CA - Laura Bradbury, 3, Joshua Tree, Oct 1984

[warwizzard]

Me and my Family were up in there in Jumbo rocks at the time and her parents stopped to ask us if we had seen her. That day our activities were cut short to try to see if we could find her anywhere. I feel for the family at the loss they suffered that day. In that year there was a total of atleast 5 abductions in the surrounding towns. Was a bad year for that.

 

[amber1]

Me and my Family were up in there in Jumbo rocks at the time and her parents stopped to ask us if we had seen her. That day our activities were cut short to try to see if we could find her anywhere. I feel for the family at the loss they suffered that day. In that year there was a total of atleast 5 abductions in the surrounding towns. Was a bad year for that.

do you think they were connected?

 

[scriptgirl]

Is Mike still alive? So, the theory is that she was taken and then killed and buried in the desert?

 

[perfectingpink]

Find a Grave entry for Laura:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=59934069

 

[perfectingpink]

The Mystery of Laura Bradbury
A father asks: "When will this ever end?"

http://www.lacp.org/2010-Articles-Main/092010-TheMysteryOfLauraBradbury.htm

 

[perfectingpink]

Mike Bradbury talks about his daughter’s kidnapping

Father's Day just passed, honoring fatherhood around the world. One man that I honor in this month for his spirit of fatherhood and courage is Mike Bradbury, who is still looking for his daughter Laura, kidnapped 25 years ago.

Mike Bradbury talks about his daughter’s kidnapping (Includes interview)

Father's Day just passed, honoring fatherhood around the world. One man that I honor in this month for his spirit of fatherhood and courage is Mike Bradbury, who is still looking for his daughter Laura, kidnapped 25 years ago.

web.archive.org

 

[cvaldez1975]

I too think some pedo took her. the bloodhound found her scent, it seemed like she was headed back to camp but was lured. could have been a local or another camper.

 

[Croyante]

My daughter was Laura's friend at Hilltop preschool in Costa Mesa. My family and I joined in the search for Laura. Many people thoroughly searched the campground and all that area around Joshua Tree. There is no way that little girl was there.
I recall when Travis was in the bathroom, Laura was playing outside the bathroom and Travis heard a man's voice. He came out and Laura was gone. He seemed to instantly sense that she was abducted.
The abduction of Laura changed the lives of all who knew her. Her family suffered tremendously and were intensely dedicated and determined in their search to find her.
I will always remember this kind family. May Patty and sweet Laura rest in peace, together at last. And may God bless Mike, Travis and Emily, heal them, and give them a peace that passes all understanding.

 

[Mysteries1974]

I am very confused by this case and honestly think they need to do some revised DNA testing on whatever skull or skulls they still have from this case. I feel this case was very mishandled or just botched somehow.

I have read that Laura’s father has seen at least two skulls that police said came from Laura. That doesn’t make any sense. First he was shown a skull cap and then a near full sized skull afterwards. The DNA results were of are fuzzy too. Tests have been either false, inconclusive, or a 97% positive match. I did read a test in 2010 apparently concluded whatever bones they found were “the remains of Laura Ann.”

But then it goes on to state that the police and coroner won’t sign a death certificate for Laura and therefore whatever remains have been identified as Laura can’t be given to Laura’s father for proper burial/funeral. I’m not sure if that’s still the case of not but if it is, something weird is happening.

Someone can’t have two skulls. So the questions are…whose skulls did they show Laura’s father? Where’s the skull cap from 03/1986? Where did this full sized skull come from? Did they really find Laura?

I personally think with all the advances in DNA testing, the question of what happened to Laura Bradbury in 1984 can truly be answered.

