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

[Snoopster]

One thing that bothere me about that 360 photo:

My experience with the scorching summers in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson was that the summer days were always hazy. A grey-tan sky rather than the clear crisp blue sky in the photo.

Are we sure when that photo was taken? It reminds me more of a spring sky

Did I miss it in the flurry of posts? Have we seen the photo BT took? If so, where can I see it and who posted it?

 

[artsy1]

Not sure whoever is keeping record of the media reports has this yet, but this was KTLA 2 hours ago.

Search Continues for 69-Year-Old Woman Who Disappeared on Mojave Desert Hike 1 Week Ago


ETA: Also posted 2 hours ago:

The search continues for 69-year-old hiker Barbara Thomas

 

[katydid23]

Do we know if she was in any of the photos that he took that day? I have seen many folks on here question the photo in the first post of the thread, as to whether or not that is a current photo of her, or if it was taken that day.

I don't think we know if she was in any of the photos taken that day. I am sure LE asked to see his photos. They would want to see if there were any people lurking in the shadows, etc. But mostly they would want verification that she was alive and well on the trail, just like he said.

 

[Snoopster]

Hey, will all y'all stop typing so I can catch up!

I hear ya! When certain threads start to 'take off', I usually abandon them for quieter ones. There are usually enough people contributing ideas, and I normally don't have enough time to keep up. I've had a few days off work and this is one of the few times I've kept up with a busy thread. It's definitely becoming a bit of a galloping horse though.

I don't know how long I'll hang on to the reins!

 

[oviedo]

Not sure whoever is keeping record of the media reports has this yet, but this was KTLA 2 hours ago.

Search Continues for 69-Year-Old Woman Who Disappeared on Mojave Desert Hike 1 Week Ago


ETA: Also posted 2 hours ago:

The search continues for 69-year-old hiker Barbara Thomas

Thanks I’ve been keeping track with a summary post - frankly had hoped she would be found by now and we wouldn’t need a dedicated media thread

 

[Snoopster]

But if she was not even there that day, would he be taking photos? It will look even more suspicious if he took dozens of photos, and his wife isn't in any of them at all. JMO

Lots of people go out in nature to take photos of nature, rather than people. I don't find that suspicious.

Having said that, I believe that BT's unverified nephew said that there were confirmed time-stamped photos from that day. I'll have to look for the exact post, but I remember thinking that some included BT.

 

[oviedo]

Attempting to summarize what has been reported so far..

Search underway for lost hiker in Mojave Desert
2:30pm reported time - black bikini, red hat, boots/socks. No supplies or cellphones - she walked ahead when he stopped to take a picture.
69-year-old Arizona woman missing after hiking in Mojave Desert
They were about 20 miles north of Interstate 40, east of Kelbaker Road.

Thomas was last seen wearing a black bikini, a red baseball cap, and tan hiking boots.
The search for 69-year-old Barbara Thomas is continuing In the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden Hills near ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

Barbara Thomas, 69 years old, resident of Bullhead City, Az.
5'9, 130 lbs., Blonde hair, Green eyes
Last seen wearing a black bikini, a red baseball cap and tan hiking boots with black socks

UPDATE #2:
The search is moving into the third day for Barbara Thomas in the Mohave desert. Barbara was last seen in the area of Kelbaker / Hidden Hills near the I-40. The search involves numerous Search & Rescue members, deputies, K9’s, Sheriff’s Aviation(helicopter) and Park Rangers.

There have been no sightings of her at this time. The temperatures today hovered around 104 degrees.

