Following Netflix’s new documentary Amy Bradley Is Missing, it’s possible that the case could be reopened by the FBI, but investigators would face some big problems.
Amy Bradley disappeared from the Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas in March 1998 and the inevstgiation was never officially closed. However, Amy was declared legally dead in March 2010, and nothing has been done to actively find her since.
When asked if the case could reopen due to increased interest after the docuseries, lawyer Francisco Mundaca told The Mirror US: “If you would have asked me this question at the beginning of my legal career, so almost 17 years ago now, I would have said it’s unlikely. Something monumental would have to be uncovered and particularly DNA evidence.”
“I think it’s a lot more plausible for it to occur now. You know, we’ve even seen the Mendez brothers, because of media and celebrities, get renewed life and then they looked into an issue that was germane for that case,” he continued.
If it does get reopened, there are three main problems investigators will face.
Credit: Netflix
Amy Bradley investigators could get lots of false tips
The first problem that could arise if the Amy Bradley case is reopened is false tips. Following the Netflix documentary, there is a lot more public interest in the Amy Bradley case, which runs the risk of people sharing fake information with law enforcement.
“With any with anything that receives a lot of interest, you may get a lot of false tips. And it’s going to be a monumental effort for if it in fact is reopened for the FBI and other authorities to have the go through all these tips to determine which ones are most credible,” Mundaca said.
There would also be numerous countries involved
Another issue is that there are lots of countries involved. Amy is a US citizen, but she went missing just as the cruise ship docked in Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island. She was also reportedly sighted in Bridgetown, Barbados, so there needs to be cooperation amongst territories and jurisdictions, the lawyer explained.
Former district attorney Alphonse Provinziano further added: “In this case, the missing person is a U.S. citizen, which means it falls under the FBI’s jurisdiction, but then you also have the registry of the ship and the Curacao authorities.”
“That can lead to conflicts over different standards of evidence and which agency will take the lead. Ultimately, without a clear authority, the question will remain whether it was an accidental death, suicide, or if she was removed from the ship against her will.”
Credit: Netflix
The cruise ship workers would need to be tracked down
Finally, Mundaca said we can’t forget the workers on the cruise line would be a “major factor” in the investigation because Amy’s disappearance “occurred potentially while on their shift”. Tracking them down and reopening a decades-old case could be an issue, as they may not want to cooperate.
“That’s going to be an interesting component because they were essentially, from what I understand, the first investigators before they notified authorities at all or the FBI, which now there are laws in place that require notification as soon as possible,” the lawyer explained.
If the case is reopened, the FBI would likely “start anew” with their investigation. However, there are currently no plans to do this.
For all the latest Netflix news and drops, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.
Featured image by: Netflix
