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

[Stripehaven]

Well, she didn't look too sunburned in any of her pictures, and as far as I know didn't have any type of skin cancer, so she must have done something right.

They probably expected to be back from their walk in less than two hours, so it would not have been an extended amount of time anyway.

Considering what ended up happening, I would think it's the least part about the case that's concerning.

IMO

I’m going to guess that she really was not in the habit of long desert hikes wearing next to nothing. I can believe she was used to hanging out around her home or a campsite in a bikini but hiking for an hour or more in the heat of the day is so very different. If she hung out while camping she was likely able to step in and out of shade or shelter as needed.

I have serious doubts that she was on a 2-mile walk on July 12.

 

[al66pine]

Temps, Heat Index, & UV Index That Day

Noon til 2:00 .......11, in the "Extreme Category," the highest UV Exposure Category.
2:00 til 4:00 ......10 in the "Very High Exposure Category" (8-10)
Hope this helps w understanding weather that day and how it could impact RT & BT if, if, if they were out on a 1 - 2- 3 or 4 mile walk/hike that day.

@PaulR Thank you very much for this info.
post355, thread 4 has graphics for Temps, Heat Index, and UV Index that day close to turnout.
From that post: "Here are the temperatures (actual and feels like) and the UV index for nearby Kelso, CA on the day BT went missing."



^ image on right shows magenta/purple bulge w Extreme Exposure at noon for 2 hrs.
Rankings are shown on a link in CRC website.
From the CDC CDC - UV Radiation - Additional Resources - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic
a link to an EPA publication. uviguide.pdf

 

[MsBetsy]

I’m going to guess that she really was not in the habit of long desert hikes wearing next to nothing. I can believe she was used to hanging out around her home or a campsite in a bikini but hiking for an hour or more in the heat of the day is so very different. If she hung out while camping she was likely able to step in and out of shade or shelter as needed.

I have serious doubts that she was on a 2-mile walk on July 12.

I'm just going by what Dbdb11 stated, which was that she would walk into desert with a bikini top and shorts. It was a common thing for her to do, and that they didn't go on a hike, but a walk, that day. IMO

 

[cazador]

I’m going to guess that she really was not in the habit of long desert hikes wearing next to nothing. I can believe she was used to hanging out around her home or a campsite in a bikini but hiking for an hour or more in the heat of the day is so very different. If she hung out while camping she was likely able to step in and out of shade or shelter as needed.

I have serious doubts that she was on a 2-mile walk on July 12.

I agree ...
If you watch his interview videos with that thought in mind it becomes clear he is selling a concept and planting it into the viewers mind that He is the Victim, when it is She that is the victim.. Then he closes the door knowing it is 50/50 of the viewers believing He or She .. and here we stand ..

 

[PrimeSuspect]

A good point !

And the discussion about the clothing was aimed at two theories :
Victim-blaming by RT since his description included an alleged abduction (his words, not mine) ; because she was , you know, by the road with a bikini and holding a beer.....

The change by the two msm sources for what exactly she was wearing -- bikini and red hat or black underwear and white hat. No mention at all about the type or style of boots. Nor any mention of a can or container.
Surely RT must know at least that much ?
So no one really knows what to look for in their searches.

I thought the same, RT's emphasis on the bikini and beer seemed to imply the reason for the abduction. And whoever abducted her, 'bring her back, no questions asked' even though he's insinuated something quite awful happened to her.
I hope Barbara is found soon but there's so much desert/land to cover making it a near impossible task, especially, if it's the wrong area to begin with. jmo

 

[LietKynes]

I thought the same, RT's emphasis on the bikini and beer seemed to imply the reason for the abduction. And whoever abducted her, 'bring her back, no questions asked' even though he's insinuated something quite awful happened to her.
I hope Barbara is found soon but there's so much desert/land to cover making it a near impossible task, especially, if it's the wrong area to begin with. jmo

Ita.

And that bit about "... and, that's it. "
At the end of his statement.
Odd.
Imo.

 

[al66pine]

I'm just going by what Dbdb11 stated, which was that she would walk into desert with a bikini top and shorts. It was a common thing for her to do, and that they didn't go on a hike, but a walk, that day. IMO

@MsBetsy
Is it possible that a person seeing a few photos of BT in bikini & shorts at a couple campsites and hearing few family stores about scantily clad desert walks from 1 - 5 -10 yrs ago, might conclude that something that happened only a few times, was something that she did quite regularly?
I doubt it. Just a fleeting thought.

 

[shanadk]

Help me to understand this. Are rogue abductors sitting in the Mojave Desert in 110 degree heat, waiting for a senior citizen to abduct? I find that hard to grasp.
A robbery would be far more believable.

