CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #11

[mickey2942]

I was watching "El Camino" tonight on Netflix. It is a sequel to "Breaking Bad". Jessie is out in the desert, burying a body. It shows the desolation, isolation, of the vast desert in the West.

Watch it.

 

[tmar]

I had a heat stroke in Sept of 2015.It was pretty much immediate.From the time I told myself I was too hot and sitting down to grab a small fan to cool down,then nothing.I remember nothing.Until my husband found me stretched out with that fan with no front on it laying on my chest.I was out,and wouldn't have been here today if he hadn't slapped me in the face repeatedly.I woke up but couldn't move and was vomiting.I had nothing.It took husband and grandson an hour to get me in the house.I couldn't and didn't move from 6pm til 3am. It was a really bad experience,and one I hope to never experience again.I do not push myself in the heat.I don't even go outside once it reaches a certain temperture

I am so sorry to hear of your experience, and you are smart now to take precautions.
It appears 'heat stroke' may strike quickly, as in your case.
BT has not been found in the vicinity of her walk, therefore she probably did not faint in the area.
Someone removed BT most likely, and we are waiting for a conclusion.
Then I wonder, was BT in this area initially.
MOO.

 

[MsBetsy]

I had a heat stroke in Sept of 2015.It was pretty much immediate.From the time I told myself I was too hot and sitting down to grab a small fan to cool down,then nothing.I remember nothing.Until my husband found me stretched out with that fan with no front on it laying on my chest.I was out,and wouldn't have been here today if he hadn't slapped me in the face repeatedly.I woke up but couldn't move and was vomiting.I had nothing.It took husband and grandson an hour to get me in the house.I couldn't and didn't move from 6pm til 3am. It was a really bad experience,and one I hope to never experience again.I do not push myself in the heat.I don't even go outside once it reaches a certain temperture

Yes, I've heard the symptoms of heat stroke can come on more suddenly than heat exhaustion.

Even the symptoms of heat exhaustion can come on gradually, and not be noticed at first. If not treated it can develop into heat stroke, which can lead to brain damage or even death.

Woman over 65 are more susceptible to heat illness and dehydration, especially when drinking alcohol.
I think it's possible that this may have happened to Barbara, that could be a reason she wanted to get back to the RV. Maybe she wasn't feeling well. Although if she wasn't she apparently didn't say anything to her husband, although she seemed to not be the type to complain. Imo

 

[MsBetsy]

I'm wondering if she went into hiding with RT's help.This case reminds of of someone faking their death.I have seen cases where someone embezzled money from their companies and faked their own deaths and disappear to Belize or Costa Rica or the RIO. MOO

Well, if that's the case maybe that's where RT went off to. Maybe they are both sitting on the beach sipping margaritas right now.
It's a nice idea, but probably not likely.

 

[Stripehaven]

I was watching "El Camino" tonight on Netflix. It is a sequel to "Breaking Bad". Jessie is out in the desert, burying a body. It shows the desolation, isolation, of the vast desert in the West.

Watch it.

PLEASE - NO SPOILERS!!

 

[Chingaling]

I am so sorry to hear of your experience, and you are smart now to take precautions.
It appears 'heat stroke' may strike quickly, as in your case.
BT has not been found in the vicinity of her walk, therefore she probably did not faint in the area.
Someone removed BT most likely, and we are waiting for a conclusion.
Then I wonder, was BT in this area initially.
MOO.

Thank you so much.I also had cardiac arrest while I was unconscous,it took me a long time to recover.

 

[155etta]

I'm wondering if she went into hiding with RT's help.This case reminds of of someone faking their death.I have seen cases where someone embezzled money from their companies and faked their own deaths and disappear to Belize or Costa Rica or the RIO. MOO

This crossed my mind as well.

 

[squareandrabbet]

I was watching "El Camino" tonight on Netflix. It is a sequel to "Breaking Bad". Jessie is out in the desert, burying a body. It shows the desolation, isolation, of the vast desert in the West.

Watch it.

I've been thinking about Breaking Bad constantly in connection with this case. Whenever I envision "the desert", my mind goes to that scene in "Ozymandias" (?I think), that starts out with a far distance shot looking at nothing but desert (giving rise to the "what are we looking at?" impulse, until a metallic glint appears upon the far horizon, and you realize it's going to be a car, bringing the scene's visual interest (human beings).

I don't quite possess the knowledge to know if this is "desert" precisely like the California branch of the Mojave, as the shooting space (a) isn't identified; and (b) doesn't have much in the way of any type of boulders, IIRC; but this is why I don't have any theoretical problem imagining the vastness of the locale.

Below is a link to the now-infamous Kelbaker boulders, btw (my apologies if this vantage point has already been posted):

Kelbaker Boulders Reviews updated 2019

This person does a really good job with their cinema verite filming, I think:

though one of the interesting things you will notice, is that California believes in shoring up the ecosystem by studding the landscape with nicely available bright blue standing recycling bins (along with shoring up tourist overlooks with bright blue railings).

