In March 1998, 23-year-old Amy Lynn Bradley boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship with her parents and brother for what was meant to be a relaxing family vacation. Instead, the trip became one of the most mysterious missing-person ever reported at sea.
On the night of March 23, 1998, Amy was last confirmed seen socializing and dancing with a member of the ship’s band, known by his stage name, “Yellow”. Later that night, Amy returned to her family’s cabin around 5:30, her father, Ron saw her sitting on their balcony. When he woke up again just thirty minutes later, Amy was gone. Her shoes, ID, and belongings were still inside of the room.
When the ship docked in Curacao, the Bradley family begged the crew to delay departure and search the island, fearing Amy had been taken; however, the ship left soon after, and the initial search by the Coast found no sign of her.
Over the years several witnesses have reported seeing a woman who matched Amy’s description in the Carribean. One sighting came from a US navy officer in 1999 who claimed she saw her in a Curacao brothel before she was quickly taken away. Another reported sighting occurred in 2005, when a witness claimed to see a woman resembling Amy on a beach with the same tattoo on her back.
Adding to the mystery, in 2005 the Bradley’s received an anonymous email containing a photo of a woman who closely resembled Amy, appearing to be frightened and posed in lingerie. The image was reportedly found on a website linked to human trafficking. While the FBI had assumed she was taken into captivity for human trafficking this confirmed their suspicions.
Amy’s parents, Ron and Iva Bradley, have never stopped searching. “We believe Amy is still alive,” her mother said in an interview. “We just need the right person to come forward.”
The FBI continues to list Amy Bradley as missing, and her case remains open. Anyone with information is urged to contact www.amybradley.net, the official website maintained by her family.
