Found Deceased CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #13

[Kemug]

IMO, she/they broke at least 4 of the golden rules of hiking - appropriate weather, appropriate clothing, plenty of water, and always staying within sight of each other. Maybe that was what they always did - in which case, Barbara's disappearance was probably "an accident waiting to happen" as they say. And as an Aussie, I would add a broad-brimmed hat to "appropriate clothing" on the list.

 

[kkdj]

I think the fact that BT was in a bad mood when she dropped her dog off is very significant.

 

[trujac]

IMO, she/they broke at least 4 of the golden rules of hiking - appropriate weather, appropriate clothing, plenty of water, and always staying within sight of each other. Maybe that was what they always did - in which case, Barbara's disappearance was probably "an accident waiting to happen" as they say. And as an Aussie, I would add a broad-brimmed hat to "appropriate clothing" on the list.

Adding to your comment...the more time someone spends in their favorite element (the ocean, the jungle, the mountain, the desert, etc.), the more inclined they are to become overly confident and comfortable in it. imo, Familiarity and routine of an activity can sometimes overtake all sense of caution leading to catastrophic consequences. I think BT and RT saw the desert in terms of being an extension of their daily lifestyle. The wide open areas of the Mohave Desert they loved to hike and explored was not viewed as being a place separate from where they lived...it was more like their own backyard where they could step out into it without following a set of safety protocols.

 

[dulcinea]

I think the fact that BT was in a bad mood when she dropped her dog off is very significant.

I go back and forth on what I believe happened (foul play versus innocent wandering off trail), but your comment made go down a different line of thinking.

Let's say Barbara was upset and upset enough to carry that with her through the morning and into the hike. I know when I get upset with my husband I can go for hours in a bad mood and get caught up in my negative thoughts. Maybe she was irritated he wanted to stop and take a picture, so in her already bad mood she decided she wasn't going to wait for him and kept on going. In her negative, irritated thoughts she wasn't fully focused on where she was going and stepped off the trail, only to become helplessly lost in the miserable desert heat. I frequently hike in the desert and can totally see this happening. Several times while hiking in a good mood and paying attention I've gotten turned around in Joshua Tree National Park. It's very easy to do and if you're convinced you're headed in the right direction it's easy to go quite far off the trail before you realize you're lost.

I am originally from a cold weather state, so perhaps my perspective is a little different, but I've lived in southern California for 15 years. I refuse to go hiking in the desert if it's over 70 degrees. The desert ground radiates heat. Combine that with heat generated from movement and the ambient air temperature and it's hot. There is no shade, so the sun constantly beats directly on you. It's not something I've acclimated to. People who've spent their lives living in the desert probably don't agree that 70 degrees is too hot for a hike, but I am always surprised by people who venture out for a desert hike when it's 100 degrees or more. The desert heat is nothing to mess with.

 

[kkdj]

I go back and forth on what I believe happened (foul play versus innocent wandering off trail), but your comment made go down a different line of thinking.

Let's say Barbara was upset and upset enough to carry that with her through the morning and into the hike. I know when I get upset with my husband I can go for hours in a bad mood and get caught up in my negative thoughts. Maybe she was irritated he wanted to stop and take a picture, so in her already bad mood she decided she wasn't going to wait for him and kept on going. In her negative, irritated thoughts she wasn't fully focused on where she was going and stepped off the trail, only to become helplessly lost in the miserable desert heat. I frequently hike in the desert and can totally see this happening. Several times while hiking in a good mood and paying attention I've gotten turned around in Joshua Tree National Park. It's very easy to do and if you're convinced you're headed in the right direction it's easy to go quite far off the trail before you realize you're lost.

I am originally from a cold weather state, so perhaps my perspective is a little different, but I've lived in southern California for 15 years. I refuse to go hiking in the desert if it's over 70 degrees. The desert ground radiates heat. Combine that with heat generated from movement and the ambient air temperature and it's hot. There is no shade, so the sun constantly beats directly on you. It's not something I've acclimated to. People who've spent their lives living in the desert probably don't agree that 70 degrees is too hot for a hike, but I am always surprised by people who venture out for a desert hike when it's 100 degrees or more. The desert heat is nothing to mess with.

Besides the fact that BT was irritated when dropping her dog off, when RT spoke and said that there would be no questions asked but just to return her caused a particularly uneasy response inside of me.
moo

 

[CSIDreamer]

I go back and forth on what I believe happened (foul play versus innocent wandering off trail), but your comment made go down a different line of thinking.

Let's say Barbara was upset and upset enough to carry that with her through the morning and into the hike. I know when I get upset with my husband I can go for hours in a bad mood and get caught up in my negative thoughts. Maybe she was irritated he wanted to stop and take a picture, so in her already bad mood she decided she wasn't going to wait for him and kept on going. In her negative, irritated thoughts she wasn't fully focused on where she was going and stepped off the trail, only to become helplessly lost in the miserable desert heat. I frequently hike in the desert and can totally see this happening. Several times while hiking in a good mood and paying attention I've gotten turned around in Joshua Tree National Park. It's very easy to do and if you're convinced you're headed in the right direction it's easy to go quite far off the trail before you realize you're lost.

I am originally from a cold weather state, so perhaps my perspective is a little different, but I've lived in southern California for 15 years. I refuse to go hiking in the desert if it's over 70 degrees. The desert ground radiates heat. Combine that with heat generated from movement and the ambient air temperature and it's hot. There is no shade, so the sun constantly beats directly on you. It's not something I've acclimated to. People who've spent their lives living in the desert probably don't agree that 70 degrees is too hot for a hike, but I am always surprised by people who venture out for a desert hike when it's 100 degrees or more. The desert heat is nothing to mess with.

