CA CA - Barbara Thomas, 69, from Bullhead City AZ, disappeared in Mojave desert, 12 July 2019 #8

[Leney]

Barbs in the desert, like she don't need to wander off for privacy to pee....imo
I get the whole heat exposure thing...but she was close enough, it appears to refuge (the RV) If, for some reason she felt unsafe, then we do have an abduction scenario I guess....or she has gone off track to escape...been chased into the desert...
So many scenarios...

Somehow a theory that BT needed to had to use a washroom has become a fact.

If you listen to the interview, RT states "she wanted to EAT or MEET at the RV".
He turns his head so I suspect it was "meet".

The transcribed interview is incorrect as he does not state USE.

 

[Leney]

I think since they looked for literal/physical footprints and found none, they've likely now turned their attention to looking for figurative/electronic footprints.

I think LE is likely doing a deep dive into the digital data, including cell phone, gps tracking, bank/financial records and computer activity.

BBM

Do we know they did not find any ?
Perhaps they found partial prints which could not be attributed to anyone ?

 

[Twistinginthewind]

Private Plane, Who Knew?

@Twistinginthewind Thanks for your post.
Could be as you say, no one (or not many) knew.
Brings to mind a couple I know w $ XX,000,000+ moolah who discuss/disclose little to their 'poor relations' (or to anyone) about their $ or toys, etc, because, originally coming from same socio-economic level as others in fam, they do not want to be seen as bragging or arrogant. Aside from a few 'indulgences' they live a modest life. The opposite of 'all flash, no cash' types.

Maybe RT & BT just stayed low key about some things - like the plane?
Just a possibility, not saying it's true.

That makes sense. It's just another unknown, I guess, in terms of whether RT having use of a private plane would be relevant to BT's son's concerns he expressed on the MSM interview. MOO
ETA: And thank you, al66pine, for always being so polite and thanking people for their posts. Thank you! For your posts too : )

 

[firstsleuth]

Is it possible they (family) may be protecting her, by keeping her whereabouts a secret?
If it is possible that R Thomas had bad intentions, or a dangerous profession... then it is also possible that his wife needed to get away quickly.

RBBM
Regarding my holding of your statement; I SO wish it were possible; but based on the discussions here so far, I believe highly unlikely (JMHO)

Welcome to the discussion shanadk! It seems like you have some interesting ideas and theories and appreciate you putting them out there.

We are on thread #8. There is a wealth of information on prior threads; and, PommyMommy has put an entire media thread together. We also have a Verified Insider, dbdb11.

MOO, (but I believe shared by many): He is generous with his time and seems fair, considerate, and thoughtful in his additions and replies to this thread about his Aunt Barbara.

Respectfully, I would love to see your input once you’ve had some time to catch up on the case.

Fresh eyes are always a good thing!

MOO, JMHO

 

[Leney]

.
I agree with everything you said. I do not know where the "square" comes from (or parking lot." To me, that's just another dirt pull-out. But if there was even one car at that nearby pull-out, I would be suspicious as well (if I were RT and I thought she was abducted). If there were two cars there, I'd be even more suspicious (since we hardly ever see anyone on the pullouts in Mojave NP...although, it was high tourist season). Obviously, there are a few places where it's common to see people (Kelso Depot, Zzyzx Road, etc) but we would never pull over where there were already cars, and if someone comes up while we're there, we pretty much pack up and leave. Robbie and Barbara may have felt someone similar if the other car(s) were just a mile away.

I too would insist the police investigate the license plates (and perhaps they have). At the same time, if I were the detective on this case and I had way better information/leads (including the whereabouts of the Thomas's truck throughout the day), I might put that on the back burner, IKWIM.

I would add the Sweeny Research Center to that list as well.

https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/upload/MOJAmap1-2.pdf

 

[10ofRods]

Somehow a theory that BT needed to had to use a washroom has become a fact.

