to the RV, her beer in hand....she went around a corner: last I saw her...

It's so very specific that, IMO, has to be true: whether he has to do with her disappearance or not: this recollection to him is paramount

There was speculation that they did go back to the area to search again.....if any doubt that these crevices could be very deep: I do hope they will

 

[IceIce9]

Unless she had a refundable ticket, he wouldn’t be getting refunded anyway.

Only reason to cancel, is if money is tight and it was refundable.

Even then, I’m not sure I’d even think about that if my husband went missing.

MOO

In cases of a death or family emergency airlines will give you a ticket credit even on a non refundable ticket. They won’t give a cash refund but will give you a voucher for the price paid for the ticket as long as you cancel the flight in advance.

She might have purchased travel insurance. Many older travelers do, especially on international flights.

 

[10ofRods]

So it was never a CAN (aluminum can) of warm beer? It was a cup she carried or a cup holder? Was it a paper cup inside or what type of holder was it containing the beer. Perhaps her relative was told.

We would assume it's one of those things that keeps beer cold, like a Yeti. Mine keeps a cola cold for quite some time, like maybe 2 hours before I won't drink it any more.

 

[cherrymeg]

You are right because usually you would hope that the person will be found. Also, it is interesting whether the ticket had a cancellation warranty on it, or not. If not, you stand to lose a lot of money, but the carrier company can exchange your ticket in case of force major circumstances. And the latter point has to be legally confirmed by the police, in her case.

I would think airlines would make exceptions. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Micheline]

See above BBM. Fact is RT cancelled the flight BEFORE calling family... many family. That is most definitely odd!

Why is that odd?

Maybe he felt if Barbara was found, for example after two days, she would be stubborn, still wanting to travel while that being no good idea, maybe he was just acting responsibly.

Why is everything this man says or does a red flag?
His arm around his wife's shoulders->a red flag!!! Very possessive.
The love notes Barbara wrote him, a red flag!!!

 

[IceIce9]

I would think airlines would make exceptions. Maybe I'm wrong.

Yes, airlines will make exceptions in cases of death or family emergency and give a voucher valid on a future flight. Not a cash refund tho and you need to provide proof, like a death certificate.

I wonder if she had travel insurance, many senior travelers will purchase insurance especially for an international trip.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I live in the area, what's sad is everyone I asked has never heard of Barbara Thomas, missing. I tell them about what happen to her, according to RT and they can't believe it. No one that has lived in this area for anytime would go hiking in the hottest part of the day any where. This is a tristate, Calif., Az. and Nv.
Needles Ca. has a population of 5000, Laughlin Nv. has a population of 7000 and Bullhead City Az. 40,000. Most of the population live in Bullhead City and work in Laughlin Nv. Laughlin has 10 Casinos along the Colorado River. People that live in Laughlin, Nv. shop in Bullhead City Az., Laughlin has only one grocery store (Aldapes) and one Family Dollar. The best gas prices are in Fort Mohave Az. Laughlin gas prices is 1 dollar more then Bullhead City and Needles Calif. is 2 dollars more then Bullhead City. They had to go throw Fort Mohave to get to the I 40. From Bullhead City to Needles Ca. is less then 30 miles. They lived about 5 minutes from Laughlin Nv. If they left home at 8:30, they would have been in Needles in less then a hour. There would have been nothing, no gas station, no restaurants all the way to Kelbaker Road from Needles Calif. My red Flag is, if she hiked all the time, in the desert, where is her suntan? I get a suntan just from working to my car into a business. Today it was 122.

Thank you, your post really adds perspective.
I "walked around" their street with Instant street view; they are in the middle of nowhere! It reminded me of a bunker. Looked nice, but it is literally in a little area of it's own, and that's its Nothin else.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Nerissa]

This is not quite what I meant. I don’t know how she drove, and btw, thanks for describing the fun of riding when lion in bed of a fifth wheel. I never was inside it.

I am just thinking that RT describes what his wife wore inside that fifth wheel. And that was the last time he saw her. Maybe it was before they took a walk. I assume that one feels very comfortable wearing a bikini, a pair of socks and hiking boots inside the trailer. Outside, in a Mojave desert, because of how the climate has changed, people would cover up nowadays. I tolerate heat well, and yet I would 100% protect skin and eyes today. Even people who like to tan, probably, would not parade around in a bikini in a desert with the sun up in the sky. Very early in the AM, maybe. And the beer - what fun is it to carry around a can of warm beer? Because this is what it turns into during a hike in the desert. You either drink it, or throw it out.

