CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #2

[MizStery]

Do we know if the dogs have picked up some sort of scent or not?

Robbie has been through photos with LE. They are time stamped. They prove Barb and Rob were there. Or there would be no search, and Robbie would probably be a much more serious suspect because he has already said there are photos.
This has been stated previously.

When you say the photo's prove that Barb and Rob were there do you mean that Barb is pictured in some of the photos?

TIA

My Questions Also

If there are indeed time-stamped photos showing that RT and BT were both there that day/time, then I wonder how much time elapsed between the last such photo taken and (a) the time when RT said he last saw BT as well as (b) when he called 911. I think he said that as soon as he got back to the camper he started to search and he did that for a while before calling 911.

In relation to my suspicions of RT (of course I could be wrong) I'm wondering whether there would've been time to go back to the camper, go somewhere else, and then come back.
MOO.

Exactly as LilibetI has already stated ~dbdb11’s original posts were removed pending verification. I know I personally overlooked some prior to the mods restoring them. Like LilibethI I do not recall reading about the photos.

dbdb11 shared a text that he received from his sister. paraphrasing; You remembered a conversation between RT and your father. RT said it was getting hot and close to noon so he called 911. However, we have the dispatch log that shows the 911 call at 3:26 p.m.

THIS​

I'm wondering whether there would've been time to go back to the camper, go somewhere else, and then come back?

MOO

 

[Dion]

MOO- Let's assume that this is a crime and you are trying to cover it up by concocting a story about being lost in the desert.

Why would you describe her attire as he did? I mean it almost makes the whole story so unbelievable it just might be true.

- because it makes her look like an alluring target for abduction ( bikini, beer) despite age
- she wasn't carrying any items that might have been able to pinpoint her location, like phone or credit cards
- it could make her appear somewhat unbalanced
I

 

[Ravenmoon]

I know what you mean, but people not from Arizona and the deserts (Mojave included), go all the time, everysingle day thinking otherwise for them. Not sure how long Barbara has been here, having come from Henderson Nevada, not too far away and then before in San Diego a totally different climate. If they take the Herbalife (and I presume they both do), I'm sure they believe they are super-strong as well.

I wanted to ask you (I've been to Death Valley & Bullhead City many times) and live in Az myself, but wouldn't the vultures start to gather around anything dead in the valley floor or desert floor?

Our vultures are migratory and generally prefer to be residents of the area during the fall.(Although it is not uncommon to see the kettles come through at anytime) I honestly have never seen them circle a dead animal or otherwise as shown in the movies. Does it happen ? Maybe? But .. I personally, have not seen it.

 

[Micheline]

I think we agree that LE has without a doubt looked at all of his photos and any devices he had with him that day. Certainly if the photos contradicted his story LE would have a different stance. It may however be that they neither support nor refute his story.

I think it is way more simple.
His phone keeps track of everywhere he walked in that or surrounding area, and his car keeps track of his every movement too.

No need for photos. IMO

BTW they consider him the prime suspect according to Robert himself.

 

[dbdb11]

dbdb11...

Sorry if I missed these answers before but reading through poster's comments and speculation, the facts become muddied. Can you answer:

-Did Barbara in fact take a 360 photo? With what, her phone? His phone? A camera? iPad?
Don't know conclusively. My information says Barb has no phone.
-Did they stop anywhere before the spot where she went missing?
I was informed they'd been here many times by Rob's family, then I was told it was their first time here, by Robbie. All accounts from Robbie, first and second hand, cite a nearby cave which Robbie 'returned' to, to look for Barb after not finding her at camper.
-Was the photo of her in news stories taken the same day she went missing?
MOO The photo of her in bikini with hat and glasses was not taken the day of her disappearance, but is the closest photo Rob could get hold of that looked how she looked the day she went missing. As I mentioned this fits with what I know of her 'stroll through desert' style as well. Photos from the day are likely still in law enforcements hands, assuming he had an actual camera on him, and was not just snapping photos with his cellphone.
-Did they always get along?
In my experience no one always gets along. They're both very human, had arguments and were able to get through them. My father and his wife refer to their arguments as comical and a notable part of their relationship. ie. It was entertaining watching them stubbornly bicker over something.
-Any financial struggles or recent life changes?
I also would like to know this.

EDIT: answers in bold in quote

 

[PaulR]

- because it makes her look like an alluring target for abduction ( bikini, beer) despite age
- she wasn't carrying any items that might have been able to pinpoint her location, like phone or credit cards
- it could make her appear somewhat unbalanced
I

Also
- it was what she was wearing last, and MP reports always have information about what the MP was wearing last if that information is available

 

[dbdb11]

I think it is way more simple.
His phone keeps track of everywhere he walked in that or surrounding area, and his car keeps track of his every movement too.

No need for photos. IMO

Great if true, but does that confirm Barb is on the scene?

 

[Joe Friday]

Unfortunately this is my own opinion. I can only confirm Robbie's family told me he was going through the photos with detectives, and was unavailable to speak on the occasion I tried to get through to him. I deduce that his story and the photos, particularly the well referenced 360 photo, has Barbara on the scene at the correct time. Otherwise, with no proof of her on the scene, why would they spend 9 days searching? To prove she isn't there?

Strongly feel Robbie has provided substantial evidence of Barbs being there that day, within his stated timeline.

A really crafty criminal could manipulate the date on a digital camera to make it look as if a photo was taken on a certain date in the future (set clock ahead) then go back to the same location on that given date in which the photo's are timestamped and act as if those photos were taken on that day.

That would give the impression someone was there when they weren't.

I'm sure everyone has seen photos with the wrong date on them. Christmas pictures which say 12-25-2020 when it was actually 12-25-2012

JMO

 

[Curiousobserver]

I think it is way more simple.
His phone keeps track of everywhere he walked in that or surrounding area, and his car keeps track of his every movement too.