If you listen to the interview, RT states "she wanted to EAT or MEET at the RV".
He turns his head so I suspect it was "meet".

The transcribed interview is incorrect as he does not state USE.

I hear it differently - but maybe two different interviews? I just re-listened to the ABC interview and I think he says "be at the RV." I don't hear a "t" sound before the "at." I think perhaps it will always remain unclear. At any rate, she didn't want to hang in the desert with him while he took one last picture, she wanted to go to the RV (seems to be what RT is trying to convey). He's just minutes behind her, and when he gets to the RV, there's no sign of her. He immediately starts to look for her.

 

[10ofRods]

I would add the Sweeny Research Center to that list as well.

https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/upload/MOJAmap1-2.pdf

Yes - me too. In fact, that was my main bet, but a couple of people here pointed out that unless they were actually on top of the Granite Mountains/Hills, that might not be visible? I don't know. I really want to go out there. Am hoping to get a look in late December/early January.

I think I can find some people who work at Sweeney on Twitter, now that I think about it - pass on the missing poster and the press releases. They're in the immediately area and many do research that requires walking about...

 

[BeachSky]

I would never subject my family to the scrutiny of social media, nor in this specific case would I offer a reward.
The media are not going to find BT.

As a family, I would be contacting SAR groups, in an effort to organize searches once the weather permits/cools.
Instead of a reward, I would be offering a donation to those SAR groups that would be of assistance in searching for BT.
I would try and coordinate those SAR efforts, as this is a recovery from the limited information we have.

Tim Miller of EquuSearch has a great determination,giving heart, a real truth
seeker.His hinky meter on Casey Anthony was spot on.
Maybe LE has -something -that steers them away from grid or organized searches of that area? I have no idea.

MOO

 

[Leney]

I think LE has been searching for evidence outside of the Mojave Desert where RT said she went missing, since we know they have obtained video footage from the convenience store where RT picked up ice at around 9 am that morning.

MOO

If they traveled through Needles via I40, there will multiple locations for CCTV footage.

 

[Leney]

my ponderings -
where did they go on their private plane? what was it for? to visit friends in south or north america?
MOO

Unless they flew to the Mojave desert, landed the plane in the Mojave desert, this has no bearing to this case whatsoever.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

If I took a polygraph and LE concluded I was being 'deceptive' and let's say, in the future, someone were to claim I knew a particular something (a something about which one of the polygraph questions covered) and LE caught me in that lie I could claim 'I was tired, lack of sleep' when they administered the polygraph to cover my butt. That would work... right? Right?

Is there precedence?

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

This point has been made before, but I'll say it again.
If she had been found, she wasn't likely to be in any state to go jetting off around the world. That just seems like common sense. She would have needed medical attention, rest and quiet after her ordeal, whether she had been lost in the desert for days or rescued from abduction.

It still wasn’t his trip or his flight to cancel.

 

[Twistinginthewind]

This local news station, ZACHNews, in Needles, CA, the nearest city from where BT went missing, has been covering BT's disappearance, searches for her, and references the ongoing investigation.
Bullhead City – ZachNews

 

[cazador]

Kennels treat my dogs better than I do.
They are walked a number of times daily.
Depending on the kennel, training/grooming can be part of the package.
They receive attention I am unable to give them.
They consider it a "holiday".
I certainly would never consider it "jail" for them.

My dog does not like the Kennel or the Vet. Not even a Bath !
He has 4 paws out keeping me from getting him through the front door of the place.
He wont stop barking after I leave and I have had the kennel call me to come get him as he is disruptive to the other guests
In reality to what you posted..
I find a tasteful sense of Humor is often needed when dealing with hard subjects like a missing person. Who we may not know, but for one reason or another we do care about them. That is why we come together at this forum.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Thanks for this PommyMommy. Did LE find any friends of Barbara to question about her marriage? As far as we know she had no friends. No one she felt she could confide in and that just really breaks my heart.

Maybe they were just each other’s friend and didn’t make time to spend with other people. It would be helpful to know if RT had other friends.

