Netflix’sAmy Bradley Is Missingdoes an excellent job of exploring the infamous disappearance, but there are several important details in the case that the docuseries left out. Created by Ari Mark and Phil Lott,the newest Netflix documentaryoffers new insight into the mysterious disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley.
23-year-old Amy Bradley disappeared on July 26, 2025, while she was on vacation with her family on theRhapsody of the Seascruise ship. While there have been different investigations and multiple theories have been raised, it has never been confirmed what happened to Amy, and her fate remains unknown.
The Netflix docuseries exploresthe timeline of Amy Bradley’s disappearanceand the different potential sightings of her that have been reported throughout the years. The docuseries also includes interviews with Amy’s family and friends, who offer their beliefs about what happened to her and how her disappearance has affected them.
Through interviews, reports, and video footage,Amy Bradley Is Missinghas helped to reignite interest in a disappearance casethat has remained unsolved for almost 30 years. However, there are several important elements to the case that the Netflix docuseries failed to address.
6Netflix’s Doc Omits The Theory That Scientology Was Involved In Amy’s Disappearance
It Was Speculated That Amy Left The Ship With Two Women Involved In Scientology
One of thetheories surrounding Amy Bradley’s disappearanceis that she may have left of her own accord, and may have gone into hiding or been lured off the ship. On hisXaccount, Amy’s brother, Brad, has spoken about the possibility that his sister could have left with two women who were involved in Scientology.
The night before she disappeared, the siblings attended a party on the ninth deck of theRhapsody of the Seascruise ship. In the Netflix docuseries, Brad recalls how he left the party at around 3:30 am, with his sister following him back to their cabin about five minutes later, falling asleep outside on the balcony.
On his account, Brad Bradley recalled that, during the party, he saw Amy in conversation with women in a uniform. He described them as “navy-blue, knee-length skirts and lighter blue button-up Oxford shirts.”
Bradley also recalled that in the hours following Amy’s disappearance, the family was visited by two Scientologists. The two visitors asked different questions about Amy and, according to Bradley,“the interview went on for about an hour until [their dad] asked them to leave.”
Throughout the years,Bradley has explored the theory that Amy could have been recruited by a Scientology group called The Freewinds, which he describes as"going back and forth between Curaçao, Aruba, and Barbados.“While no strong link has been established, Amy’s brother has continued to question this potential theory (viaDistractify).
5A Jawbone Was Found Near The Dock Where The Ship Came To Port
The Jawbone Was Found Washed Ashore In Aruba In 2010
The three-part Netflix docuseries explores the different possibilities that Amy Bradley might still have been alive or could have met with foul play. In episode one, thecruise ship director Kirk Detweilerspoke about how the ship docked at Curaçao, as scheduled, and the crew searched the entire ship for 45 minutes after the passengers left; Detweiler’s handling of the situation was severely criticized by the family.
In 2010,a human jawbone was found washed up on the shore of Aruba, close to whereRhapsody of the Seashad docked in Curaçao; in the Netflix docuseries, Amy’s family recalled how the ship had docked at Aruba on the third day of the cruise, and they had spent the day exploring the island, with her father, Ron Bradley, recalling that “[they] got baked by the sun.”
Upon discovery of the jawbone, it was initially speculated by investigators thatit may be linked to the 2005 disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway. Holloway had disappeared from the island of Aruba on June 02, 2025, while on a graduation trip with her classmates; it wasn’t until 2023 that a Dutch civilian, Joran Van der Sloot, confessed to Holloway’s murder (viaABC News).
Authorities tested the jawbone for any possible DNA, but it was determined not to be Natalee Holloway’s. Following the results, there was speculation that the jawbone could be connected to the Amy Bradley case. While the jawbone was determined to belong to a female Caucasian, authorities chose not to test it for any potential connection to Amy Bradley (viaThe Tab).
4The Doc Leaves Out Why The Bradley Family’s Lawsuits Were Dismissed
The Family Filed Two Lawsuits In 1999 & 2000
Amy’s family filed two lawsuits against the Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line, whichRhapsody of the Seascruise ship. The lawsuits, filed by Ron and Iva Bradley in 1999 and 2000, respectively,sought damages for alleged negligence, defamation, wrongful death, and intentional emotional damageduring the initial search for their daughter.
