CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, Bullhead City, hiking wearing bikini in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019

[kay74]

roughly 100 miles

That's not very far. So he thought someone traveling there, saw her, and abducted her. I suppose that could happen since it's fairly close by.

 

[iscaremyself]

as far as the time goes I'd lump the news reports (noon, 2:30) along with the "20 miles north of the 40" report as inaccurate. The only exact time is the 911 log if that's it posted above.

 

[CPL593H]

How far is Vegas from there? The road she crossed goes right there?

My first thought about the Vegas thing was that Mojave National Preserve is often used as a cut-through for people headed to and from Vegas. If you're in, say, the Palm Springs or Twentynine Palms area, cutting through the Preserve is the most direct route. And often people who are staying in Vegas will just drive through the Preserve and back. So that might have been what he was thinking about.

 

[Tealgrove]

Search for bikini-clad woman in Mojave Desert expands with off-road vehicles
Nothing new here just that they were searching Wednesday and found nothing...again. I'm wondering if LE has any clue if she was NOT there ever, would they still invest this time/resources? Maybe they have some proof she was there besides her husband? JMO

Maybe they do think she is there somewhere.

 

[Steelslady]

Some of his statements almost strike me as things you might hear someone in a TV show or movie say. "No questions asked," for example. I agree with someone up thread who said he's gone a bit rogue. I'm leaning towards him being innocent and struggling to figure out what to say and do. I think his focus on her being in a bikini is that he finds her attractive and figures some creep driving down the road saw her and thought the same. We know that that's not a super likely scenario (not that she's not attractive, just that stuff like that doesn't happen as often as some people tend to think). I just think he gets a lot of his current thinking from crime dramas.

I am by no means condemning him or defending him. However, I agree with all you said.

I have seen some folks talk to the media when their loved ones are missing, and they appear to be guilty because of some of the comments they have said.

Then I have seen some very vague, almost no interviews done- to which also seemed suspicious, yet the truly had nothing to do with the disappearance.

I've also seen some very level headed, emotional spouses/family/friends, etc put on some pretty good acts in front of the camera, and they were guilty as sin.

I will also admit to at least three times, being wrong in terms of guilt on here. Possibly more. Sometimes, it's so obvious it can bite you right in the nose, they're guilty. Yet, sometimes, things aren't always what they seem. SP's abductor, who some of us (including yours truly), thought he was a good guy, a savior from her monster step father. The mother-daughter who took off for several days and were found safe somehow by police and came home eventually- the husband was laughing, hugging his daughter's friend and making an inappropriate comment about her hair. Maddox Ritch- I admit, I went back and forth, back and forth. I just couldn't get a good read, but the Mom in me understood how fast kids can take off- one split second is all it takes, and they're gone.

So, for the time being, I am on the fence about this. We don't know the relationship between her husband and her son. Maybe they are estranged, maybe not. Or maybe the husband thought that she would be found by LE and not have to worry her son- he truly may have believed that she just got lost.

Experienced hikers? Look on this page this past year- unbelievable, how many times I have seen this in either the title or the first post. As a matter of fact, I have shown or discussed this with my own family and friends- I tell them, visit here, you'll see, all these people who have gone missing, that were "experienced".

I have never hiked alone, except for paths that I know by heart- the ones that usually loop around a lake or a straight path on the river or ocean. When I was younger, I basically lived in the woods by our campground that we summered at and the woods behind our house, but thankfully, what I thought to be my overly neurotic mother at that time, turns out that she sincerely taught me the truth- just because you think you are experienced- you are not above accidents, medical issues unexpectedly come up such as a heart attack, heat stroke, sprained ankles, dehydration, and some very sick criminals on rare occasions, just waiting for someone to turn that corner. No such thing as experienced, when it comes to total safety- best thing- go with someone, keep your phone completely charged and turn off to save the battery, make sure a few other people at home or your friends also know you're going, with who, where, and what time you should be back. Should you change your mind and go elsewhere for whatever reason (park too crowded, park closed, etc), send out a text to loved ones and friends where your next destination will be.

