Amy Bradley disappearance mystery unpacked as Netflix releases new documentary

The mysterious case of Amy Bradley, a woman who vanished without a trace, is the focus of a new Netflix documentary. But who exactly is Amy and was she ever located?

Netflix unveiled a three-part documentary titled 'Amy Bradley Is Missing' on Wednesday morning (July 16), delving into the enigmatic disappearance that occurred 27 years ago.

The series features interviews with Amy's family members, law enforcement officials, and other individuals linked to the case, shedding light on various theories surrounding her disappearance.

Amy Bradley, a 23 year old from Virginia, went missing on March 24, 1998, during a Royal Caribbean cruise with her family.

On the third night of their holiday, Amy and her younger brother Brad were spotted dancing in the ship's nightclub. Brad returned to his cabin around 3.35am, with Amy following suit five minutes later, reports the Manchester Evening News.

What happened to Amy Bradley?

Amy was last seen sleeping on a chair on her private balcony. Her father Ron checked on her at approximately 6am, only to find her missing despite having been seen just hours earlier.

By the time Amy's absence was noticed, most passengers had already disembarked for the day, unaware of the unfolding situation.

After being officially declared missing, the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard embarked on a four-day search in the nearby waters and along the cruise route.

Despite a thorough search, including on the ship, authorities initially suspected that Amy might have gone overboard. Witnesses came forward claiming to have seen Amy conversing with crew member Alister 'Yellow' Douglas on the morning of her disappearance; he later passed an FBI polygraph test.

During the documentary, Alister receives a phone call from his daughter Amica, discussing the events of that night, and Alister reflects, "They brought the FBI on immediately and then he said to me that they're trying to find this girl [and] I was seen dancing with her. Everybody that had anything to do with cleaning her room, serving her drinks, we were grounded."

What was the evidence relating to Amy Bradley's disappearance?

When the investigation found no evidence of foul play, Alister and other crew members resumed work, with Alister continuing to work on the cruise ship for another two years.

After an extensive investigation, authorities concluded there was no evidence of Amy falling overboard, being pushed, or taking her own life.

Legally declared dead in 2010, Amy's disappearance remains a mystery, despite reported sightings that have yet to yield any concrete leads.

In 2005, Amy's parents, Ron and Iva Bradley, appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil to discuss receiving a disturbing photo of a young woman involved in sex trafficking, bearing an uncanny resemblance to their daughter.

Amy's disappearance was 'like a stab in the heart'

"It is like a stab in the heart. I've never thought that she wasn't out there. Neither has her dad. Neither has her brother. We gotta get to her," Iva said. In the documentary, FBI special agent Erin Sheridan shed light on a photograph, stating: "The photograph itself has been on a particular website that dealt with prostitution down in the Caribbean and Venezuela area. The individuals in the photographs, they're women, and they're in risque attire."

A 2004 sighting by Judy Maurer sparked intrigue when she thought she encountered Amy in a Barbados store's loo during her holiday. Judy recounted overhearing a man say: "The deal's at 11 o'clock and I'm warning you, you better be ready to go."

Upon exiting the stall, she noticed a woman with 'real long, dark hair' who introduced herself as Amy, but Judy only connected this encounter with the missing woman after watching an episode of Dr Phil.

Following Judy's account, FBI agents embarked on a journey to Barbados in hopes of finding Amy, yet despite their efforts, she remained elusive.