This, to me, indicates that any note of color such as, oh, a red hat; would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb.

Second question which arises is: this must mean that someone is occasionally dispatched to empty the bins of recyclables, though, no? Has that person or persons been questioned about what they did or did not see?

 

[al66pine]

@MsBetsy Back to point re plane, if pilot filed flight plans and/or if plane landed at or departed from airport w control tower, repeating my question.
Is your thinking -
A) If a plane was used in abducting/transporting BT,
- pilot would have been required to file flight plan(s), and
- LE could now check w local towers and/or FAA, and
- flight plan info, if filed, and if accurate, and
- would lead LE to pilots, and
- allow LE to zero in on suspect(s)/perp(s), and
- lead LE to BT, and/or
- eventually point LE to suspect(s)?
B) Or something else?
Thx in adv.

 

[al66pine]

Faking Death(s)?

I'm wondering if she went into hiding with RT's help.This case reminds of of someone faking their death.I have seen cases where someone embezzled money from their companies and faked their own deaths and disappear to Belize or Costa Rica or the RIO. MOO

@Chingaling Thanks for interesting thought. At first I chuckled, then thought, no need to put embezzlement into the equation. Musing:
If faking death (of BT) was his/her/their idea, is it working?
If not, is there a Plan B?
What is Plan B?
Has RT been seen around home/Bullhead City/Laughlin area lately? How recently?
Just wondering. Rhetorically.

 

[MsBetsy]

@MsBetsy Back to point re plane, if pilot filed flight plans and/or if plane landed at or departed from airport w control tower, repeating my question.
Is your thinking -
A) If a plane was used in abducting/transporting BT,
- pilot would have been required to file flight plan(s), and
- LE could now check w local towers and/or FAA, and
- flight plan info, if filed, and if accurate, and
- would lead LE to pilots, and
- allow LE to zero in on suspect(s)/perp(s), and
- lead LE to BT, and/or
- eventually point LE to suspect(s)?
B) Or something else?
Thx in adv.

I wasn't thinking very much about any of those things. There was some suggestion that a private plane might be involved and I was wondering if all flights were recorded somewhere, including private planes, and if LE would be able to retrieve that information.
Several posters responded and it appears that not all pilots communicate with air traffic control, especially if they are not landing at an airport.
Someone also confirmed that there are some isolated runways in the area where a private plane could land.

I don't think it's likely that a plane was involved, though.

I think the VI thought of a hypothetical scenario in which a kidnapping and a plane was involved but I don't recall the details.

Imo

 

[cazador]

Faking Death(s)?
@Chingaling Thanks for interesting thought. At first I chuckled, then thought, no need to put embezzlement into the equation. Musing:
If faking death (of BT) was his/her/their idea, is it working?
If not, is there a Plan B?
What is Plan B?
Has RT been seen around home/Bullhead City/Laughlin area lately? How recently?
Just wondering. Rhetorically.

If the family has not been on top of this from day 1 of them finding out.. Well, they have really missed the opportunity to know the truth.
The silence is deafening indeed
jmho

 

[10ofRods]

Once again, here is a google image of the trails, showing that there is indeed more than one intersection with "corners":



One can see that the main trail is wider. This picture doesn't show all the trails though, so here's another:



Note that in the second picture, the trail toward the dry wash bends. A bend will visually act like a corner. Indeed, here's the last segment of the trail before it hits the highway:



Note how the trail "disappears" into the distance. While a human figure would be visible just at the point where there's that zag in the trail, she would disappear to the right as the terrain dips down slightly (and goes to the left - see the second image).

The pin that's dropped in the second image is 1/4th of a mile from the RV parking. I believe from SAR photos that this is the place (near) where the Thomases separated. We don't know if she went partway with RT toward the dry wash and then turned back (thereby encountering that crossroads and making a decision to either turn left or go straight - unknown whether RV is visible from that point, but the crossroads is not visible from the parking area as you can see from photo #3). That crossroads would also not be visible from the lower area in the dry wash. So from RT's point of view, she would have "disappeared" over the horizon/around a "corner." If it helps to say "bend in the trail" instead of corner," fine - but of course no one can see that intersection or anyone standing in it from the road or from the dry wash or from the boulder field.

Terrain is not flat, vegetation is hip high, there are bends in the trails. Also note that there are lots of "deer tracks" where rain run-off has made patterns in the landscape and while these are not trails, if a person really wanted to avoid cholla while going off trail for any purpose, it is possible to get off trail and not get poked. I don't think Barbara did this (or if she did, she did it after she got near the RV and perhaps could not locate the key).

(ETA: the picture that should be second is now at the bottom of this post, not sure why, I screwed it up somehow).