Hiker Wearing Bikini Disappears in Southern California's Sweltering Mojave Desert


Bikini-Clad 69-Year-Old Woman Missing After Hiking in Mojave Desert Amid Heatwave

Arizona woman missing in California's Mojave Desert

Woman, 69, missing in Mojave with no supplies or cellphone and wearing only a bikini
Cat L. Smith
First report of shorts

Woman missing from Mojave Desert

Husband thinks she was taken (first report of this that I have found)

Search for woman, 69, missing in Mojave Desert after separated from husband while hiking in bikini | Daily Mail Online
Bikini-clad woman, 69, reported missing after hiking in Mojave Desert in California amid heatwave
Still searching Tuesday


69-year-old bikini-clad woman missing in Mojave Desert – San Bernardino Sun

Woman Goes Missing Without Supplies in Mojave Desert Amid High Temperatures
Thomas’ husband told KTNV that they took their trailer to the desert for the weekend. They were close to the RV when Robert stopped to take a picture.

“By the time I took the picture she was continuing on because she wanted to get to the RV,” he said. “And she rounded the corner and I lost sight of her.”

He suspects something happened when she crossed a highway. “My feeling is that she was picked up because she had to cross a highway. She was wearing a bikini and she had a beer in her hand.”

He said she may be in the Las Vegas area.

Search continues for missing Bullhead City woman
Search for bikini-clad woman in Mojave Desert expands with off-road vehicles

Desert Mines & Mills
July 16
July 16th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

Husband of Woman Who Vanished During Mojave Desert Hike: 'I Just Want Her Back'
Husband takes a lie detector test

San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter
Volunteers and off-road vehicles join hunt for bikini-clad 69-year-old 'abducted' in Mojave Desert | Daily Mail Online

July 17th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

Arizona Woman, 69, Missing for 5 Days in the Mojave Desert After Going Hiking with Husband
Roadside Camping - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

Map:
https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/upload/MOJAmap1.pdf

Cops insist they're examining 'all possibilities' after missing hiker's husband claimed he's suspect | Daily Mail Online


SBCSD Colorado River Station on Twitter
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/

1:38 PM - 19 Jul 2019

July 18th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle
UPDATE #7
Friday, July 19th, the search continues this morning for Barbara Thomas. Search and Rescue members are utilizing off road vehicles, K9 units and hikers. The search resumed just after sunrise this morning. The search will include aerial support throughout the day.

There has been no evidence of Barbara Thomas located on previous days. Temperatures are expected to reach over 100 degrees.

KTLA 2 hours ago.

Search Continues for 69-Year-Old Woman Who Disappeared on Mojave Desert Hike 1 Week Ago

The search continues for 69-year-old hiker Barbara Thomas

 

[Herat]

Did I miss it in the flurry of posts? Have we seen the photo BT took? If so, where can I see it and who posted it?

Sorry, I cant get it to copy. See post # 1083

It’s taken near Granite Pass at a group of campsites not far from Kelbacher Road

34.8085059, -115.6226757

Google Maps

 

[Knox]

Not sure whoever is keeping record of the media reports has this yet, but this was KTLA 2 hours ago.

Search Continues for 69-Year-Old Woman Who Disappeared on Mojave Desert Hike 1 Week Ago


ETA: Also posted 2 hours ago:

The search continues for 69-year-old hiker Barbara Thomas

From the ABC new video, "LE says the questions they asked Robert are standard questions in all missing persons investigations. Stressing they do not suspect foul play in this case".

If Robert is involved, I'm going to be very, very surprised.

 

[Didi777]

I was watching the news videos, seeing that shiney new Dooley...

Supposing a person gets kidnapped, really kidnapped, and ransom money is demanded because they think there's money to be had, LE wouldn't tell the public, would they?
But the husband might come on TV to just plead in general for her safe return,
"no charges will be filed"...

Just considering different possiblities.

 

[artsy1]

Sorry, I cant get it to copy. See post # 1083

It’s taken near Granite Pass at a group of campsites not far from Kelbacher Road

34.8085059, -115.6226757

Google Maps

The campsites aren't too far off Kelbaker Rd. If you travel up Kelbaker from where they were, there is some sort of (appears to be) a small power station - and directly to the left is a path down to the campsites. My thought was, since they were familiar with the area, that if she became lost, that she might head up to that building so she could find the campsite. JMHO

 

[artsy1]

I was watching the news videos, seeing that shiney new Dooley...