No need for photos. IMO

That too- I think by now LE has seen his phone, looked at his electronics, started the gps on his car, viewed his photos, asked and re-asked a thousand questions. Perhaps they even have is cell records by now.

 

[artsy1]

Frequently Asked Questions - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

questions about Mojave Desert

snip

Is there cell-phone service?
Cell phone service is sporadic and unreliable.

 

[Lisa Dee]

If RT is innocent, he must be going through some terrible times right now.

 

[leomoon]

Was there a photo taken that day with the same clothes Sheryl Thomas was found in? They searched 4 days for her until they actually found her thanks to her small pet dog which they found first. I don't think they'd NOT search without proof that the person was actually in the place they disappeared from, but perhaps?

 

[leomoon]

Our vultures are migratory and generally prefer to be residents of the area during the fall.(Although it is not uncommon to see the kettles come through at anytime) I honestly have never seen them circle a dead animal or otherwise as shown in the movies. Does it happen ? Maybe? But .. I personally, have not seen it.

Over here, all the time. Everytime we drive anywhere like today for example in Mesa Az near the Superstition Mt. to Safeway, a bunch of turkey buzzards or vultures circling a prey on the road. But as you said, they are from this area too, (of the fall), so good point to know. Thanks.

 

[10ofRods]

I don't think the search would go into its 9th full day if they didn't think she was out there.

Sitting here feeling really sad for her, whatever happened.

 

[Micheline]

Great if true, but does that confirm Barb is on the scene?

They can use it to refute his story.
If for example he claims Barbara had the phone in her posession while in the car, the motion of the phone could disprove this.

 

[PaulR]

A really crafty criminal could manipulate the date on a digital camera to make it look as if a photo was taken on a certain date in the future (set clock ahead) then go back to the same location on that given date in which the photo's are timestamped and act as if those photos were taken on that day.

That would give the impression someone was there when they weren't.

I'm sure everyone has seen photos with the wrong date on them. Christmas pictures which say 12-25-2020 when it was actually 12-25-2012

JMO

Technical time...

Cell phones pull time from local cell towers. An old digital camera where you have to enter the time by hand is one thing, that's like the VCR blinking "12:00" where the time was always wrong.

Sometimes people will ask "is this possible" (this in this case being, can you trick the phone into thinking it is the wrong time, or modify the photo after the fact) - and the answer is that there can be a big difference between "technically possible" and "plausible given the circumstances and people involved."

There's also more to just changing the time. You can ask yourself if there were other ways to tell the difference between a photo taken in 2020 and a photo taken in 2012, besides the timestamp on the photo, to answer this question; I'm certain you can figure out a few ways.

I'll not say anything else because I'm not going to give criminals advice here if I can avoid it.

 

[dbdb11]

A really crafty criminal could manipulate the date on a digital camera to make it look as if a photo was taken on a certain date in the future (set clock ahead) then go back to the same location on that given date in which the photo's are timestamped and act as if those photos were taken on that day.

That would give the impression someone was there when they weren't.

I'm sure everyone has seen photos with the wrong date on them. Christmas pictures which say 12-25-2020 when it was actually 12-25-2012

JMO

I'd hope a competent investigator could somehow check if metadata was edited, but yea, you're absolutely right... it's quite easy.

"If you notice that one of your photos has an incorrect date, you can modify it right within Windows. Open the folder that contains the photo, right-click the file, and choose Properties. You should see the date on the General tab, but there's nothing we can do there. Click the Details tab. Next, find the Origin section (it should be near the top) and you should see the "Date taken" field. Just click in the date and change it to anything you like."
Change the Dates in Your Photos

 

[Micheline]

I don't think the search would go into its 9th full day if they didn't think she was out there.

Sitting here feeling really sad for her, whatever happened.

I think they know he was there.

 

[Lilibet]

Was there a photo taken that day with the same clothes Sheryl Thomas was found in? They searched 4 days for her until they actually found her thanks to her small pet dog which they found first. I don't think they'd NOT search without proof that the person was actually in the place they disappeared from, but perhaps?

I absolutely believe there would be a search without proof the person was actually there, as long as someone said they were. How long an extensive search would go on before being called off is the question. The length of the search for Barbara in extreme heat indicates (to me anyway) that LE is reasonably sure she is there...somewhere. On the other hand, never finding her doesn’t prove she wasn’t there.

 

[fridaybaker]

Also... and I am sure this has come up many times.. the rattle snake population is plentiful. One of our most gorgeous , but deadly natives is the Mojave Green Rattler. These snakes deliver a painful bite that will kill within 30 minutes if not treated. We encounter them often in the Summer time. Our experience with them is this: They leave you alone if you respect them. Most are bitten because they accidentally are bitten when placing their hands in rock formations to climb, or if they accidentally step on one. It is RARE that a Mojave green alerts anyone by rattling. They are the ONLY species of rattlesnake here that tend to NOT alert. One must always be aware that this is their home. And they will protect it and themselves fiercely. If Barbara was disoriented and trying to get herself to higher ground, and in the process was bitten..her end would be quick.

Here is the problem I have, at this point, with an accident/injury/medical event, etc. In that heat, sans water, clothed very minimally, how far could she have gotten? I understand that there are many, many times when people have become lost in the desert, died, and haven't been found for months or years.

However, we seem to have a fairly limited amount of geography to cover here, and searchers have been going over it assiduously for over a week now. Could she really have gone for hours in any one direction, taking her many miles away from the spot her husband last saw her?

Also, have I missed this? I thought I heard/read somewhere that the dogs did initially pick up her sent, but maybe I'm misremembering on that. Can anyone help?

Thanks.