Crime House Daily – Night Watch
Episode: Three New Tips Could Bring Amy Bradley Home
Host: Katie Ring
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

In this Night Watch episode, host Katie Ring delves into the longstanding mystery of Amy Bradley’s 1998 disappearance from a cruise ship in the Caribbean. With the case receiving renewed interest due to a popular Netflix documentary, Katie breaks down the original events, the many leads and theories pursued over the years, and three recent tips that have reignited hope for Amy's family and investigators. The episode balances detailed retelling of events with thoughtful analysis, remaining empathetic to the family and focused on the pursuit of justice.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Background: Who Was Amy Bradley?

• Personal Background:
  • Born May 12, 1974, in Chesterfield, Virginia.
  • Close-knit family; an accomplished athlete, received a basketball scholarship, recently started a new job and got an English bulldog puppy.
  • Was a trained lifeguard and strong swimmer, but "more of a pool gal" due to her unease with open water and heights.
  • [03:07] “She is also a little afraid of heights. But she puts her fears aside...” – Katie Ring

2. The Cruise and Amy’s Disappearance

• March 21-23, 1998:
  • Family embarks on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
  • Amy and her brother Brad enjoy the onboard nightlife; Amy is seen dancing with “Yellow,” a band member.
• Last Seen:
  • Around 3:30am, March 24: Amy leaves club and talks on balcony with her brother.
  • [04:51] “Brad says, ‘I love you. See you tomorrow.’ And Amy says, ‘I love you back.’ Then Brad goes inside… These were his last words to his sister.” – Katie
  • Around 5:30am: Last confirmed sighting by her father Ron from the cabin.
  • Around 6am: Amy is missing; only her cigarettes and lighter are gone, leaving behind all other belongings.

3. Ship’s Response and Potential Early Missteps

• Ship officials resist making an announcement or halting passenger disembarkation in Curacao, delaying the search.
• [07:25] "The Bradleys ask them to make an announcement... ship's officials refuse... They say they don't want to create panic among the passengers." – Katie
• Searches conducted only after passengers leave; family feels urgency and frustration at the response.

4. Initial Theories: Fall Overboard vs. Abduction

• Ship posits accidental or intentional overboard fall.
• Family is adamant Amy neither drank enough nor was emotionally inclined to jump; also, her fear of heights makes accidental fall unlikely.
• Professional divers state that at the location, something “would have been found,” discounting the fall theory.
• [12:42] "At this point, they weren’t in the middle of the ocean. They were close to the port." – Katie

5. Suspicion Around ‘Yellow’ and Subsequent Investigations

• Surveillance video contradicts Yellow’s claims about when he parted ways with Amy.
• Brad recalls Yellow expressed condolences early, before the crew were informed about Amy’s disappearance – raising suspicion.
• Two other passengers come forward to say they saw Amy with Yellow at 5:45am.
• Yellow is eventually cleared, but the family remains wary.

6. Emergence of Sex Trafficking Theory

• Family and FBI increasingly believe Amy was targeted for human trafficking, a prevalent issue in the region.
• [15:22] “Now, both the Bradleys and the FBI believe that Amy was targeted by human traffickers and that she's been forced into sex trafficking...” – Katie

7. Sightings and Leads (1998–2005)

• Taxi Driver (Curacao): Claims he saw Amy frantically searching for a phone, soon after her disappearance.
• Scuba Diver (1999): Reports seeing Amy with two men in Curacao; provides details about her distinctive tattoos.
• America’s Most Wanted Tip: Sparks brief FBI search, leading nowhere.
• Frank Jones Scam (2000): Family is defrauded by a man promising a Special Forces rescue; Jones is later convicted.
  • [20:49] “If anyone does this and uses a family's grief to make money... they deserve to be in jail for life.” – Katie
• US Navy Sailor (2002): Recalls apparent encounter with a woman resembling Amy in a Curacao brothel who pleaded for help; brothel later destroyed.

