VA - Amy Bradley - missing from cruise ship, Curacao - 1998 #3

[Quill]

I do not have Netflix so can someone please confirm if what I list here is all true or not please?

Amy was 23, recently came out to her parents who had a negative reaction, and was freshly out of a relationship. She was about to move to a new place, start a new job, and adopt a pet, but had not done any of those things yet. She also was already college educated.

Could she have decided to just start over in life? She was in between a lot of things in life at that moment. The biggest problem I have with that theory though, is her never letting her brother know she was ok. They seemed very close.

She had the job but hadn't started it yet. She was supposed to start when they returned from the cruise. She had a new red Miata sports car and I believe she already had the new place and did already have the dog. She had taken the dog to meet her girlfriend before she went on the cruise. A family friend was taking care of all the Bradley's pets while they vacationed.

I do not personally believe that she started her life over.

 

[TizerisT]

She had already got the apartment and the dog and had moved in

 

[GreyPhantom]

I do not have Netflix so can someone please confirm if what I list here is all true or not please?

Amy was 23, recently came out to her parents who had a negative reaction, and was freshly out of a relationship. She was about to move to a new place, start a new job, and adopt a pet, but had not done any of those things yet. She also was already college educated.

Could she have decided to just start over in life? She was in between a lot of things in life at that moment. The biggest problem I have with that theory though, is her never letting her brother know she was ok. They seemed very close.

Your first paragraph is largely true.

The second paragraph isn't supported by anything. She certainly wouldn't have started over in a foreign country abruptly in her with a cigarette lighter and flip flops.

 

[fridaybaker]

Dbm. Didn’t realize others had already answered.

 

[333_OnlyHalfEvil]

She had the job but hadn't started it yet. She was supposed to start when they returned from the cruise. She had a new red Miata sports car and I believe she already had the new place and did already have the dog. She had taken the dog to meet her girlfriend before she went on the cruise. A family friend was taking care of all the Bradley's pets while they vacationed.

I do not personally believe that she started her life over.

Ok, so she was not at such a huge turning point in her life as I was thinking. I am curious about her shoe situation though; did she only bring the single pair? I always have a backup pair in case of them getting wet or me getting a blister.

 

[TizerisT]

Almost certain there was more than one pair

 

[otto]

If Amy's father had not said that the balcony door was open, there would be no question about what happened. The table was pushed up against the balcony glass.

Speculation is that the cleaning staff moved the balcony furniture and placed the table next to the balcony glass, but that seems unlikely. I assume that cleaning staff would have a cruise-ship specific furniture layout that they adhered to after tidying up each balcony. For safety reasons, the layout would not include placing a table next to the balcony - turning the table into a step.

Amy was 66" tall (5'6"), the railing is 42" high. Amy had been up all night partying and drinking. If she had a moment where she wanted to lean over the railing to enjoy the morning air or watch the waves, she could have moved the table, stepped onto it, leaned too far and fallen overboard. Where was the ashtray? Her father heard something that woke him up, but doesn't know what it was. Perhaps it was the table momentarily hitting the glass as she lost her balance, or the ashtray falling onto the floor.

The only clue that she did not fall overboard was the open patio door - a tip from the father, who is not the last person to see her alive. The brother states that he is the last person, not the father.

The Canadian computer systems expert who saw Amy on a beach with two men - did he say that she was a smoker? I need to re-watch the Netflix program to be sure. If so, that's the detail that doesn't make sense. She was with two men who were more or less commandeering her, but she was also casually smoking as she walked? She was under someone else's control, but they bought cigarettes for her?

That witness is the computer expert who used website info - IP addresses (user info available to everyone who runs a website) - and identified locations for those IP addresses. He claims that there are hits from the area where she vanished on specific US holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. What about other days - where's the spike graph demonstrating this claim? That becomes a dead-end (in the Netflix show) for various reasons, but it is an interesting anecdote. Is the IP address routing through that area, or does it originate at that area? He doesn't elaborate.

 

[333_OnlyHalfEvil]

If Amy's father had not said that the balcony door was open, there would be no question about what happened. The table was pushed up against the balcony glass.

