Who was Amy Bradley? Woman who went missing on Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas cruise

The Irish Sun

01-07-2025

AMY Lynn Bradley was on a cruise with her parents and brother in March 1998, before she vanished without a trace.
Here's everything we know about Amy and her disappearance, which are featured in a new true crime documentary.
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Amy Lynn Bradley, 23, vanished from a cruise ship
Credit: FBI
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Amy was celebrating graduating and her new job with her mum, dad and brother
Credit: FBI
Who is Amy Bradley?
Amy Lynn Bradley is a woman from Petersburg, Virginia, who disappeared in March 1998 while she was on a cruise with her family.
She was 23 years old at the time.
Amy grew up in Chesterfield County and attended Longwood University on a basketball scholarship, graduating with a degree in physical education.
She was known for her athleticism, having also worked as a lifeguard.
Amy's family was described as being close-knit — her parents and brother joined her on the cruise to celebrate her graduation and new job at a computer consulting firm.
What happened?
On March 21, 1998, Amy boarded the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas with her parents Ron and Iva, and her younger brother Brad, for a vacation to Curaçao.
The journey started in the tropical paradise of Puerto Rico, stopping first in Aruba — but things took a sinister turn just three days later.
On the night of March 23, Amy and Brad spent time dancing at the ship's nightclub, socializing with other passengers and members of the ship's band.
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Amy was last sighted asleep in the early hours of the morning on March 24.
At 5.30 am, she was spotted asleep on a chair in her private balcony —but half an hour later, her dad Ron couldn't find her.
The Royal Caribbean crew searched every inch of the vessel, but Amy was nowhere to be found, despite having a host of distinctive tattoos including the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes, a Chinese symbol, a sun and a gecko, as well as a belly button piercing.
Despite her disappearance, the vessel continued its journey to St Martin, and then travelled to St Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.
Despite a four-day search by the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard and subsequent FBI involvement, Amy was never found.
Over the years, there have been multiple reported sightings of Amy in the Caribbean, including a woman matching her description seen on a beach.
A US Navy sailor also claimed a woman in a brothel identified herself as Amy and asked for help.
Theories about her fate have ranged from accidental overboard fall to abduction and human trafficking — but no definitive evidence has ever emerged.
But seven years later in 2005, the Bradleys received a chilling tip-off — images indicating Amy may have been sex trafficked.
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The haunting images, publicly revealed on Dr Phil, showed a woman strongly resembling the 23-year-old, scantily-clad and posing uncomfortably in lingerie.
What have authorities said?
The authorities have kept Amy's case open for well over two decades.
The FBI initially investigated the possibility that she had fallen overboard, but her family questioned this theory, citing her strong swimming ability and the lack of evidence.
American authorities asked anyone with leads on the case to come forward with answers, offering a reward of $25,000.
Despite periodic leads and reported sightings, authorities have not located Amy, with the case remaining unsolved.
Anyone with information should contact their local FBI office, nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
Netflix's Amy Bradley Is Missing
The sad story of Amy Bradley's disappearance is the focus of a new three-part true crime documentary.
The series features interviews with Amy's family, eyewitnesses from the cruise and investigators.
It explores the events leading up to her disappearance and the decades-long search for answers.
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The documentary aims to shed new light on the case and provide a comprehensive account of the haunting unsolved mystery.
Amy Bradley is Missing drops on Netflix on July 16, 2025.