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

[moonrise]

It might be irrelevant, but the VI mentioned something about the couple having a dog (or more than one dog; I don't recall the exact statement).

I wonder if the dog(s) were with them on the camping trip, and if so, did the dog(s) remain in the camper during their walk, or did the dog(s) go on the walk with them? I can't imagine leaving dogs in a camper (or any vehicle) in such miserably hot weather*, so unless they'd left the dog(s) at home or with a sitter, I would think that the dog(s) would've gone on the walk with them. If that's the case, was Barbara holding the leash when she "went around a corner" and disappeared? And if so, where is the dog(s) now?

Edited to add: *I'm unclear whether they were already camping in an actual campground with electrical hookups, or if they were headed to their destination and had pulled off the side of the road to stretch their legs and take photos along the way ... in other words, no electrical hookups (or air conditioning) available. Anyone know?

 

[lolafaith]

I've read up on this case as well and his explanation doesn't really make sense, if he was really a few seconds or up to a minute behind her - because how long can it take to snap a photo of rocks? And she walked around a corner, in a desert where there was no one else for miles?? She apparently vanishes, he thinks she's walked to the camper van and is surprised when she's not there. Did he follow her footprints, wouldn't there have been foot prints? Why would she have kept walking if she realised he wasn't behind her, she would have waited?

Of course what he is telling the police cannot be the whole truth.

 

[dalsglen]

Could it have had something to do with the cost of the trip? Last-minute purchases sometimes skyrocket in price. Could holding off those few days have made a substantial difference?

I would beg borrow or steal to get to my brother. Money would be totally irrelevant, my brother comes first.

 

[IceIce9]

I would beg borrow or steal to get to my brother. Money would be totally irrelevant, my brother comes first.

Also, how could a person even enjoy a recreational camping trip knowing a family member was very ill?

Again, this is just a very strange case. Doesn’t add up.

 

[IceIce9]

But look at the photographs of searchers in the Daily Mail article linked recently. Huge jumbled rock piles towering high above the searchers, with many crevices that a small person could slip into.

But, was she headed back to the camper, or going rock climbing? From what Robert said, it seems she wanted to go to the camper rather than staying with Robert while he took a photo.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Also, how could a person even enjoy a recreational camping trip knowing a family member was very ill?

Again, this is just a very strange case. Doesn’t add up.

This is a very compelling point.
You are right, it doesn’t add up.
Perhaps the trip to China to see the brother was some how a trigger to this disappearance.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[kkdj]

Also, how could a person even enjoy a recreational camping trip knowing a family member was very ill?

Again, this is just a very strange case. Doesn’t add up.

Maybe it was to relax before confronting her trip? Nervous energy?

 

[IceIce9]

“That’s the last I ever saw of her.” Past tense? What should he say that would be both natural and sound less suspicious?

Saying “That’s the last I ever saw of her” sounds like he never expected to see her again.

Picking up on small verbal clues and I’m sure investigators notice as well.

MOO

 

[kkdj]

idk. If my brother was terminally ill and I was going to see him next week, I might need to stay busy until I could get there.
I love my brother huge and we're far apart. It would bother me big time! I think my hubby would find things for me to do until I could get there. So there's that.

 

[kakadu]

I would beg borrow or steal to get to my brother. Money would be totally irrelevant, my brother comes first.

According to the VI BT visited her brother some months ago. So it would be her second visit in a short time.

He wrote: *Only Barb was coming, and she made a similar solo trip a few months back.*

 

[bluenoser]

"Perhaps the trip to China to see the brother was some how a trigger to this disappearance. "

I think it was.

 

[kkdj]

"Perhaps the trip to China to see the brother was some how a trigger to this disappearance. "

I think it was.

Why? I'm not disagreeing but wanting to hear your reasoning.

 

[Eli9]

I have a question for the VI, going way back to the beginning ....

VI shared that BT had called family in China about her plan to travel there, and also told them that she and RT were going camping for a few days first.

Apparently her ill brother in China is *very* sick. Does it seem unusual to her family that she was going camping first instead of prioritizing the trip to China, and going camping some other time? Did they have reservations at some special camping spot that is in such demand that they wouldn't want to lose it, and that's why she was postponing the China trip until after the camping?

I ask because if one of my sisters was that ill, seeing her and bringing what comfort and support I could give would take priority over a camping trip that I could do anytime. Is the VI certain that it was BT who made that call, not RT calling to share their plans?

From thread 1 the VI indicated that BT had tried reaching out to see if the health conditions of her brother would warrant pushing up the trip to Hong Kong. CA - CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, Bullhead City, hiking wearing bikini in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019

 

[liveoak]

"Perhaps the trip to China to see the brother was some how a trigger to this disappearance. "

I think it was.

My thoughts, too. I would like to ask the VI if she had expressed doubts about going to Hong Kong

 

[dbdb11]

Now that the search has been called off, I am wondering if we will see R.T. and a team of family and friends as well as B.T.'s son start their own search?

They sure could use the services of the amazing team that located Amanda Eller in Hawaii!

JMO

can you send me any information about this team? dm?

 

[dbdb11]

Right. I mean, it's one thing if say, he found her travel mug and hat on the ground, and say skid marks made from her hiking boots to show she was dragged, possibly being forced into a vehicle- then I would totally agree with the abduction theory. At that point, I would hope LE would have an APB out for her, had she been kidnapped.

Yet, he was simply taking pictures, she was heading back to the camper. He shouldn't have been too far away from her time wise, as he saw her round the corner.

asked him if he foumd any signs of a struggle around the camper, or tire tracks etc. he told he hadnt noticed, but also hadn't thought to look for that immediately. also said when.search and.rescue

 

[dbdb11]

asked him if he foumd any signs of a struggle around the camper, or tire tracks etc. he told he hadnt noticed, but also hadn't thought to look for that immediately. also said when.search and.rescue

... also said when search and rescue arrived they pulled up in such away, and stomped around the scene in such a way potential crime scene evidence would have been destroyed.

 

[kkdj]

... also said when search and rescue arrived they pulled up in such away, and stomped around the scene in such a way potential crime scene evidence would have been destroyed.

I believe this.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

I would be interested in viewing a list of all crimes within the last year located on that road.
There must be a reason that RT thinks she was kidnapped while crossing the road.

 

[dbdb11]

Did either or both of them enjoy gambling?

i visited them in henderson, and we would visit my grandmother in care facility in vegas.

would eat out on occasion in casinoes. never had the impression either of them liked gambling. even when they'd take my dad to some more 'local' casinoes in laughlin area my feeling was they might gamble a bit to humor my dad. some blackjack, maybe few slots.

my own opinion, havent clarified with my family yet.