 

[cazador]

I wasn't thinking very much about any of those things. There was some suggestion that a private plane might be involved and I was wondering if all flights were recorded somewhere, including private planes, and if LE would be able to retrieve that information.
Several posters responded and it appears that not all pilots communicate with air traffic control, especially if they are not landing at an airport.
Someone also confirmed that there are some isolated runways in the area where a private plane could land.

I don't think it's likely that a plane was involved, though.

I think the VI thought of a hypothetical scenario in which a kidnapping and a plane was involved but I don't recall the details.

Imo

I think this all came about because RT is a old pilot ..owns a plane.. uses it for his own business, has traveled to visit others with Barbara at times.
They Live very close to a major airport..

I do not believe he used a plane that day but if he had the Control Tower knows..
You do not just jump in and go.. There is more to it then that..

Laughlin/ Bullhead city airport is a major airport.
Which does have a tower And his plane is a typical plane used for IFR flying..

Google Maps

FYI
I have no idea if he keeps his plane there and also I have no idea if he still owns a plane.
He is a licensed pilot and certified mechanic according to public record.

Other then that W/S wants us to treat him as a victim.. I thought Barbara was the victim.
Anyways..

Robert said they were almost back to the trailer when he stopped to take a picture while Barbara continued on. He said that’s the last time he saw her.
He got to the trailer and saw that it was still locked and Barbara was nowhere to be found.
After searching the area and calling for her, he called 911.
Authorities showed up with a helicopter and later search dogs, scouring the area to find her, but no trace of her has been found yet. They don’t believe she left by choice, but at this point do not believe there was criminal activity so they’re focusing their efforts on a search and rescue mission.
Robert believes she might have been picked up. Their trailer was parked near a road and he thinks someone might have take Barbara while she was crossing the road.

He’s asking people in surrounding areas, including Las Vegas, to be on high alert.

“I just want my wife back and if somebody out there has her, which I feel somebody does, please drop her off at a safe place where she can contact us and that’s it,” says Thomas.

Man says police think he is a suspect in wife's disappearance

Phone numbers for the sheriff are listed in the link ..

jmho

 

[Knox]

I've been thinking about Breaking Bad constantly in connection with this case. Whenever I envision "the desert", my mind goes to that scene in "Ozymandias" (?I think), that starts out with a far distance shot looking at nothing but desert (giving rise to the "what are we looking at?" impulse, until a metallic glint appears upon the far horizon, and you realize it's going to be a car, bringing the scene's visual interest (human beings).

I don't quite possess the knowledge to know if this is "desert" precisely like the California branch of the Mojave, as the shooting space (a) isn't identified; and (b) doesn't have much in the way of any type of boulders, IIRC; but this is why I don't have any theoretical problem imagining the vastness of the locale.

Below is a link to the now-infamous Kelbaker boulders, btw (my apologies if this vantage point has already been posted):

Kelbaker Boulders Reviews updated 2019

This person does a really good job with their cinema verite filming, I think:

though one of the interesting things you will notice, is that California believes in shoring up the ecosystem by studding the landscape with nicely available bright blue standing recycling bins (along with shoring up tourist overlooks with bright blue railings).

This, to me, indicates that any note of color such as, oh, a red hat; would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb.

Second question which arises is: this must mean that someone is occasionally dispatched to empty the bins of recyclables, though, no? Has that person or persons been questioned about what they did or did not see?

I got a little dizzy watching, but thanks for posting that was a fun watch!

 

[cazador]

They were almost back according to RT. That means the search area is very confined.
I have been to this place before.. When you stand out there you can hear for a long distance.
It is so silent. It is actually very peaceful if not to hot.

IF there was any altercation/abduction .. RT would have heard the vehicle used for transport and the commotion of attempting to subdue a person. mo.

Others here have stated that he made up the scenario to give himself Hope that BT is alive.
Maybe so..

That is why I considered her to have had a heat stroke.. She insisted on going ahead of him possibly indicating she was uncomfortable or did not feel right.
I do not know how the SAR team missed her.
Strange..mo.
The only reason I think they may have missed her is that my own search group found a missing woman, who had been murdered and placed in bushes in a well traveled canyon after LE SAR teams searched the area twice with people and dogs and considered the area cleared. We showed up and the dog brought in our group " Amber" found her..
So.. Here we are
Is this a call to duty or a waste of time ?
JMHO

 

[kkdj]

They were almost back according to RT. That means the search area is very confined.
I have been to this place before.. When you stand out there you can hear for a long distance.
It is so silent. It is actually very peaceful if not to hot.

IF there was any altercation/abduction .. RT would have heard the vehicle used for transport and the commotion of attempting to subdue a person. mo.

Others here have stated that he made up the scenario to give himself Hope that BT is alive.
Maybe so..

