Quick Facts About Netflix's Amy Bradley: When Did She Go Missing, Top Theories and If She's Ever Been Found

Amy Lynn Bradley was just 23 years old when she disappeared during a Caribbean cruise with her family in March 1998. The Bradleys were aboard Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas, which made stops in destinations including Aruba and Curaçao.

On the morning of 24 March, Amy's parents awoke to find her missing without a trace.

Now, Netflix is revisiting the cold case in a new three-part documentary series titled Amy Bradley Is Missing, released on Wednesday 16 July 2026. The docuseries examines the timeline of events, explores leading theories, and features new interviews with Amy's family, who have spent nearly three decades searching for answers.

Amy Bradley's Disappearance

According to Today, Amy had recently graduated from university and was an avid basketball player. She joined the cruise with her parents, Ron and Iva, and her younger brother Brad for what was intended to be a relaxing holiday.

On the night of 23 March 1998, Amy and Brad attended a party at the ship's nightclub. Among the guests was Alister 'Yellow' Douglas, a musician performing on board.

Amy returned to her cabin at approximately 3.35am on 24 March. Her father later said he saw her sleeping on the balcony around 5.30am. By 6.00am, she was gone. Her cigarettes and lighter were also missing.

The family immediately notified the ship's staff and requested that passengers be prevented from leaving. However, as reported by Us Weekly, the crew delayed action until after most guests had disembarked. Despite days of searching with helicopters and radar, no sign of Amy was ever found.

Theories on What Happened

Several theories have emerged over the years, each offering a different explanation for Amy's disappearance. As detailed in Men's Journal, none has been definitively proven.

Accident at Sea

Some officials suggested that Amy may have accidentally fallen overboard. But her family and supporters argue this is unlikely, noting that she was a strong swimmer and afraid of open water. No body or personal items were ever recovered.

Abduction and Human Trafficking

Amy's family believe she was abducted and possibly trafficked. Reported sightings in Curaçao and Barbados fuelled speculation that she may have been forced into the sex trade. Witnesses described seeing a woman with matching tattoos who appeared to be held against her will. Although several leads, including photographs, were submitted to authorities, none were confirmed.

Foul Play on Board

Douglas, the ship's musician, became a person of interest after being seen with Amy before she vanished. He denied any involvement, passed a polygraph test, and was never charged.

However, other passengers and crew were reported to have acted suspiciously around Amy. The family also discovered that some photos of her were missing from the ship's official photo collection.

Voluntary Disappearance

A minority of observers theorised that Amy may have left voluntarily to start a new life. This speculation was partly based on unexplained logins to the Bradley family's website from Caribbean locations in the years following her disappearance. However, no credible evidence has ever supported this theory.

Search Efforts and Ongoing Reward

The FBI launched an investigation and continues to offer a reward of £19,100 ($25,000) for information that could lead to solving the case. Dutch authorities and Royal Caribbean staff also conducted searches at the time, but the efforts yielded no concrete results.

Amy's family has never given up hope. They maintain a website dedicated to her case and have preserved her belongings, awaiting her possible return. They continue to believe someone knows what happened and urge anyone with information to come forward.

As of this writing, no physical evidence or confirmed sightings of Amy Bradley have emerged. Amy Bradley Is Missing aims to bring renewed attention to the case, encourage new leads, and offer a measure of hope to a family that has endured nearly three decades of unanswered questions.

The mystery remains unresolved.