Get what you're saying.....BUT: she wasn't 'parading' around in a bikini. I used to live in the Mojave.
This was NOT a 'hike' - it was a casual walk to take some pics
This is why she just brought her beer like a good girl

As other's have said: it's a unique climate, and people are unique. I would agree if this was an hours long hike: no matter how acclimated: it is always better to have very light clothing over bare skin.

But some folks: and I'll admit, older folks I know: they just bare their skin & take it. It actually does NOT keep you cooler, but again: it's a different generation without paranoia about skin cancer, etc. I know very many over 65 folks - they just bask in 7,000 feet above sea level sun all the time!

BTW: never throw your beer out!!! always drink it, lol

JMO

 

[max99]

I would think airlines would make exceptions. Maybe I'm wrong.

I worked for one and they do.

 

[kay74]

I live in the area, what's sad is everyone I asked has never heard of Barbara Thomas, missing. I tell them about what happen to her, according to RT and they can't believe it. No one that has lived in this area for anytime would go hiking in the hottest part of the day any where. This is a tristate, Calif., Az. and Nv.
Needles Ca. has a population of 5000, Laughlin Nv. has a population of 7000 and Bullhead City Az. 40,000. Most of the population live in Bullhead City and work in Laughlin Nv. Laughlin has 10 Casinos along the Colorado River. People that live in Laughlin, Nv. shop in Bullhead City Az., Laughlin has only one grocery store (Aldapes) and one Family Dollar. The best gas prices are in Fort Mohave Az. Laughlin gas prices is 1 dollar more then Bullhead City and Needles Calif. is 2 dollars more then Bullhead City. They had to go throw Fort Mohave to get to the I 40. From Bullhead City to Needles Ca. is less then 30 miles. They lived about 5 minutes from Laughlin Nv. If they left home at 8:30, they would have been in Needles in less then a hour. There would have been nothing, no gas station, no restaurants all the way to Kelbaker Road from Needles Calif. My red Flag is, if she hiked all the time, in the desert, where is her suntan? I get a suntan just from working to my car into a business. Today it was 122.

122!How can you take that? I was in that area when it was 117 and could not get out of the car, it was a furnace out there. I would take the bitter cold over this, at least you can bundle up. Were the Thomas's at a higher elevation maybe cooler??

 

[Steelslady]

we wondered this before as well.

if there was no photo of barb there that day, would they spend all the resources searching? my own question. i am assuming there is photographic evidence offering time and date to LE.

Yes, because photo from that day or not, she could have very well been in the desert. She still could be, who knows?

 

[tara83]

I just can't get his Vegas comment out of my mind.It just seemed so out of the blue to bring it up and I just feel like it's a major clue.

 

[RANCH]

LOL. Being a member of this forum for 9+ years has turned me to someone who looks at everyone as a potential Perp until they prove themselves otherwise. Comes with the territory I think.

Amateur opinion and speculation

I've been a member here for over 10 years and I tend to give people the benefit of doubt in these kind of cases.

I wait until there something solid for me to hold onto before I feel comfortable in feeling someone is a likely perp. JMO

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Why is that odd?

Maybe he felt if Barbara was found, for example after two days, she would be stubborn, still wanting to travel while that being no good idea, maybe he was just acting responsibly.

Why is everything this man says or does a red flag?
His arm around his wife's shoulders->a red flag!!! Very possessive.
The love notes Barbara wrote him, a red flag!!!

I respect your concern for him. The only thing that seems very off to me is that his mind went specifically to "she was kidnapped and brought to Vegas because she was wearing a bikini and drinking beer. Hope the kidnapper brings her back". Rather than, "maybe she's stuck in a crevice and we can still save her". The Vegas thing was just so specific. That's what bothers me, anyway.

Less concrete: I have to admit I felt a twinge at his specific mention of the bikini and the beer - I know it's just my interpretation and bias, but it felt judgmental of her. And he's describing what we see in (what appears to be) a younger photo of her. I get a sense of jealousy, but it is based on nothing factual. Again, my own bias and experiences.

 

[Not a Belle]

His canceling her plane tickets and telling family to cancel her hotel reservation long before her trip was to take place just doesn’t sit right for me. It reminds me a bit of Chris Watts (Colorado) unenrolling his daughters from school the morning he killed them, before they were reported missing.