I believe there is more to this case than the police and others give. This case sounds like a kidnapping, not a lost child. That’s why I’m skeptical. I think the remains need to be tested again if they still exist

 

[Mysteries1974]

Natural Burial - Joshua Tree Memorial Park

Traditional and Cremation Today there are more options than ever on how to celebrate a life lived. Choosing burial as your final disposition allows you to have …

www.joshuatreememorialpark.com

Could the skull have been washed from here and then knawed on by coyotes afterwards? There was no other bones or clothing found. The only piece found was a chewed up piece of skull cap from a child between 2-5 years old. Could it have come from a grave of a deceased child that might’ve been buried in the Joshua Tree Memorial Park? I really have my doubts about the skull, especially since initial tests didn’t link it. Even current ones sound presumptive and not precise (the 1990 tests and the one in 2010)

 

[jules39osu]

She is semi-newly listed in NAMUS as missing?? I wonder why, if they had previously confirmed the skull was hers.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[MadMcGoo]

She is semi-newly listed in NAMUS as missing?? I wonder why, if they had previously confirmed the skull was hers.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

I was coming to post this too. This case is a little confusing! JMO

 

[Palisades]

She is semi-newly listed in NAMUS as missing?? I wonder why, if they had previously confirmed the skull was hers.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Click on the images and documents a copy of an article says the police are looking for a stocky 50 year old man with grey hair and a moist ace whose blue van was seen in the portable toilet area.

in other cases, I have seen namus entries that indicate partial remains have been found - in case the other remains are found. Laura’s NAMUS does not say that.

 

[Mysteries1974]

Looks like my submission made it onto NamUs. Ever since reading the case, I had a bad feeling. How can there be two different skulls claimed as being Laura’s? First a skull cap? Than an entire skull? It did not make any sense. also, some misinformation has been spread, the foot prints found leading two miles away were found to not be Laura’s. Her footprints were found leading to the spot where a blue van containing the still unidentified Caucasian male suspect was parked. I don’t believe they found her remains at all and I believe she’s still missing.

 

[Mysteries1974]

I think the skulls were not hers, I think they came from the burial grounds in the Joshua Tree area

 

[Mysteries1974]

This October 18th 2023 will be 39 long years since little Laura Ann Bradbury was abducted from Joshua Tree National Park. I hope her father finds answers soon

 

[Mysteries1974]

Laura’s case is now 39 years old. I hope someday her father and siblings get the answers they deserve. This case was sketchy from the start and I feel the investigation was mishandled

 

[cenazoic]

police are looking for a stocky 50 year old man with grey hair and a moist ace

Sorry, that weird autocorrect made me laugh. (And I incorrectly assumed it must be for ‘moustache’)

Here’s the description again:


“The Sheriff's Department is looking for a stocky white man, about 50, with gray hair and glasses, whose blue van was seen in the area of the portable toilets where Laura was last seen.”

 

[mlhenn]

MISSING - Laura Ann Bradbury | Solve the Case

On October 18, 1984, three-and-a-half-year-old Laura Bradbury disappeared from her family's campsite at Indian Cove Campground in California's Joshua Tree National Park.

www.solvethecase.org

Summary:
On October 18, 1984, three-and-a-half-year-old Laura Bradbury disappeared from her family's campsite at Indian Cove Campground in California's Joshua Tree National Park.

Circumstances of Disappearance:
On 10/18/1984, Laura and her family arrived at the Indian Cove Campground,located within the Joshua Tree National Monument in 29 Palms, California. TheIndian Cove Campground is a family and group camping area, approximately 9miles east of the Town of Joshua Tree and 3 miles south of SR62. Shortly afterthey arrived and began unpacking, family members realized Laura was missing.When family members could not find Laura they notified the sheriff’s department.An extensive search was conducted, but Laura was never located.

Additional Details:
After many interviews and statements from witnesses, detectives announced they suspected an unidentified man in a blue metallic van was involved in her disappearance. Footprints that were later found to be the childs were found leading to the spot where witnesses said the van was parked. No one saw the man grab or abduct Laura but it's believed she was likely lured or walked over to the vehicle. The man is described as a stocky white male who stood between 5'8" and 5'11." He was said to be between 40 and 50 years old in 1984. He had graying strawberry blonde hair and a mustache as well as a beard. The man had a noticeable pot belly and was seen wearing glasses and a baseball cap. He was driving a clean, metallic blue Ford Econoline van with California state license plates. The van appeared to be custom built.
Case Last Updated:

Nov 15, 2024