Speculation is that the cleaning staff moved the balcony furniture and placed the table next to the balcony glass, but that seems unlikely. I assume that cleaning staff would have a cruise-ship specific furniture layout that they adhered to after tidying up each balcony. For safety reasons, the layout would not include placing a table next to the balcony - turning the table into a step.

Amy was 66" tall (5'6"), the railing is 42" high. Amy had been up all night partying and drinking. If she had a moment where she wanted to lean over the railing to enjoy the morning air or watch the waves, she could have moved the table, stepped onto it, leaned too far and fallen overboard. Where was the ashtray? Her father heard something that woke him up, but doesn't know what it was. Perhaps it was the table momentarily hitting the glass as she lost her balance, or the ashtray falling onto the floor.

The only clue that she did not fall overboard was the open patio door - a tip from the father, who is not the last person to see her alive. The brother states that he is the last person, not the father.

The Canadian computer systems expert who saw Amy on a beach with two men - did he say that she was a smoker? I need to re-watch the Netflix program to be sure. If so, that's the detail that doesn't make sense. She was with two men who were more or less commandeering her, but she was also casually smoking as she walked? She was under someone else's control, but they bought cigarettes for her?

That witness is the computer expert who used website info - IP addresses (user info available to everyone who runs a website) - and identified locations for those IP addresses. He claims that there are hits from the area where she vanished on specific US holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. What about other days - where's the spike graph demonstrating this claim? That becomes a dead-end (in the Netflix show) for various reasons, but it is an interesting anecdote. Is the IP address routing through that area, or does it originate at that area? He doesn't elaborate.

Has anyone ever said if there was a footprint on the top of the glass table?

I am 5'5" and just used a measuring tape. 42" was right under my uh, girls. I would absolutely need a boost of some sort to navigate that.

 

[Gilderoy Lockhart Jr]

I've never forgotten Amy's disappearance all these years. I used to think she was assaulted and then done away with shortly after her vanishing, but after watching the recent documentary, I've changed my mind; I think she fell overboard accidentally, perhaps because she needed to vomit or maybe just to get a nice look at the sunrise, or some other reason. This most likely caused her father to awaken right as it happened.

It was interesting to see the people who actually claim to have seen her speak for themselves after all these years. I will admit that the only alleged sighting I've ever found interesting--and still do--is the woman who claimed to have seen her going up the elevator with the band member sometime on the morning of. The others I don't find credible at all. I don't think the picture is of Amy. And the guy staying right next to the Bradley family seems weird. Finally, Amy's message in a bottle letter to her girlfriend/romantic interest was eery considering what ended up happening to her.

 

[TizerisT]

The Canadian computer systems expert who saw Amy on a beach with two men - did he say that she was a smoker? I need to re-watch the Netflix program to be sure. If so, that's the detail that doesn't make sense. She was with two men who were more or less commandeering her, but she was also casually smoking as she walked? She was under someone else's control, but they bought cigarettes for her?

Yes she was smoking. The kidnappers buying cigarettes for her is nothing special, numerous examples of this from other cases - little treats can go a long way in getting someone to co-operate

 

[cenazoic]

What about other days - where's the spike graph demonstrating this claim? That becomes a dead-end (in the Netflix show) for various reasons, but it is an interesting anecdote. Is the IP address routing through that area, or does it originate at that area? He doesn't elaborate.

Thank you - the same questions occurred to me, and I suspect if they had such data (this IP, proven to originate in Barbados, only visited on the days mentioned, and not all throughout the year), they would have said so.

In addition, most ISPs issue dynamic IPs to home users, meaning they change periodically. As someone mentioned earlier, “TV tricks”.

At the end of the day, we’re left with what FBI agent said early in the first episode: the only thing we know for a fact is what time Amy entered the room.

 

[Silverstorm]

The netflix documentary had the fbi analyze the picture of Jas compared to Amy by measuring facial features that dont change. Her chin, nose and high widows peak(hairline) and her ear were compared.They concluded it was Amy.

 

[cenazoic]

Nope, they did not.

She explains about the software analysis (the editing puts some images over her deposition). Her final quote was "A forensic analyst looked at the photo and believed that that was Amy Bradley". Those are TV tricks.

