CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #10

[MsBetsy]

@dbdb11, thank you for letting us know the above. I keep thinking and hoping that they have at least one working hypothesis and don’t need input from the family or the public.

It’s appalling that RT won’t provide updates to your dad. I can’t think of more than one reason this should be so.

It could be that there are no updates or any new information he can provide. I doubt LE is sharing much with RT either. His lawyer may also have advised him not to talk about the case with any one.
Even more likely, he is well aware of what Barbara's family thinks of him and is hurt by the public accusations suggesting his involvement.
Barbara's son probably did not help the situation by going on tv and blaming him for his wife's disappearance.
It's really not surprising that he has not spoken to her family. Imo

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

me stating he never walked the dog was part of a sarcastic (though entirely accurate) response to michelines earlier pro robert rant. i dont mind when i am trolled, and i relish a good vent session. but the nit pickers should also note: i added, my wife never walks our dogs. just me.

i am not fabricating details to make robert look bad. i am simply sharing what has been uncovered. robert is no longer responding to my father's requests for updates. why?

that is a rhetorical question. the reason why robert is no longer offering my father updates on his missing sister is because robert is officially a P. O. S.

Sorry if this may have already been discussed, but have you (instead of your father) tried contacting RT?
Have you or anyone in the family physically gone to BT and RTs home and the place where she went missing? Maybe RT would open up to a family member in person?

 

[Nikynoo]

Sorry if this may have already been discussed, but have you (instead of your father) tried contacting RT?
Have you or anyone in the family physically gone to BT and RTs home and the place where she went missing? Maybe RT would open up to a family member in person?

I think a personal visit a very good idea. My understanding though is that personal safety may be an issue, but never got to the bottom of this.

 

[k-mac]

SBM - I can understand your frustration, but I am not surprised. IMO, RT probably sees you/your family as a threat after the media release you made. In addition, there may be no updates.

I dunno nikynoo
think he had already made his bed that's where the family became affended by his behaviour.

just my speculation on whats been said.

 

[Cherwell]

me stating he never walked the dog was part of a sarcastic (though entirely accurate) response to michelines earlier pro robert rant. i dont mind when i am trolled, and i relish a good vent session. but the nit pickers should also note: i added, my wife never walks our dogs. just me.

i am not fabricating details to make robert look bad. i am simply sharing what has been uncovered.

Just to clarify, I wasn't responding to your own post, but to other posters who sought to make something sinister out of the dog-walking point.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Sorry if this may have already been discussed, but have you (instead of your father) tried contacting RT?
Have you or anyone in the family physically gone to BT and RTs home and the place where she went missing? Maybe RT would open up to a family member in person?

I believe our VI's side of the family are based in Hong Kong, where his father, Barb's brother, is very unwell - hence the reason for her planned visit. Travel for them would not be easy bearing this in mind.

It's a good point tho - I wonder why RT hasn't arranged to visit them? A visit to his sick brother in law, in the circumstances, would not be out of the ordinary IMO.

 

[Cherwell]

The hike they were supposed to go on (according to RT) was 2 miles round trip, so maybe an hour but they were rock hunters and photographers, so easily could be 2-3 hours.

That's a good point. They could have spent a lot more time over their walk than has been estimated.

Brits and other cultures drink warm beer.

As a Brit, may I clarify that? Dark beers, stout and what is known as "real ale" are normally sold on draught and not refrigerated. They are not "warm" though! They are chilled, so taste cool but not ice-cold.
However, lager and other light beers are always drunk cold unless one doesn't have the means to chill it either by refrigeration or ice. I would guess that it's likely to be that type of refreshing beer that Barbara was drinking.

I think discussions on Barbara’s drinking (with her paltry beer) are very close to victim blaming and yet, every thread it pops up.

If - and obviously this is speculation - Barbara had drunk beer, maybe more than one, it could have affected her, possibly in combination with the heat and perhaps other unknown factors, and she might have become confused. That would be an explanation, a reason for her getting lost.
It is not "blame".

Generally, I am uneasy about the concept of "victim blaming" being used to stifle discussion. Actions have consequences and it's not helpful to be in denial about it.

 

[dbdb11]

I think a personal visit a very good idea. My understanding though is that personal safety may be an issue, but never got to the bottom of this.

hoping to make a trip to kelbaker rd in the coming months. will see how that pans out.

 

[dbdb11]

Just to clarify, I wasn't responding to your own post, but to other posters who sought to make something sinister out of the dog-walking point.

just backing you up

 

[MsBetsy]

I believe our VI's side of the family are based in Hong Kong, where his father, Barb's brother, is very unwell - hence the reason for her planned visit. Travel for them would not be easy bearing this in mind.