Supposing a person gets kidnapped, really kidnapped, and ransom money is demanded because they think there's money to be had, LE wouldn't tell the public, would they?
But the husband might come on TV to just plead in general for her safe return,
"no charges will be filed"...

Just considering different possiblities.

Very interesting thought....

 

[Snoopster]

Sorry, I cant get it to copy. See post # 1083

It’s taken near Granite Pass at a group of campsites not far from Kelbacher Road

34.8085059, -115.6226757

Google Maps

But that's not a photo taken by BT, right?
That's just a location someone on this thread posted because they said the desert in this area was beautiful. Maybe I'm missing something.

We still don't know exactly where BT/RT parked their RV. We haven't seen the 360 photo that RT said BT took. Am I correct, or have I missed something?

 

[rosesfromangels]

K9's are not infallible, but I'd say if they didn't pick up a scent then LE should get a warrant and grab the luminal. (House, car, RV....). I think we all really want to believe this man, but it's hard.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[allboys]

I hear ya! When certain threads start to 'take off', I usually abandon them for quieter ones. There are usually enough people contributing ideas, and I normally don't have enough time to keep up. I've had a few days off work and this is one of the few times I've kept up with a busy thread. It's definitely becoming a bit of a galloping horse though.
I don't know how long I'll hang on to the reins!

Ha! That’s a great analogy. I too have a hard time keeping up with fast moving threads.

Whoah, horsey!

Regarding question about 360 degree photo. I could be wrong, but the one people are viewing, I believe, is a random one found online but in the area we are discussing.

 

[Twistinginthewind]

Assuming he is telling the truth and she is lost in that location-

She is most likely 1-3 miles away and in those boulders/hills area hidden in a place that gave her shade.

She is not lying out in the open amongst the scrubby bushes and squat trees.

If what RT said is true (it was a 2 mile hike, 1 mile out, 1 mile back, and they both were close to returning to the camper when he lost sight of her), BT was 1/4 to 1/2 a mile from the highway and their camper when she vanished, so she probably had the highway and their camper in sight and understood the lay of the land from having just gone through there.

A 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk back to their vehicle would be easy to navigate in broad daylight in open space, IMO, hence RT saying from the get go that she must have been abducted when she crossed the road. Even he knew it would be easy for her to make it over that short of a distance, experienced desert hiker that he says she is.

I simply can't fathom her getting lost so quickly when she was almost back to the highway and their vehicle, and wandering far and wide. RT says she was an experienced hiker, but still, she walked ahead of him with no water, food, cell phone, or cover up clothing in 90 degree heat. She probably would have been making a mad dash straight back to the camper if he was dawdling with his photography and she was getting hot. A hat on her head, minimal clothing, hiking boots, oh and a beer in her hand, that's all she had with her. Crazy, man, crazy. MOO

 

[Snoopster]

Attempting to summarize what has been reported so far..

Search underway for lost hiker in Mojave Desert
2:30pm reported time - black bikini, red hat, boots/socks. No supplies or cellphones - she walked ahead when he stopped to take a picture.
69-year-old Arizona woman missing after hiking in Mojave Desert
They were about 20 miles north of Interstate 40, east of Kelbaker Road.

Thomas was last seen wearing a black bikini, a red baseball cap, and tan hiking boots.
The search for 69-year-old Barbara Thomas is continuing In the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden Hills near ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

Barbara Thomas, 69 years old, resident of Bullhead City, Az.
5'9, 130 lbs., Blonde hair, Green eyes
Last seen wearing a black bikini, a red baseball cap and tan hiking boots with black socks

UPDATE #2:
The search is moving into the third day for Barbara Thomas in the Mohave desert. Barbara was last seen in the area of Kelbaker / Hidden Hills near the I-40. The search involves numerous Search & Rescue members, deputies, K9’s, Sheriff’s Aviation(helicopter) and Park Rangers.

There have been no sightings of her at this time. The temperatures today hovered around 104 degrees.