That is why I considered her to have had a heat stroke.. She insisted on going ahead of him possibly indicating she was uncomfortable or did not feel right.
I do not know how the SAR team missed her.
Strange indeed
The only reason I think they may have missed her is that my own search group found a missing woman, who had been murdered and placed in bushes in a well traveled canyon after LE SAR teams searched the area twice with people and dogs and considered the area cleared. We showed up and the dog brought in our group " Amber" found her..
So.. Here we are
Is this a call to duty or a waste of time ?
JMHO

BBM
Thank you. You are a brave and caring person.
Can you share who it was?

 

[MsBetsy]

I think this all came about because RT is a old pilot ..owns a plane.. uses it for his own business, has traveled to visit others with Barbara at times.
They Live very close to a major airport..

I do not believe he used a plane that day but if he had the Control Tower knows..
You do not just jump in and go.. There is more to it then that..

Laughlin/ Bullhead city airport is a major airport.
Which does have a tower And his plane is a typical plane used for IFR flying..

Google Maps

FYI
I have no idea if he keeps his plane there and also I have no idea if he still owns a plane.
He is a licensed pilot and certified mechanic according to public record.

Other then that W/S wants us to treat him as a victim.. I thought Barbara was the victim.
Anyways..

Robert said they were almost back to the trailer when he stopped to take a picture while Barbara continued on. He said that’s the last time he saw her.
He got to the trailer and saw that it was still locked and Barbara was nowhere to be found.
After searching the area and calling for her, he called 911.
Authorities showed up with a helicopter and later search dogs, scouring the area to find her, but no trace of her has been found yet. They don’t believe she left by choice, but at this point do not believe there was criminal activity so they’re focusing their efforts on a search and rescue mission.
Robert believes she might have been picked up. Their trailer was parked near a road and he thinks someone might have take Barbara while she was crossing the road.

He’s asking people in surrounding areas, including Las Vegas, to be on high alert.

“I just want my wife back and if somebody out there has her, which I feel somebody does, please drop her off at a safe place where she can contact us and that’s it,” says Thomas.

Man says police think he is a suspect in wife's disappearance

Phone numbers for the sheriff are listed in the link ..

jmho

Yes, of course Barbara is the victim but her immediate family and her extended family are also victims. They are the ones who have lost their loved one.

It's not just the victims who can't be accused or sleuthed, it applies to any person who is not a named suspect or POI. Imo

 

[cazador]

BBM
Thank you. You are a brave and caring person.
Can you share who it was?

Hayward: Coroner confirms body found in Niles Canyon is Michelle Le – The Mercury News
Michelle Le ..

 

[MsBetsy]

They were almost back according to RT. That means the search area is very confined.
I have been to this place before.. When you stand out there you can hear for a long distance.
It is so silent. It is actually very peaceful if not to hot.

IF there was any altercation/abduction .. RT would have heard the vehicle used for transport and the commotion of attempting to subdue a person. mo.

Others here have stated that he made up the scenario to give himself Hope that BT is alive.
Maybe so..

That is why I considered her to have had a heat stroke.. She insisted on going ahead of him possibly indicating she was uncomfortable or did not feel right.
I do not know how the SAR team missed her.
Strange indeed
The only reason I think they may have missed her is that my own search group found a missing woman, who had been murdered and placed in bushes in a well traveled canyon after LE SAR teams searched the area twice with people and dogs and considered the area cleared. We showed up and the dog brought in our group " Amber" found her..
So.. Here we are
Is this a call to duty or a waste of time ?
JMHO

I don't think RT made up the kidnapping scenario. I think that's what he truly believed at the time.
There was a lot of talk in the media about the the other case where the woman was attacked by a man and then was lost for several days and I think there was speculation that something like that may have happened to Barbara too.

Why RT thought she may have been taken to Vegas I have no idea.
Maybe that's what sparked Barbara's son's theory that RT was involved and knew where she was.

From the beginning it has always been RT who seemed to point the finger at himself. He said that he was the prime suspect, that a polygraph indicated deception, and LE kept him their car interviewing him for five hours.
His own description of her being in a bikini, drinking beer, and crossing the road, and probably having been abducted is what led people to believe his story didn't make sense and he must be hiding something.

Yet LE has discounted the possibility of a kidnapping or that there was any foul play involved. They didn't reveal anything about him being a suspect or failing a polygraph.

Instead they stressed that they asked him the same questions as they do any person in a missing persons investigation. When they were asked how far away Barbara was when she went missing they said they conducted the search according to where RT said he last saw his wife. They have never indicated they had questions about the timeline or that they do not believe his account of events.

Like I have said before, it seems like RT is his own worst enemy. If he had never mentioned the polygraph, or that he is considered a suspect, or the beer and the bikini, or the kidnapping theory, I wonder if anybody ever would have suspected him.

Imo