I'm probably kind of babbling right before I fall asleep lol. But I remember early on we talked about pretty wide paths and lots of cholla (?) right off the path. She could have been in a world of pain had she not been paying attention. She basically had all her skin exposed to the elements and plants. Just my rambling opinion.

 

[trujac]

I think the fact that BT was in a bad mood when she dropped her dog off is very significant.

yes, it seems like a line up of stars influencing an unfortunate outcome happened the day BT went missing. Had just one thing been different--Lexi went on the camping trip with them, BT was in a good mood, people were in the area where Barbara and RT were parked and hiking, and so forth...instead, a series of events and unforeseen circumstances worked together creating terrible misfortune.

 

[trujac]

Besides the fact that BT was irritated when dropping her dog off, when RT spoke and said that there would be no questions asked but just to return her caused a particularly uneasy response inside of me.
moo

Maybe some men just see other people...their wives included, as a commodity that can be returned by just offering a reward for it--sort of like..."a cattle rustler made off with my milk cow--I'm offering 250 dollars for her safe return, no questions asked."

 

[GordianKnot]

If I remember, they had been there before according to our VI. Barb collected interesting bits.

It still just bothers the heck out of me they were out there hiking in something like 118 degree weather.

Jmo

BBM:

But who says they were out there hiking, though?

The same person who told the world that his polygraph showed deception.

That's who said they were out hiking.

You'll have to pardon me if I don't nod like a bobblehead and take that account of a hike in the middle of the summer, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the desert as gospel.

Especially given the fact that despite extensive searches of the area, LE stated they found no evidence whatsoever of BT there.

JMO.

 

[kkdj]

Maybe some men just see other people...their wives included, as a commodity that can be returned by just offering a reward for it--sort of like..."a cattle rustler made off with my milk cow--I'm offering 250 dollars for her safe return, no questions asked."

I suppose, but I felt it was so disingenuous. It really struck a chord with me and I haven't forgotten it.

 

[trujac]

I suppose, but I felt it was so disingenuous. It really struck a chord with me and I haven't forgotten it.

Apparently, the comment is not that uncommon--Barry M. also used it in his video plea for his missing wife.

 

[kkdj]

Apparently, the comment is not that uncommon--Barry M. also used it in his video plea for his missing wife.

Yup. That didn't go over too well either in that whole 26 seconds.
moo

 

[trujac]

Yup. That didn't go over too well either in that whole 26 seconds.
moo

I think the comment has more to do with a husband putting himself in a position of authority when requesting the return of his wife.... "no questions asked" suggests to me that they think they are in control of negotiating with the party responsible for their wife's disappearance.

 

[kkdj]

I think the comment has more to do with a husband putting himself in a position of authority when requesting the return of his wife.... "no questions asked" suggests to me that they think they are in control of negotiating with the party responsible for their wife's disappearance.

I think they want it to appear as such.
If I went "missing" and it was no fault of my husband's, he would be beside himself. Honestly, I think he would say he was coming to find me and for me not to ever doubt it. Not to just return me and no questions asked.
Both of those men's comments just struck me as odd. And they were virtually the same.
jmo

 

[Lilibet]

BBM:

But who says they were out there hiking, though?

The same person who told the world that his polygraph showed deception.

That's who said they were out hiking.

You'll have to pardon me if I don't nod like a bobblehead and take that account of a hike in the middle of the summer, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the desert as gospel.

Especially given the fact that despite extensive searches of the area, LE stated they found no evidence whatsoever of BT there.

JMO.

I’m “nodding like a bobble head” at your post, in addition to smacking my forehead and saying “Duh”! Although they apparently do have a history of taking these walks (not real hikes IMO) in the desert, we don’t know that they did that day...at least not that I recall. Someone with a better memory may recall if there is a photo of Barbara in the desert that day. I think there is just a photo taken of the area from a rise, but not one with Barbara actually in it. I wonder what LE really thinks!

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

IMO, she/they broke at least 4 of the golden rules of hiking - appropriate weather, appropriate clothing, plenty of water, and always staying within sight of each other. Maybe that was what they always did - in which case, Barbara's disappearance was probably "an accident waiting to happen" as they say. And as an Aussie, I would add a broad-brimmed hat to "appropriate clothing" on the list.

Or maybe she wasn’t hiking that day.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I’m “nodding like a bobble head” at your post, in addition to smacking my forehead and saying “Duh”! Although they apparently do have a history of taking these walks (not real hikes IMO) in the desert, we don’t know that they did that day...at least not that I recall. Someone with a better memory may recall if there is a photo of Barbara in the desert that day. I think there is just a photo taken of the area from a rise, but not one with Barbara actually in it. I wonder what LE really thinks!

Our VI said there was a photo of her from that day, in that location. He said he had seen it. JMO

 

[Lilibet]

I think they want it to appear as such.
If I went "missing" and it was no fault of my husband's, he would be beside himself. Honestly, I think he would say he was coming to find me and for me not to ever doubt it. Not to just return me and no questions asked.
Both of those men's comments just struck me as odd. And they were virtually the same.
jmo

Yes, there is such passivity in telling “someone” to return your wife “no questions asked”...and I’ll just sit around and wait for you to do that. Good grief! A normal, loving husband would say something like “I won’t rest until I find you” and would make every effort to follow through. JMO

 

[kkdj]

BBM:

But who says they were out there hiking, though?

The same person who told the world that his polygraph showed deception.

That's who said they were out hiking.

You'll have to pardon me if I don't nod like a bobblehead and take that account of a hike in the middle of the summer, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the desert as gospel.

Especially given the fact that despite extensive searches of the area, LE stated they found no evidence whatsoever of BT there.

JMO.

I love this post! This is what I have thought all along!

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

How far was the photo spot of her from the motor home?