Tracing Amy Lynn Bradley's last moments before vanishing at sea
Amy Lynn Bradley was a 23-year-old American woman who disappeared from a cruise ship in 1998. Twenty-seven years later, her case remains one of the most haunting and mysterious disappearances at sea. Her family continues searching for answers, hoping she will be found one day.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Amy Lynn Bradley vanished while on a Royal Caribbean cruise in 1998 and has never been found.
- Her family sued Royal Caribbean, alleging negligence in her disappearance. Ultimately, the lawsuit was dismissed.
- She was a 23-year-old Longwood University graduate at the time of her disappearance.
- She attended with a scholarship in basketball and was known for her strong swimming abilities. She had previously worked as a lifeguard.
- While in college, Bradley came out as gay to her family. According to her ex-girlfriend, her parents were disappointed and unhappy about the revelation.
Who is Amy Lynn Bradley?
Amy Lynn Bradley was born on 12 May 1974 in Petersburg, Virginia, to Iva and Ronald "Ron" Bradley. She had a younger brother named Brad. Amy graduated from Longwood University with a degree in sports psychology. At the time of her disappearance, she was 23 years old.
Amy Lynn Bradley's disappearance
In March 1998, Amy was on holiday with her family aboard Rhapsody of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, travelling through the Caribbean. On the night of 22 March, Amy attended a party at the ship's nightclub, where she was seen dancing with members of the ship's band, Blue Orchid.
She was last seen by her father, Ron, around 5:30 a.m. on 23 March, asleep on the balcony of their cabin. By 6:00 a.m., she was gone. Her shoes, cigarettes, and lighter were still in the room, but there was no sign of Amy.
Three witnesses later claimed to have seen Amy on the upper deck between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. with Alister Douglas, a band member. They testified that Douglas handed Amy a drink and that both were seen entering an elevator together.
Moments later, Douglas was seen alone. Amy Lynn Bradley was not found despite an immediate search on the ship and surrounding waters.
Source: UGC
What most likely happened to Amy Lynn Bradley?
Many people have different ideas about what might have happened to Amy Lynn Bradley. Some think she fell off the ship, but this doesn't seem likely because she was a good swimmer and the sea was calm.
The most common belief is that Amy was taken and forced into human trafficking. Over the years, some people have said they saw her in places like Curaçao in the Caribbean. Witnesses described a woman matching Amy's description being held against her will in brothels.
One woman even recalled someone saying her name was Amy and asking for help. Unfortunately, none of these sightings has led to a verified recovery.
Amy Lynn Bradley's search and lawsuit
From the moment Amy disappeared, her family worked tirelessly to find her. They circulated flyers, worked with investigators, and spoke to media outlets. The FBI became involved and eventually offered a $25,000 reward for information.
Did the Bradley family sue Royal Caribbean? Yes. The Bradleys sued the cruise line for failing to take prompt action. They said the cruise line was too slow to act after Amy went missing. They also said the company didn't keep the necessary evidence safe or protect the ship correctly. Ultimately, the lawsuit was dismissed.
Amy Lynn Bradley's update
As of 2025, there is no confirmed Amy Lynn Bradley update. The case remains open, and the family continues to follow any lead with hope. In July 2025, Netflix released a documentary titled Amy Bradley Is Missing. The docuseries revisits Amy's disappearance and examines new findings. During a press interview, her brother Brad said:
My parents and I share this gut feeling that she is still alive, however unrealistic that may be to a lot of people. We’re never going to give up. If you don’t take opportunities and follow leads, you know you’ve given up on her, and we’re not going to do that.
In 2005, the Bradleys received disturbing anonymous photographs of a woman whom someone claimed was Amy. The woman's appearance had changed—longer hair, heavier makeup—but Iva believed it might be her daughter.
All I could keep thinking is, 'Is that my daughter?' Iva recalled on the docuseries. We all looked at it — the nose, the chin and the hair — it took my breath away.
The images, showing a woman called "Jas," reportedly came from an adult website based in the Caribbean. The FBI analysed the photos and concluded the woman was Amy, but they could not trace the site's location.
Amy has never been found, but her family remains steadfast. Iva said on Amy Bradley Is Missing:
We will never give up on her. In the morning, when we wake up, we say, 'Maybe today.' And then when we get ready to go to bed at night, we have a special little kiss for Amy, and we say, 'Maybe tomorrow.'
Source: UGC
FAQs
- Who is Amy Lynn Bradley? Amy Lynn Bradley is an American woman who went missing in 1998 while with her family on a ship.
- How old was Amy Lynn Bradley when she disappeared? When Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared, she was 23 years old. She was born on 12 May 1974.
- Who are Amy Lynn Bradley's parents? Amy Lynn Bradley's parents are Iva (mother) and Ronald "Ron" Bradley (father).
- Was Amy Lynn Bradley found? No, Amy Lynn Bradley has never been found. Despite reported sightings and ongoing investigations, no confirmed information exists about her current location or fate.
- Did the Bradley family sue Royal Caribbean? Yes, the family sued Royal Caribbean. They said the company was careless and didn't act quickly enough when Amy went missing.
- Was Amy Lynn Bradley ever seen again? Some people say they saw Amy in Caribbean places like Curaçao. These sightings were never confirmed, but they made people believe human traffickers might have taken her.
Wrapping up
Amy Lynn Bradley was still a young woman when she went missing on a ship while cruising with her family. It has been decades since her disappearance, and traces of her have been mentioned. If Amy is still alive, she could be 51 years old as of writing.
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The young girl was seen alive on 18 March 2025. Her grandmother, with whom she lived, reported her missing, and a search began. Kei'Mani Latigue's story is more about her life being ended by her father. Read on to discover more about her findings and what exactly conspired.
Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