It's a good point tho - I wonder why RT hasn't arranged to visit them? A visit to his sick brother in law, in the circumstances, would not be out of the ordinary IMO.

He may want to stay close to home in case LE comes up with any leads.
He may still be hoping Barbara will turn up.
Under normal circumstances it might not be out of the ordinary but if he didn't go with Bararba the last time I can't see him wanting to go alone to visit considering the tension between him and Barbara's family right now.
Imo

 

[Nikynoo]

hoping to make a trip to kelbaker rd in the coming months. will see how that pans out.

I think this will be good for you. You will be able to see the lay of the land (in more ways than one) yourself, without relying on information from third parties. There is nothing like seeing things with your own eyes. I do wish you well.

 

[Cherwell]

matt s has proven to be an unreliable source of information, as well as a liability to barbara's case (LE suggested as much to me). he may be part of the reason LE wont share more, hell... these messages may also discourage LE from sharing info with me.

I'm glad that you've confirmed that. It was the vibe I got about him too.

 

[Nikynoo]

hoping to make a trip to kelbaker rd in the coming months. will see how that pans out.

Can I please ask if you know whether Matthew has made the trip to either visit with RT or to Kelbaker Rd?

 

[dbdb11]

He may want to stay close to home in case LE comes up with any leads.
He may still be hoping Barbara will turn up.
Under normal circumstances it might not be out of the ordinary but if he didn't go with Bararba the last time I can't see him wanting to go alone to visit considering the tension between him and Barbara's family right now.
Imo

a friend of a friend who knows robert better than i do told me robert would be shot on sight if he ever turned up at their house (and those mortal grievances are from long before barbara went missing on his watch)

i dont harbour the same ill will, but i understand why this person from roberts past would feel so strongly. yes i want to find barbara. no i dont care to be within robbies slimy reach. pardon the keyboard warrior overtones... but if robert showed up in hk it would be quite extra ordinary... personally, i would be amazed if he is even still living in bullhead.

i dont want to alarm anyone by my tone, but there are about eight or so threads of me trying to be reasonable and open-minded about roberts behavior, past and present.

either some hypothetical bastid abandoned their wife in the desert or they did far worse. whatever actually happened, this hypothetical husband has so far gotten away with it.

i've heard no crime goes unpunished. id like to believe that.

 

[dbdb11]

Can I please ask if you know whether Matthew has made the trip to either visit with RT or to Kelbaker Rd?

i don't know if he has, and doubt he will.

 

[Nikynoo]

i don't know if he has, and doubt he will.

Thank you. I was going to ask follow up questions, but I dont think that will help to find Barbara.

 

[Richmond]

a friend of a friend who knows robert better than i do told me robert would be shot on sight if he ever turned up at their house (and those mortal grievances are from long before barbara went missing on his watch)

i dont harbour the same ill will, but i understand why this person from roberts past would feel so strongly. yes i want to find barbara. no i dont care to be within robbies slimy reach. pardon the keyboard warrior overtones... but if robert showed up in hk it would be quite extra ordinary... personally, i would be amazed if he is even still living in bullhead.

i dont want to alarm anyone by my tone, but there are about eight or so threads of me trying to be reasonable and open-minded about roberts behavior, past and present.

either some hypothetical bastid abandoned their wife in the desert or they did far worse. whatever actually happened, this hypothetical husband has so far gotten away with it.

i've heard no crime goes unpunished. id like to believe that.

It has got to be jarring for you and your family to learn that the person you thought you knew for so many years is not who you thought he was; and to have the learning curve be so steep with the disappearance of your beloved Barbara.

I continue to check in here, but it feels like we are going in circles to some degree with lack of information from LE regarding their investigation. I continue to think of Barbara and your family every day, with the hope that your father’s health is improving and Barbara will be found soon. You are a warrior for your aunt, and no doubt she would be proud and touched that you are fighting so hard for the truth and for her return. All the best to you, @dbdb11.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Might explain why he has been looking at houses!! I am so sorry that you have had this worry on top of everything else. I would bypass Matthew and try the olive branch approach with RT's family.

I completely missed this. He's been looking at houses?

 

[cazador]

hoping to make a trip to kelbaker rd in the coming months. will see how that pans out.

We are looking for a November meeting at the location.. Lets set a date and all go together..
<modsnip - accusing family and non POI>
But I would like to try an independent search of Kelbaker rd and go from there..
I will use a drone for a search tool and I hope other will also..

 

[cazador]

i don't know if he has, and doubt he will.

He missed his opportunity .. Matthew could have shook this case if he had responded fast and hard in the beginning when he first found out his mom was missing .. The media would have grabbed him.. He could have raked RT over the coals..
jmho