 

[al66pine]

LE & RT Going Thru Photos, When? Photos Taken When?

Well, we don't know if he has them or not, but the VI has questioned why he has not shared him with the media.
But yes, if he does not have them then he can't share them.
He also mentioned that the first time he called Robert he was busy going through photos with LE. I wonder if those were the pictures from that day. Imo

@MsBetsy Thanks for your post. bbm
When/which day was first time our VI @dbdb11 "called Robert?"
IIRC, not the day BT went missing, but a few days later.
Where were LE & RT during "going through"session?
- LE's RV command center at search site?
- LE (sub)station, maybe where they admin'ed RT the polygraph test?
- RT's home? Did SanB Co CA LE ever visit his AZ home?
- Elsewhere?

@MsBetsy, like you, I wonder when ^photos were shot. Where?
Did LE ask for photo of BT to circulate, maybe to SAR team or MSM?
Did RT voluntarily provide his non-phone camera to LE for reviewing pix? Did her provide memory card/SD card for them to copy or to keep?
Did RT voluntarily provide his phone w camera to LE for reviewing pix? Did her provide memory card/SD card for them to copy or to keep?
Would RT voluntarily give phone for LE to keep indefinitely?
IF LE & RT were "going through" pix for SAR or media, seems RT could have emailed 1-2-3+ pix to them, on the spot, no need to provide cam or phone to LE to keep indefinitely.
If RT had ready engaged atty before "going through" pix session, would he have been talking directly to LE at that point?

If LE wanted pix/memory card for investigatory purposes other than MisPers, welll thennnn, would warrant/subpoena be required?
just rambling thoughts.

 

[Twistinginthewind]

If I took a polygraph and LE concluded I was being 'deceptive' and let's say, in the future, someone were to claim I knew a particular something (a something about which one of the polygraph questions covered) and LE caught me in that lie I could claim 'I was tired, lack of sleep' when they administered the polygraph to cover my butt. That would work... right? Right?

Is there precedence?

There are a number of posts about lack of sleep and tiredness as a factor in not 'passing' a polygraph upthread, but nothing conclusive, IIRC, such as a precedent. It's still a valid claim, IMO, as this is easily found as a factor if you do an internet search:
"Other Factors that May Affect a Polygraph
Other factors that can cause a false positive aren’t medical in nature. If you’re extremely tired – because you’re coming off 24 hours or more without sleep, for example – this can affect test results, either positively or negatively. "
Conditions That Can Cause a False Positive on a Polygraph Test

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

If I took a polygraph and LE concluded I was being 'deceptive' and let's say, in the future, someone were to claim I knew a particular something (a something about which one of the polygraph questions covered) and LE caught me in that lie I could claim 'I was tired, lack of sleep' when they administered the polygraph to cover my butt. That would work... right? Right?

Is there precedence?

What day did he take the polygraph? He was kept inside LEs car for 4 to 5 hours being questioned after tracking back looking for BT after hiking, plus his age, he could have been mentally exhausted if it was on the day she went missing.

 

[Leney]

Is it possible they (family) may be protecting her, by keeping her whereabouts a secret?
If it is possible that R Thomas had bad intentions, or a dangerous profession... then it is also possible that his wife needed to get away quickly.

It is just as likely RT was driving her to catch an "early" flight to HK to surprise her ailing brother.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

There are a number of posts about lack of sleep and tiredness as a factor in not 'passing' a polygraph upthread, but nothing conclusive, IIRC, such as a precedent. It's still a valid claim, IMO, as this is easily found as a factor if you do an internet search:
"Other Factors that May Affect a Polygraph
Other factors that can cause a false positive aren’t medical in nature. If you’re extremely tired – because you’re coming off 24 hours or more without sleep, for example – this can affect test results, either positively or negatively. "
Conditions That Can Cause a False Positive on a Polygraph Test

Of course, but that isn't my point.