No such thing as being overly safe- my mother's words- truest words ever spoken. While that may not guarantee your safety at all times or prevent medical issues or accidents from happening, at least loved ones and friends have a last known area to search.

 

[cody22]

This says 91°. Past Weather in Mojave Desert, California, USA — Yesterday or Further Back

I've hiked the Superstition Mountains in AZ in a bikini. But, in my defense, I was 18 years old! Definitely wouldn't do that now. MOO

.............I should have found this thread earlier.......LOL!.....moo

 

[GordianKnot]

Marking my spot....moo

Yay! cody22 aka "Sugar Hubby" (or whatever your preferred title is these days) is in da house!
Good to see you here, code!

 

[PommyMommy]

Then I wonder, if RT said he called 911 at 2:30, but the log shows an hour later, what happened in that missing hour?

ETA: Or am I confused about the 2:30? Or was that the hour he said he looked in the cave?

I don't remember him saying that he called at 2:30. I may have missed it. Per Nixle, they were hiking at 2:30 and became separated. So, if he's telling the truth, it looks like this to me:

2:30 p.m. - BT and RT are hiking, he loses sight of her
2:30 -3:25 - RT arrives at camper, then searches for BT
3:26 - RT calls 911

 

[Razz]

Does this poor man have a son or daughter or some type of familial support? Someone who can say, "Dad, they'll find her. In the meantime let's not get in the way, OK? No more interviews with the press."

 

[kkdj]

dbm

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Ok. If they hiked out together, why didn't they have the key with them, in a pocket or the pack? Why leave it under a rock?

Great Question!

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

more interest in the female hiker who has been found and her story rather than this hiker who is still missing?

Bumping for Barbara!

 

[Knox]

more interest in the female hiker who has been found and her story rather than this hiker who is still missing?

Bumping for Barbara!

Did LE find the "man with a knife"?

I wonder why SBSO hasn't asked for MCSO SAR to come in and help? I saw a volunteer member of that organization pose the question online yesterday. Guess they feel they have enough boots on the ground?

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Did LE find the "man with a knife"?

I wonder why SBSO hasn't asked for MCSO SAR to come in and help? I saw a volunteer member of that organization pose the question online yesterday. Guess they feel they have enough boots on the ground?

the man with the knife is from the other missing hiker story.

 

[Knox]

the man with the knife is from the other missing hiker story.

I know that, I was acknowledging your comment about Sheryl Powell?

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

they did not find the man with the knife but Sheryl Powell has been found and Barbara Thomas has not. I know you know all this - I was stressing that Barbara still needs to be found. More eyes and insight here is still needed.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

whether something nefarious happened here or not, she needs to be found. We can't just assume DH is fishy so give up trying to find her.

 

[Inthedetails]

whether something nefarious happened here or not, she needs to be found. We can't just assume DH is fishy so give up trying to find her.

I'm sure we all agree. This thread has been very active. Glad you're joining in!

jmo

 

[Knox]

SBCSD Colorado River Station‏Verified account @CORiverStation 6h6 hours ago
July 18th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden Hills near the I-40 https://local.nixle.com/alert/7417152/

0 replies8 retweets11 likes

 

[Atrain18]

Ok. If they hiked out together, why didn't they have the key with them, in a pocket or the pack? Why leave it under a rock?

I hike and mountain bike by myself a lot, sometimes 20+ miles on singletrack trails. My car keys are either in my backpack or hidden somewhere on my truck.

For men, a lot of hiking shorts have mesh lined pockets that aren't key friendly. Even zippered pockets have the mesh liners in them. Keys poke through the mesh, holes develope, and at some point they could fall out of your pockets.

Jangling keys are also really annoying to feel and listen to.

If there was any possibility of RT and BT arriving back at the trailer separately, it makes even more sense to leave the keys in a place both individuals know about, like under a rock or hidden on the truck or trailer.