Hiker Wearing Bikini Disappears in Southern California's Sweltering Mojave Desert


Bikini-Clad 69-Year-Old Woman Missing After Hiking in Mojave Desert Amid Heatwave

Arizona woman missing in California's Mojave Desert

Woman, 69, missing in Mojave with no supplies or cellphone and wearing only a bikini
Cat L. Smith
First report of shorts

Woman missing from Mojave Desert

Husband thinks she was taken (first report of this that I have found)

Search for woman, 69, missing in Mojave Desert after separated from husband while hiking in bikini | Daily Mail Online
Bikini-clad woman, 69, reported missing after hiking in Mojave Desert in California amid heatwave
Still searching Tuesday


69-year-old bikini-clad woman missing in Mojave Desert – San Bernardino Sun

Woman Goes Missing Without Supplies in Mojave Desert Amid High Temperatures
Thomas’ husband told KTNV that they took their trailer to the desert for the weekend. They were close to the RV when Robert stopped to take a picture.

“By the time I took the picture she was continuing on because she wanted to get to the RV,” he said. “And she rounded the corner and I lost sight of her.”

He suspects something happened when she crossed a highway. “My feeling is that she was picked up because she had to cross a highway. She was wearing a bikini and she had a beer in her hand.”

He said she may be in the Las Vegas area.

Search continues for missing Bullhead City woman
Search for bikini-clad woman in Mojave Desert expands with off-road vehicles

Desert Mines & Mills
July 16
July 16th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

Husband of Woman Who Vanished During Mojave Desert Hike: 'I Just Want Her Back'
Husband takes a lie detector test

San Bernardino County Sheriff on Twitter
Volunteers and off-road vehicles join hunt for bikini-clad 69-year-old 'abducted' in Mojave Desert | Daily Mail Online

July 17th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle

Arizona Woman, 69, Missing for 5 Days in the Mojave Desert After Going Hiking with Husband
Roadside Camping - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

Map:
https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/upload/MOJAmap1.pdf

Cops insist they're examining 'all possibilities' after missing hiker's husband claimed he's suspect | Daily Mail Online


SBCSD Colorado River Station on Twitter
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/

1:38 PM - 19 Jul 2019

July 18th - The search for Barbara Thomas, age 69, is continuing in the area of Kelbaker/ Hidden ... from SBSD - Colorado River Sheriffs Department : Nixle
UPDATE #7
Friday, July 19th, the search continues this morning for Barbara Thomas. Search and Rescue members are utilizing off road vehicles, K9 units and hikers. The search resumed just after sunrise this morning. The search will include aerial support throughout the day.

There has been no evidence of Barbara Thomas located on previous days. Temperatures are expected to reach over 100 degrees.

KTLA 2 hours ago.

Search Continues for 69-Year-Old Woman Who Disappeared on Mojave Desert Hike 1 Week Ago

The search continues for 69-year-old hiker Barbara Thomas

Well done @oviedo ! I don't know how you're keeping up. We might have to switch to create a separate media thread to make things easier for you.

 

[Jazzy5980]

I'm never going to catch up. Has anyone mentioned this yet? Can you name another similar case where the disappearance occurred when someone so close within eyesight "just went around the corner over there" and vanished? Either BT was never there or RT's timeline/story a little suspect.

Yes, the Barbara Bolick case in MT in 2006 or 2007. Her hiking companion turned to take a photo and when he turned around she was gone. No trace to date.

 

[Snoopster]

Yes, the Barbara Bolick case in MT in 2006 or 2007. Her hiking companion turned to take a photo and when he turned around she was gone. No trace to date.

Well that's discouraging.

 

[rosesfromangels]

A hat on her head, minimal clothing, hiking boots, oh and a beer in her hand, that's all she had with her. Crazy, man, crazy. MOO

Respectfully snipped for focus.
Yes, crazy indeed. Too crazy for my logic filter. Ain't buyin' it. I'll be delighted to be proven wrong.

Amateur opinion and speculation