 

[shanadk]

Wondering if that day at that turnout, it was just too damn hot for her. Maybe decision to walk/hike outside was a fatal mistake, IDK. {{ETA: Just a possibility}}.

No...Her remains would have been found. I don't believe Barbara ever got there. Something happened immediately following her appearance at the dog kennel. imo

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

There is an abandoned quartz quarry on the other side of the road and back towards hwy 40.
But still a long way for a walk for BT to find rocks.
I have included it in the drone search itinerary for November.
My thought, it could be a place for body placement. If found later it could be used as excuse..
RT.. "OH MY !! " She must have walked Over there without my knowing... Anyways..

Did they search the quarry?

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

No...Her remains would have been found. I don't believe Barbara ever got there. Something happened immediately following her appearance at the dog kennel. imo

So you don't think she even made it to the store where husband was seen on CCTV, or to the desert?

 

[Stripehaven]

So you don't think she even made it to the store where husband was seen on CCTV, or to the desert?

I’m not the person you were asking but I think she is in the desert, but at a stop prior to Kelbaker Road. I think they may have gone for a short walk or photo stop at that location.

 

[Kapua]

RSABBM
Just b/c LE were shown photos does not mean they were taken at that precise day and time.

Recently, I discovered that my smart phone allows you to set the time manually. I had done so accidentally.

Things are not always as they seem.

If RT parked the truck and RV at the Kelbaker/Hidden Hills location long enough to take a short walk with BT, lose her, and then search for her for an hour before calling 911, people in passing vehicles would have seen either RT, BT, or both as they passed. I wonder if LE rec'd any tips.

There may have been another location - the one where BT allegedly took the 360 photo. This would have presented another opportunity for BT to have been observed by witnesses.

Or there may be other areas of interest farther away. MOO

 

[lolafaith]

Professor uses coverage of missing woman as case study

interesting!

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

I’m not the person you were asking but I think she is in the desert, but at a stop prior to Kelbaker Road. I think they may have gone for a short walk or photo stop at that location.

Have they searched a wider area? Where you are thinking of, is that open land or rocky like where they ended up, I was thinking that she would need to be hidden somewhere.

 

[katydid23]

Professor uses coverage of missing woman as case study

interesting!

We have an Anthropology Professor here, I believe. I wonder if there is a connection?

 

[Micheline]

Time for action.

Mojave desert temperatures, day time 64F night 43F.
The heat is no longer an excuse not looking for her.

There are maybe hundreds of people following this case, she has family, friends, neighbour's.

Let's stop talking about her bikini, beer and husband and do something, make a group or several groups, contact people with drones, contact other volunteers en search the area for once and for all now that the extreme heat is gone.

How much longer is this going to take, all the energy that goes into talking about RT not walking his dog can be spend in planning routes, walking in groups, communicating with volunteers, make a headquarter and plan all sort of ways to search for Barbara, the time is now, IMO.

 

[kay74]

I say she is out there in the desert. She made the mistake and took the wrong trail UNLESS he pointed her the wrong way. I do not like saying someone is deceitful, but I think they were fighting that's why she didn't stay to watch him take pics and I could be 100% wrong.

 

[MsBetsy]

@MsBetsy
Is it possible that a person seeing a few photos of BT in bikini & shorts at a couple campsites and hearing few family stores about scantily clad desert walks from 1 - 5 -10 yrs ago, might conclude that something that happened only a few times, was something that she did quite regularly?
I doubt it. Just a fleeting thought.

Yes, I'm sure that's possible.
It's up to each poster to determine whether or not the VI's statements are factual or not.

But, as I have said before, the only information we know is verified or part of the investigation are the things we have heard from LE.

Which so far is very little. All the rest is speculation.

IMO

 

[LAhiker]

Time for action.

Mojave desert temperatures, day time 64F night 43F.
The heat is no longer an excuse not looking for her.

There are maybe hundreds of people following this case, she has family, friends, neighbour's.

Let's stop talking about her bikini, beer and husband and do something, make a group or several groups, contact people with drones, contact other volunteers en search the area for once and for all now that the extreme heat is gone.

How much longer is this going to take, all the energy that goes into talking about RT not walking his dog can be spend in planning routes, walking in groups, communicating with volunteers, make a headquarter and plan all sort of ways to search for Barbara, the time is now, IMO.

While I support searching for Barbara and may be able to participate, according to @glamourkitty1922, it isn't just a matter of temperature -- right now there may be the issue of heavy rains, lightning, and flash floods.

People are free to go there whenever they wish. The Mojave Nat'l Preserve is open to everyone. However, now is not a good time. It is cool, but we've had two monsoons and we're expecting more. It's dangerous to be out on the desert with all the lightening and flash flooding. I've getting flash flood alerts on my phone during every monsoon, and I'm about 25 miles away from the site. I think her remains are probably scattered by animals and storms. It's so sad.