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.
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 known for their strong bond. Her parents and brother accompanied her on a cruise to celebrate both her graduation and her new position at a computer consulting company.
What happened?
On March 21, 1998, Amy set sail on the Royal Caribbean ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, with her family — her parents Ron and Iva, and her younger brother Brad — for a getaway 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.
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 crew of the Royal Caribbean thoroughly searched the entire ship, but Amy was not located. She had several unique tattoos, including the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes, a Chinese character, 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.
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.
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.