8. The ‘Jazz’ Photos and Further Hopes

• In 2005, the family receives photos of a sex worker named “Jazz” in the Caribbean online who looks strikingly like Amy. FBI photo analysts agree the resemblance is strong.
• Photos potentially linked to Alfred and Jennifer Cotten – individuals later arrested for sex tourism facilitation in the Dominican Republic.

9. Declared Dead, But Search Persists

• 2010: Amy is legally declared dead; case remains open with the FBI.

10. Netflix Documentary and Three New Developments (2025)

• Renewed Interest:
  • “Amy Bradley is Missing” documentary drives new public interest and tips.
• Three New Tips:
  1. Ship Bartender’s Testimony:
     • A female bartender allegedly shouted, “Señorita kidnap!” the night Amy disappeared, but was silenced by another staffer.
     • Conflicting reports over whether bartender has spoken to authorities.
     • [27:41] “The bartender... didn’t speak much English... Never had a chance to elaborate... another employee told her to shut up before taking her to the back.” – Katie
  2. Website Activity:
     • FBI notes suspicious access to Amy’s missing persons site from an IP address on a boat off Barbados, a known trafficking route.
     • Suggests someone, possibly Amy or her captors, is monitoring the investigation.
  3. New Barbados Sighting:
     • October 2025: Anonymous tip places Amy in Barbados; FBI is following up, sparking hope she may still be alive.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:51] “Brad says, ‘I love you. See you tomorrow.’ And Amy says, ‘I love you back.’ Then Brad goes inside... These were his last words to his sister.” – Katie Ring

• [12:42] “At this point, they weren’t in the middle of the ocean. They were close to the port.” – Katie Ring

• [15:22] “Now, both the Bradleys and the FBI believe Amy was targeted by human traffickers…” – Katie

• [20:49] “If anyone does this and uses a family's grief to make money like this and scam them, they deserve to be in jail for life.” – Katie

• [28:05] “They trace the IP address back to a boat off the coast of Barbados... they’re not surprised when the IP address points there.” – Katie

• [31:01] “Ron says they still keep her car tuned up in the garage so it will be ready for Amy to drive again.” – Katie

• [32:14] “In the Netflix documentary, [Bradley’s brother] Brad said she had come out years before the trip and was extremely happy... She had so much to look forward to.” – Katie

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:07] – Amy’s background, early life and family
• [04:35] – Timeline of the cruise and Amy’s last moments with Brad
• [07:25] – Ship officials’ response to Amy’s disappearance
• [12:03] – Family rejects explanation that Amy fell overboard
• [14:19] – FBI involvement, incomplete ship search, suspicion on Yellow
• [17:34] – First sightings and emergence of trafficking theory
• [20:18] – Frank Jones scam and aftermath
• [22:40] – Navy sailor’s brothel sighting and leads drying up
• [24:50] – ‘Jazz’ photo and Alfred/Jennifer Cotten’s role
• [26:43] – 2010: Amy declared dead, case remains open
• [27:41] – Netflix doc brings new tips: bartender testimony, website activity, new Barbados sighting
• [31:01] – Family still holds hope; the emotional toll on the Bradleys

Tone & Approach

Katie Ring’s approach is empathetic, direct, and balanced—a mix of thorough narrative, emotional resonance, and analytical skepticism toward the investigation’s many twists. She underscores the enduring hope of Amy’s family and the persistent efforts from law enforcement and the wider public, while critiquing institutional failures and highlighting fresh leads.

Conclusion

Twenty-seven years after Amy Bradley’s disappearance, her case remains one of true crime’s most haunting mysteries, revived by new evidence and the dogged hope of her family and the public. As new tips are under investigation—including the intriguing boat-based website trace and the 2025 Barbados sighting—the episode ends on a note of both caution and hope, urging listeners to help keep Amy’s story alive.

Tip Line:
If you have information, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.