Summary
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Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared from a cruise ship on March 24, 1998, at age 23, during a family vacation from Puerto Rico to Curaçao.
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Netflix’s docuseries Amy Bradley Is Missing revisits the timeline and explores multiple theories, including abduction, suicide, and trafficking.
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Several reported sightings occurred over the years, but none were confirmed. Amy was legally declared dead in 2010 but remains on the FBI’s Missing Persons list.
Amy Bradley’s 1998 disappearance remains one of the most unsettling missing persons cases in modern history. At 23, she vanished from a cruise ship under mysterious circumstances. Over two decades later, Netflix revisits the case in Amy Bradley Is Missing, shedding new light on the timeline, possible sightings, and unresolved questions surrounding her fate.
When Did Amy Bradley Go Missing From the Cruise Ship?
Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared on March 24, 1998, while aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas, part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet. She had embarked on the cruise with her parents, Ron and Iva, and younger brother Brad. Amy was last seen sleeping on the balcony of their cabin around 5:30 am.
Amy had recently graduated from Longwood University with a degree in sports psychology and was about to start a new job. Described as energetic and family-oriented, she was excited yet nervous about the trip.
On March 23, Amy was seen participating in shipboard activities. She attended a pool party and was later captured on camera dancing with Blue Orchid band member Alistair “Yellow” Douglas at around 1:00 am. By 3:35 am, she returned to her room and sat on the balcony. When her father checked on her again at 5:30 am, she had vanished.
The ship docked in Curaçao that morning. Despite the family’s pleas to restrict disembarkation until Amy was found, passengers were allowed to leave. The ship’s announcement about her disappearance wasn’t made until 7:50 am—after most had already exited.
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What Is the Timeline of Amy Bradley’s Disappearance?
Here’s a summarized sequence of key events on the Rhapsody of the Seas leading up to Amy’s disappearance:
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March 21, 1998: Amy and her family board the cruise in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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March 23, 1998: Family photos are taken; Amy attends a pool party on the ninth deck with her brother.
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March 24, 1998, 1:00 am: Amy is seen dancing with a band member.
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March 24, 1998, 3:35 am: Amy returns to the cabin and sits on the balcony.
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March 24, 1998, 5:30 am: Ron Bradley sees Amy asleep on the balcony.
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March 24, 1998, 6:00 am: Amy is no longer there; her father begins searching.
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March 24, 1998, 6:30 am: Family reports Amy missing to the crew.
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March 24, 1998, 7:50 am: Public announcement of Amy’s disappearance is made.
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March 24–27, 1998: Royal Caribbean and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard conduct searches from Curaçao to Aruba. No trace is found.
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March 27, 1998: Authorities suggest Amy may have died by accidental fall or suicide—claims her family has always disputed.
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How Long Has Amy Bradley Been Missing?
Amy Bradley has now been missing for over 27 years, since March 24, 1998. Despite early theories of accidental death or suicide, her family maintained that Amy was likely abducted.
Her disappearance gained global attention, with the FBI, Interpol, and private investigators involved. Over time, the case remained active due to sporadic reported sightings and new leads. Amy was declared legally dead in 2010, but her name still appears on the FBI’s official Missing Persons list.
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What Are the Reported Sightings of Amy Bradley Over the Years?
There have been several reported sightings of women resembling Amy in the years after her disappearance, although none were officially confirmed.
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August 1998: A Canadian tourist, David Carmichael, claimed a distressed woman resembling Amy approached him on a Curaçao beach before being escorted away by two men. He identified her through a tattoo on her shoulder.
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1999: U.S. Navy Petty Officer Bill Hefner stated he met a woman in a Curaçao brothel who claimed, “she got off that ship ’cause she was going to score drugs.” He believed the woman was Amy but delayed reporting it until 2002 to avoid career damage.
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2005: Amy’s family received explicit photographs from an adult website. The woman, named “Jas,” closely resembled Amy. Her mother confirmed the likeness, calling the moment “terrible.” The FBI investigated and found the resemblance compelling, though the source could not be traced.
Despite these sightings, no conclusive evidence has ever proven Amy’s location or status. Each lead was followed, but none provided definitive answers.
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What Does Netflix’s Amy Bradley Is Missing Reveal?
Released in July 2025, Netflix’s three-part docuseries Amy Bradley Is Missing dives deep into the case with interviews from Amy’s family, cruise ship staff, investigators, and witnesses. It explores multiple theories, including abduction, human trafficking, suicide, and even foul play involving cruise staff.
The series presents the first-hand emotions and frustrations experienced by the Bradleys during the investigation. The documentary refrains from drawing conclusions but paints a compelling picture of inconsistencies, delayed actions, and the family’s relentless pursuit of truth.
The docuseries is available for streaming exclusively on Netflix and is part of their growing library of true-crime content.
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Is Amy Bradley Still Considered a Missing Person?
Yes. Despite being declared legally dead in 2010, Amy Bradley is still listed on the FBI’s Missing Persons list. A $25,000 reward remains active for any information leading to her whereabouts.
Her family continues to hold out hope. Over the years, they have worked with private investigators and media outlets to keep Amy’s case visible. Amy Bradley Is Missing has brought the case back into public awareness, hoping that renewed attention might generate new leads.
Amy Bradley’s disappearance remains a haunting mystery with no confirmed resolution more than two decades later. Amy Bradley is Missing is streaming on Netflix.
Source: Time
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