We all go out for a party, hang out, take a break, or travel with our families sometimes. The rule of thumb is that anything that does not harm you and others is acceptable. But if your recreational activities break you, then remember these are not recreational activities.
The trips on the cruise are always a big deal for everyone who takes them. So many people have excellent memories of these trips, and some people become memories while on these trips. But, unfortunately, we have the same case of a girl who went with her family on a long cruise trip and disappeared during the journey.
Despite this, she was destined never to return from this trip. Instead, over the past two decades, her family has worried about what has become of her daughter and sister, who disappeared without a trace.
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Introduction:
Amy Lynn Bradley was born in Petersburg, Virginia, on May 12, 1974. She was the daughter of Ron Bradley and Iva Bradley. During her 23rd year, she and her family went on a cruise, but she disappeared while she was on the way. Until now, nobody knows the actual story of where she disappeared, how she disappeared, and when she disappeared.
Investigators believe she is unlikely to have fallen overboard as they found no sign of her. Tourists have reported seeing resemblances of Bradley on Curacao’s beaches in 1998 and 1999; in 1999, a U.S. resident reported seeing Bradley. In a brothel, the Navy claimed a woman said she was Bradley and asked for help.
In connection with her disappearance:
During the week of March 21, 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley, her parents Ron and Iva, and her brother Brad departed for a weeklong cruise on the Royal Caribbean ship Rhapsody of the Seas.
The night of March 24, Bradley went to the dance club with Blue Orchid, the ship’s band.
Yellow, a band member who left Bradley at 1 am, claimed he ended up with Alister Douglas. At around 5:30 in the morning, Bradley’s father, Ron, saw her sleeping on the cabin balcony.
The following day, however, she was nowhere to be found. So, he later said that he left to try and go up and see her. But, having not been able to find Amy, he didn’t know what to think because it was very unusual for Amy to leave and not tell her parents where she was going.
When Bradley went missing, the ship was en route to Curaçao, Antilles, from Oranjestad, Aruba. Shortly after her disappearance, the ship docked there. No trace of her has been found on board the boat or at sea, despite extensive searches.
In addition to the four-day investigation conducted by the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines chartered a boat and started looking for her but stopped after 29 days of searching.
Investigators found no evidence that Bradley fell overboard or committed suicide, as she was a trained lifeguard.
Aftermath and Rewards for her information:
Bradley’s parents appeared on an episode of the talk show Dr. Phil on November 17, 2005.
A picture of a young woman who was precisely resembling Bradley emailed to her parents was shown on the program, suggesting that she might have been sold into sexual slavery.
Several television shows have covered her case, including America’s Most Wanted and Disappeared. Casefile podcast episode 59 was also dedicated to the issue.
In addition, a version of this article appeared on the podcasts Crime Junkie and The Casual Criminalist. Natalee Holloway’s disappearance in 2005 sparked renewed interest in her case.
Updates for Bradley’s case:
Between 1998 and 1999, Bradley was possibly seen in Curacao. A woman looking like Amy was spotted on the beach at Curacao by two Canadian tourists in August 1998.
One of the men stated that he was “two feet away from her” and was 100% certain it was Bradley. The tattoos on the woman were identical to Bradley’s. A Tasmanian Devil tattooed a basketball on Bradley’s shoulder, the sun on her lower back, and a Chinese symbol inked her ankle. In addition, there is a gecko lizard tattooed on Bradley’s navel. Additionally, she wore a navel ring.
Bradley was also spotted in a brothel by a member of the U.S. Navy in 1999. The witness said that “her name was Amy Bradley and [she] asked him for help,” explaining that she was being held against her will and unable to leave.”
Announced Rewards:
In the present situation, the Bradley family offers $250,000 for information leading to Bradley’s return and a reward of $50,000 for information leading to her location. Information that leads to her recovery could earn the FBI a prize of $25,000 for information.
Some latest updates:
Aruba’s beaches turned up a human jawbone in 2010 as a final potential clue in the disappearance. The specimen was determined to be human and most likely came from a Caucasian person. Unfortunately, Amy Bradley’s fingerprints were never tested to determine whether or not they belonged to her.
Although Amy was officially declared dead the same year, her family is determined not to search for her. Ron and Iva told CNN: “We believe our daughter is alive, but being held captive by someone.”
Law Enforcement:
In the meantime, cruise ship emergency procedures have been improved by new laws. Congress began advocating for an improvement to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 in 2019.
Representative Doris Matsui of the U.S, on cruise ships, she wants independent law enforcement agents – just like air marshals secretly aboard planes – to assist in the event of a crime or a disappearance. In the same vein, she is calling for cameras to be installed on all public cruise ships.
Even though people deserve protection no matter where they are, Rep. Matsui noted that the situation has been far from ideal for decades. Amy Bradley’s case would have come to an end far too late, but it’s hoped some of the hundreds of other people who might disappear in the future would be helped by this.
The FBI is still seeking more information about Amy and her whereabouts on its website. Information “leading to the identification, arrest, conviction, and recovery of the person responsible for her disappearance” would be eligible for the $25,000 reward, along with her vital statistics.
