CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #5

[chihuahua]

Travelling now but I'll probably watch the Lafayette Indiana news tonight myself. I loved the local stuff. Who knows they might have recipes tonight!
Chi

 

[firstsleuth]

Another thing is... and I don't mean to be offensive in any way.. but someone earlier had mentioned the unlikelihood of being picked up along the highway, because out of x number of vehicles driving past there at that particular time in the first place, only x percent of them would potentially have that type of proclivity to abduct a random adult female for nefarious purposes... but add to that already-very-very-very-low percentage, it would also have to be one that would be content to abduct an elderly woman for that purpose.. I realize that BT is a stunning woman and apparently had the bod to don a bikini, but alas, she is still 69 years old. Even if she appeared to be 20 years younger, how often is it that a 50 year old woman gets picked up by a random abuser, in comparison to a young woman?

The fact that the spouse is seeming to latch onto the theory of someone taking her because she may have appeared to be a bikini-clad party-girl ready with beer in-hand, is also disturbing to me, because often I find that jealous-husband-types will often accuse men of being interested in their women, giving her the eye, flirting, etc., and sometimes also blame the woman for why other men seem interested.. when in reality, it may be mostly in their heads, attributed to sheer jealousy and personality-type. jmo, of course.

I tried to grab both of your posts; wanted to thank you for them. I found them to be clear, well laid out, and sensitive summaries of my thinking lines as well.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Dadgummit, I knew that too. I edited my post. MOO

*just learnt a new word*

 

[al66pine]

The referenced post was in response to mine, in which I asked: "-Have there been any neighbors who've said how the couple interacted or what they are/were like?"

@deugirtini Thanks for your post. Looking back at kapua's comments, I see your earlier post quoted. My apologies for my misinterp.

Now back to your question about interviewing neighbors about RT & BT's interactions, what they are/were like, etc.

Maybe MSM reporter(s) did talk/tried talking w neighbors, and maybe they said nothing newsworthy. Or something derogatory. Or maybe neighbors' comments were clipped for shortage of column inches in the press or precious seconds of air time. Just because content does not make it to press, air, or the web does not mean it did not happen. jmo.

But like you and others here, I am curious about the neighbors' observations.

 

[deugirtni]

@deugirtini Thanks for your post. Looking back kapua's comments, I see your earlier post quoted. My apologies for my misinterp.

Now back to your question about interviewing neighbors about RT & BT's interactions, what they are/were like, etc.

Maybe MSM reporter(s) did talk/tried talking w neighbors, and maybe they said nothing newsworthy. Or something derogatory. Or maybe neighbors' comments were clipped for shortage of column inches in the press or precious seconds of air time. Just because content does not make it to press, air, or the web does not mean it did not happen. jmo.

But like you and others here, I am curious about the neighbors' observations.

Yes, me too.. love to know whether they would mostly say, 'great people', or 'nobody really knows them as they stick to themselves', or 'prefer not to say anything', or... ? There's mostly always at least ONE neighbor who's willing to 'talk' to the press, imo, and I'm sure reporters are trying to talk to *someone*, as they always are!

eta: or.. 'yeah, we hear them bickering all the time', or 'yeah, BT is always out in the evening'.. or.. or.. or..

 

[dbdb11]

^snipped for focus^
Guessing everyone of us here has at some point has received a gift we did not want.
Is it possible that while on trip, BT used phone to contact HK-based fam and RT (and others?) in US and was glad to do so at the time, but did not want to take it back w her? Because it was too complicated for her to use easily, because she felt it was too extravagant, or ...(IDK)? In these circumstances "enjoyed use of " could be interp'ed by non-family as simply "used." Not saying this is true; she may have left phone in HK for contolling-husband reason @10ofRods noted. Or other reasons.

On a side note, showing my ignorance here - but are cell phones & plans internationally usable/compatible? I hesitate to use personal, anecdotal experience from a few yrs back, but before some trips abroad (not to HK), I recall learning that my cell would 'not work there.' Would HK-acquired phone and/or plan work in US, or BT would have had to buy a new phone or plan? Thx in adv.