There was a brief mention of the lawsuit in the Netflix series. However, they were both ultimately dismissed for a shocking reason.
It was determined by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Stuart Simons that, during the investigation,Amy’s family had made “numerous exaggerated claims” about the number of people they had spoken to regarding her whereabouts.The family stated they had spoken to three people in Curaçao, whereas it was determined they had actually spoken to more than 100 individuals who claimed to have seen Amy (viaLadBible).
3Alistair Douglas Spoke To Amy’s Brother Following Her Disappearance
Alistair Douglas Was Seen Dancing With Amy The Night Before She Disappeared
One of the last people known to have been seen with Amy Bradley was Alistair Douglas, a member of the cruise ship’s band, Blue Orchid. Also known as “Yellow,“Douglas was captured on video footage dancing with Amy at the ship’s pool partyat around 1:00 am.
During the initial investigation, Douglas denied any involvement in Amy’s disappearance and stated that he left the party shortly after dancing with her (viaCosmopolitan). Douglas' potential involvement in Amy Bradley’s disappearance has been questioned throughout the years.
In the Netflix docuseries, a witness named Lori Thompson stated that she had seen Amy and Douglas walking down the deck at around 5:00 am, after the party. In an aspect not covered in the Netflix docuseries, it was reported that Alistair Douglas spoke to Amy’s brother just before the public announcement of her disappearance was made on the ship (viaRichmond Times-Dispatch).
2Amy’s Family Was Scammed Out Of $200,000 During The Search
The Scammer Received A 5-Year Prison Sentence
One of the most well-known aspects of the Amy Bradley disappearance not covered in the Netflix docuseries was how her family was scammed during the investigation.
In 1999,Amy’s parents were contacted by a man named Frank Jones, who claimed to be a Navy SEAL and claimed to have information regarding Amy’s whereabouts.He stated that she was being held hostage by a Colombian cartel (viaThe Casual Criminalist).
For several months, Jones gave the family information about Amy’s well-being before stating that money was required in order to initiate a rescue. With assistance from a missing children’s organization, the Bradleys paid Jones more than $200,000, only for it to be revealed that Jones was a con artist and had never had any information about Amy’s disappearance (viaYahoo News).
In 2002, Frank Jones pleaded guilty to mail fraud and was sentenced to five years in prison, while also being ordered to pay back the money he stole. Amy’s father later reflected that their situation meant that “[they] took a chance…and [they] lost” by trusting Frank Jones in finding their daughter (viaABC News).
Amy Bradley Remains On The FBI’s Missing Persons List
Throughout the Netflix docuseries, Amy Bradley’s family and friends explore the different theories about what could have happened to her. The theories range from Amy falling or jumping overboard the ship, to being sold into sexual trafficking, to having been murdered and her body thrown overboard.
Each theory is carefully examined in the docuseries. However,it fails to acknowledge that Amy Bradley was declared legally deadin 2010.
As of 2025, there is a $25,000 reward issued by the FBI for any information about Amy Bradley and her whereabouts. Her family is also offering an additional reward of $50,000 for information.
According to theSocial Security Handbook, a person may be declared legally dead if “[they have] been missing from home and [have] not been heard from for seven years or more. This presumption applies regardless of the reason for the absence.” More than 12 years had passed at that time when Amy Bradley was last confirmed seen, hence why she was declared legally dead in 2010.
Despite the official ruling, Amy Bradley still remains on the FBI’s Missing Persons List, and the investigation is still open into finding out what happened to her (viaFBI). As shown throughoutAmy Bradley Is Missing,her family and friends remain hopeful that she may still be alive, and they will, one day, uncover the truth about her disappearance and where she is now.
Sources:Twitter/X,Distractify,ABC News(1),The Tab,LadBible,Cosmopolitan,Richmond Times-Dispatch,The Casual Criminalist,Yahoo News,ABC News(2),Social Security Handbook,FBI.
Amy Bradley Is Missing
A Caribbean cruise turns into a decades-long nightmare when a 23-year-old woman vanishes without a trace. Despite extensive searches and numerous reported sightings, her fate remains unknown. A new docuseries delves into the haunting mystery, featuring interviews with family, investigators, and eyewitnesses, exploring theories from accidental drowning to abduction and trafficking.
