CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #3

[Stragnet]

I believe you mean MacKenzie not Amanda Lueck.

Yes, thank you!

 

[cherrymeg]

Some ppl dislike/detest/hate cell phones because of
- teensy tiny keyboards, esp. ppl. w elephantine thumbs.
- dinky- screens, esp. ppl. w dim vision, screens unreadable in sunlight, etc. jmo

Some ppl. prefer, use, and carry tablets instead.

Edit. @Liwthe Thanks for your comment re mini-iPad.

People get upset when you don't answer your cell. I'm not a doctor or in any field where I need to jump every time a phone rings or vibrates. I remember using payphones. I used to know friends numbers by heart.

 

[iscaremyself]

People get upset when you don't answer your cell. I'm not a doctor or in any field where I need to jump every time a phone rings or vibrates. I remember using payphones. I used to know friends numbers by heart.

My phone # started with letters back in the day

 

[TJtennispro]

What kind of person gets upset when you don’t answer their cell call? That’s ridiculous. If I’m working I won’t answer your call. Sometimes I don’t answe when I’m not working.

People get upset when you don't answer your cell. I'm not a doctor or in any field where I need to jump every time a phone rings or vibrates. I remember using payphones. I used to know friends numbers by heart.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

I think of hiking as a form of exercise and walking more of a casual activity.

IMO hikers are less likely to be drinking beer while hiking than someone out for a walk taking pictures and enjoying the scenery. If that is even possible in 100 degree desert heat.

After seeing the video interviews, RT doesn't strike me as a hiker. I don't think the purpose of stopping was to get some exercise.

JMO

Has RT said where they were going when they pulled over to take a short hike to take pictures?

BT told her relations that she would be out of touch for a couple days (per a post by dbdb11) so was she talking about she would be hiking in the desert or were they just passing through?

If they were planning on being gone for a couple days what did she have packed in the RV? Was her personal items inside the RV? Purse, Makeup, Lotions, etc, things a woman wouldn’t leave home without for a couple days?

 

[slowpoke]

Is the info that she has (ie owns) no phone info that was provided by Robert? Can police verify that she owned no phone? Yes, through phone records/bank & credit card statements. This stuff takes time to work through for law enforcement....

I may be mistaken, but I believe dbdb11 has stated he has two numbers from which to reach his aunt (BT): one is a landline and the other is a cell phone, which I interpreted to be one she shared with her husband (RT).

ETA dbdb11’s post regarding the two numbers:
CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #2

 

[10ofRods]

What kind of person gets upset when you don’t answer their cell call? That’s ridiculous. If I’m working I won’t answer your call. Sometimes I don’t answe when I’m not working.

Clearly not anyone I know! They'd be off my acquaintance/friend list pretty quickly. I have work to do and promises to keep.

Actually, the beauty of a cell phone (with voice mail) is that you can see who called you. I routinely look up unknown numbers and use web sites to eliminate robo callers and the like (lots of spoofed numbers on my phone). I block 'em, only my friends and known callers get through, and now I like talking on the phone again. I'm only a little younger than Barbara, but since she's the artistic type and may enjoy her private thoughts, she may have a very different view to the rest of us.

 

[Knox]

My phone # started with letters back in the day

OT - I still remember my Aunt's phone number who lived in Rialto, CA in the 70's. It was TR 5 -1928

 

[lonetraveler]

My thing is..... if they were finishing a 2 mile hike would she still be carrying a beer?

I know I wouldn't

 

[Micheline]

That may be one interpretation. Another could be that it made her appear more vulnerable.

True.
I just came the conclusion that Robert was still very much in love with Barbara.
I base this upon several things.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Question to all, where do you think Barbara is?

A few miles up the road in the desert left by the kidnappers. Dead or Alive.

 

[aspirationaltattoo]

I know I wouldn't

I'm just getting into this thread, so please forgive me if I'm not all the way up to speed, but just wanted to mention I'm a fairly experienced hiker, and under normal circumstances, someone who is casually hiking or walking through a relatively flat area for two miles will take roughly 30 to 45 minutes to go that far. I guess it depends on how much you like beer and how thirsty you are.

 

[mks762]

Trying not to violate TOS but I'm very curious because I just can't get there- to those who think Robert may be involved- what's the reason?? Why would he do this to his wife?? What's the motive here?

 

[al66pine]

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Search and Rescue Publications.

Thanks to PaulR for bringing this ^ site to our attention. If not him, who? Sorry I forgot.

 

[10ofRods]

I know I wouldn't

But would you have just thrown the bottle on the ground? We don't put empties of anything inside our backpacks, because...sticky/messy even if only slightly damp.

She would have still been carrying her beverage container upon arrival to the RV if things had gone as planned. MOO.

As to motive, well, I'm jaded enough to believe that people can do things in the heat of passion. With no motive other than overwhelming anger, arising out of minor annoyances, IRL that does happen. Not necessarily my opinion here though.

 

[cherrymeg]

Clearly not anyone I know! They'd be off my acquaintance/friend list pretty quickly. I have work to do and promises to keep.

Actually, the beauty of a cell phone (with voice mail) is that you can see who called you. I routinely look up unknown numbers and use web sites to eliminate robo callers and the like (lots of spoofed numbers on my phone). I block 'em, only my friends and known callers get through, and now I like talking on the phone again. I'm only a little younger than Barbara, but since she's the artistic type and may enjoy her private thoughts, she may have a very different view to the rest of us.

You don't answer your phone for a day or so and people ask if you are alive. I'd understand that more if I lived alone but I don't. I held out on getting a smart phone for so long. I still prefer printed out directions even if I'm traveling 1000 miles. Those scam or spam calls I started telling people I was dead. They still wanted to talk about something. I was like, "How dare you I'm grieving". The spam callers have gotten slicker I used to have an app that blocked them but now they have numbers similar to mine and they change them by the minute.

 

[Stragnet]

There could be many reasons she didn't have/want/use a cell phone. Some people of advanced age don't want to learn the technology. Some have a hard time reading the small print or typing on the small keyboard. Other don't want the added expense when on a fixed income. She may have felt she could easily use the hotels guest computers to stay in touch with family.

Just throwing this out there not in an argumentative manner:
My 80+ YO father uses an iPad, mother a cell. The Thomas’ either have a comfortable retirement nest egg or credit line (as we’ve seen with the truck and RV), so it’s not a money/financial issue.

I have a feeling that there’s something more there other than she does not own a phone (did Robert take hers/carrying it in his pack for her? Initial media reports stated he was carrying it and then media changed this narrative).

 

[10ofRods]

I don't answer numbers from people I don't know. New person at work? Leave voicemail. Everyone I know does this, so no one thinks we're dead. I do have family, they would be really surprised if I didn't pick up. But I know their numbers and each has their own ringtone...

I still managed to scare and upset several family members by getting too involved in an outdoor project at work and not taking my phone. I was way later getting home (or on the road with phone) and my phone was in my office. So when the admin office said I was not in my office, family got a bit scared. I still haven't lived it down.

 

[PaulR]

But would you have just thrown the bottle on the ground? We don't put empties of anything inside our backpacks, because...sticky/messy even if only slightly damp.

No. Never. Pack your trash. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

 

[Lilibet]

OT - I still remember my Aunt's phone number who lived in Rialto, CA in the 70's. It was TR 5 -1928

OT—My childhood phone in the 1950’s in the SF East Bay was LAndscape 3-8774. No area codes in those days!

But I digress.