US networks sell cellphones, and lock them so you can't use the same phone on a different network. There were multiple related lawsuits ongoing when I moved back to hk. My US phone wouldn't work on HK networks. Angry, I called the US network and told them I knew there was law suits ongoing and they quickly gave me the code to unlock my phone. Dirty corporate tricks. HK networks have their own tricks.

In any case, your sentiment above is all good. I felt she left the phone because she didn't want to take something which could have been very valuable, in her estimation. Both her son and my dad's wife claim Barb expressed wanting a phone, and she never got one... for what its worth.

Robbie also singled out that one aspect of my cousin's PUBLIC facebook claims to deny to my dad. 'I never prevented Barb from having a cellphone. That's BS and you know it...' Something along those lines.

 

[Kapua]

Yes, me too.. love to know whether they would mostly say, 'great people', or 'nobody really knows them as they stick to themselves', or 'prefer not to say anything', or... ? There's mostly always at least ONE neighbor who's willing to 'talk' to the press, imo, and I'm sure reporters are trying to talk to *someone*, as they always are!

eta: or.. 'yeah, we hear them bickering all the time', or 'yeah, BT is always out in the evening'.. or.. or.. or..

Where is the Daily Mail when you need them? MOO

 

[firstsleuth]

I'm thinking if it would have been *so* simple as an explanation for what happened, to have been picked up as a result of BT crossing the highway to get to the truck/RV and being seen by an abductor, then it should have been just as simple for the other 99% of 'regular' drivers (the ones without desires to take random people) on the road to have seen the truck/RV? Have LE posted pics of that truck/TV in the 'missing' poster(s)? Have they asked for anyone seeing the vehicle(s) to come forward?

Respectfully BBM and SBM:

Perhaps LE has a timeline already in place from cell phone pings in area? Otherwise, I believe LE would’ve appealed to travelers who saw the rig on Kelbaker Rd. to step forward to help verify RT’s reported timeline.

I believe the timeline and location facts we do have are notable (at least for spinning my head around trying to make logical sense of them)

I’ve been staring at google maps for about 30 minutes, with Bullhead City, Kelbaker Rd/Hidden Hills intersection, Las Vegas and Henderson as stopping points.

Why did they stop to hike so close to their home and so late in the day? Why weren’t they farther away from their home after leaving at 815am? Even with a leisurely breakfast and gas fill, they should've been almost 4 hours drive time away, not 1 hour and 45 minutes away from their home. Weren’t they anxious about getting to their camping site for the night?

OTOH, zooming out on the map tells me there are far better spots than Granite Hills for any possible nefarious staging purposes or for recreation. For example, Joshua Tree NP is just under 3 hours from Bullhead City and is notorious for keeping the missing hidden and is an awesome hiking destination.

We live in Phoenix and frequently travel to escape the city. Hiking is our favorite activity. With that being said, the BT/RT timeline is inexplicable to me.

When we go on a road trip to spend a few days away for recreational purposes, we are going someplace nice and someplace different from where we live. No matter how hard I try, I cannot resolve their stopping to hike at a relatively unimpressive area fairly close to their home at 2pm when they are on a camping trip. To me, that location seems to be a one day drive to, hike and return home destination. At 2pm when we are driving somewhere, I am ready to be there to have fun for the day!

Any other members want to take a look at zoomed out maps like I did? I would like to hear everyone’s thinking on the location and time of day, but especially those living in the southwest. RT/BT’s movements on July 12th make no sense to me as an active traveler from the Southwest.

 

[dbdb11]

Top right is Barb in Dallas Texas, 1950. In the family photo I'm not sure my dad is born yet.
Other two photos from her last visit in May 2018.

 

[Cherwell]

@firstsleuth As a complete outsider with no knowledge of the area, I can only compare it in general terms, so my offer is:
We're told they often go on these trips, so had probably travelled that road a few times. Maybe on earlier occasions they had said while passing, "We'll stop and have a look at that outcrop, that creek, some time", and this time they did. They might have made another short stop earlier on.

I expect most of us have experienced something similar as we drive past a point of interest: "Must visit there one day .... "

 

[dbdb11]

Top right is Barb in Dallas Texas, 1950. In the family photo I'm not sure my dad is born yet.
Other two photos from her last visit in May 2018.

Note using phone to take pics on cable car.