“A forensic analyst looked at the photo and believed that that was Amy Bradley".

The is not the same as saying “the FBI confirmed it was Amy”. Agent Sheridan was very deliberate with her choice of words.

 

[fridaybaker]

I don’t really see a trick here. I don’t think anyone could say with 100% certainty that a photo they found on the internet is a certain person. The point I took away is the the FBI thinks it’s her.

 

[Salah11]

Falling overboard is rare and most people don’t put themselves in a position where it is possible.

According to Google, in 2019 25 people fell overboard, but 29 million went on cruises. That sums up the likelihood of her falling that morning. It’s not impossible but the likelihood is slim to none.

 

[sylke96]

The things that stood out to me from the documentary:

1: Brad said that she wasn't feeling well so she sat on the balcony. Was it because her drink was spiked? Was she more drunk than the documentary made it out to be (e.g 6 light beers from 6 in the afternoon up until coming back to the cabin/balcony, late at night?)

2. Bill as a witness who said he saw her in a brothel and that she could not leave because she owned some people 200 bucks. Why, for what? Drugs? That seems more likely than for a sex arrangement, as they would collect that money, if she was forced to have sex for money.

Now, if she got off the boat to get drugs and then somehow owned them money, wouldn't she pay them back in sex work? E.g sleeping with customers, giving the money to her ''pimps.'' and let her go? Or was it her saying this in the hope he would pay whatever was left?

The third witness described Amy's demeanor IMO as from crying/emotional to pushing her against the wall. Did she switch because she noticed the men came back? She also stated that she didn't really want to talk whereas she was quite talkative (albeit short) to at least witness 2. Why didn't she even hush in a few words, like please call the police, tell them I am Amy and that I am in this place.

Like, I just wonder.

3. If she owned them ''just'' 200 bucks, wouldn't be a 260.000 dollar reward way more satisfying? Pimps aren't stupid business wise, they could have forked their way around to obtain that money while still not criminally implicating themselves.

So, is it a drugs debt, is it being a forced sex slave?

Also, the first men said he saw her on the beach and thought one of the man staring at him quite intense was AD. She was in the company of another man and she got hushed away. He was so sure it was him. How come there are not any any other sightings of AD with Amy after she supposedly left the ship? Could there be some corruption going on?

 

[na19]

Do we know if Amy’s camera was found?

 

[otto]

Has anyone ever said if there was a footprint on the top of the glass table?

I am 5'5" and just used a measuring tape. 42" was right under my uh, girls. I would absolutely need a boost of some sort to navigate that.

Cleaning staff was in the room before there was an investigation, so it's impossible to know.

Some who is 66" tall stepping onto something that is roughly 16" tall would place the railing at 26" from bottom of feet. That's too low for everyone. How often do we read about people falling over the railing in Mexico?

I haven't followed this discussion for a long time, and I'm sure someone has already looked at this, but if Amy stepped onto the table for any reason, it's easy to see how she could have lost her balance and gone overboard. She had been drinking through the night, and had not slept. Judgement would be impaired.

Does anyone know whether the balcony tables are 3 or 4 legged, solid, or any details about the specific table on the balcony?

"Mexico's standards for the height of balcony railings are considerably lower than those in Canada. Falls have resulted in deaths and injuries. Exercise caution when standing close to balcony railings."
Government Canada Travel

In Canada, glass railings must be 42" if the balcony is more than 6 ft. above ground (same as cruise ship), 36" if the platform is less than 6 ft. from the ground. 26" is dangerously low.

 

[333_OnlyHalfEvil]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> ... I wonder how much she normally drank and if she was well over her limit that night or not. Did her brother say how many drinks she had and how drunk she seemed when they went back to the room?

 

[Salah11]

I wonder how much she normally drank and if she was well over her limit that night or not. Did her brother say how many drinks she had and how drunk she seemed when they went back to the room?

Well he left her and went to bed so he obviously didn’t pick up on anything untoward.

If somebody was planning to end their life 5 mins after their brother went to bed you would think there would be signs of anxiety and whatnot.