 

[muddlehead]

Both her son and my dad's wife claim Barb expressed wanting a phone, and she never got one... for what its worth.

Robbie also singled out that one aspect of my cousin's PUBLIC facebook claims to deny to my dad. 'I never prevented Barb from having a cellphone. That's BS and you know it...' Something along those lines.

Darn. I find that very, very interesting to learn. The part about RT singling that out. Thinking out loud. I have a cell phone. (and a PC on my desk that I'm using now) Flip phone. 99% of the time it's for texts. Everyone in my family has a smart phone and they're obviously indispensable. Like BT, I'm retired. Don't need or want a smart phone. But, I surely want the flip phone always nearby for family emergencies etc … Question. When BT says she wants a phone, and when RT says he did not prevent her from getting a phone, are we talking smart phone w/ web access or cell phone / flip phone like mine? I just can't imagine, if I'm BT, not having a cell/flip in my life for, at the very least, emergencies.

 

[GordianKnot]

Are we all tuning in tonight for potential updates on Purdue sports and/or buggy updates???

Can someone please provide a recap for those of us who will be unable to tune in to this evening's newscast featuring everyone's favorite meteorologist, Balant Szalavari?

TIA!

 

[Jo in Calif]

US networks sell cellphones, and lock them so you can't use the same phone on a different network. There were multiple related lawsuits ongoing when I moved back to hk. My US phone wouldn't work on HK networks. Angry, I called the US network and told them I knew there was law suits ongoing and they quickly gave me the code to unlock my phone. Dirty corporate tricks. HK networks have their own tricks.

In any case, your sentiment above is all good. I felt she left the phone because she didn't want to take something which could have been very valuable, in her estimation. Both her son and my dad's wife claim Barb expressed wanting a phone, and she never got one... for what its worth.

Robbie also singled out that one aspect of my cousin's PUBLIC facebook claims to deny to my dad. 'I never prevented Barb from having a cellphone. That's BS and you know it...' Something along those lines.

Interesting about RT calling BS on the cell phone.
Anything else he called BS on?

 

[MsBetsy]

Yes, if he says something duragatory he could be sued or I think the network.

Or they could just edit it out.
I can't imagine the media turning down any story concerning a missing person.

Even if Barbara's son suspects foul play or thinks her husband is involved, I would think the media would be anxious to interview anyone who might have information about the case. Imo

 

[firstsleuth]

But I mean... if dogs were called in to this remote area where the couple was *known* to have been, and hardly any people had trampled the grounds afterward, and presumably the dogs would have started at that place so wouldn't have been hot or exhausted yet, why wouldn't they have been able to catch BT's scent at least at the point where RT said they were at? I just wondered if there was something about the ground/dirt that would preclude a dog from being able to smell in that area.

Unfortunately, we do not conclusively know whether or not the dogs picked up BT’s trail or whether the searchers picked up RT’s trail to see if they could detect a trail in those conditions. The lack of facts in this case is so frustrating

 

[dbdb11]

Set 2 is roughly 2002 - 2009
Set 3 is 2014 - 2017
Set 4 includes wedding Nov 2006
Set 5 with dog Lexi?
Set 6 is 2017? and 2018

Most of these pictures are from post cards and hallmark notes she sent to my dad and his wife.
Please help us find BARB! She is an awesome lady!

 

[chihuahua]

Top right is Barb in Dallas Texas, 1950. In the family photo I'm not sure my dad is born yet.
Other two photos from her last visit in May 2018.

Thanks so much. Her sweet spirit just shines through. And I noticed the cell phone as you pointed out.
Jmo but Barbara never having/getting one of her own in the U.S. just kind of breaks my heart .
I don't know what to think. I do have thoughts I'll keep private right now.
Chi

 

[Tillicum]

Set 2 is roughly 2002 - 2009
Set 3 is 2014 - 2017
Set 4 includes wedding Nov 2006
Set 5 with dog Lexi?
Set 6 is 2017? and 2018

Most of these pictures are from post cards and hallmark notes she sent to my dad and his wife.
Please help us find BARB! She is an awesome lady!

Thank you for these. She is awesome. Gorgeous.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

@dbdb11 thank you for sharing the pictures. Find them quite upsetting to view in a way as it brings the person much more to life, conveying her spirit.