"You can’t just traffic someone on a whim" — Internet slams viral image tied to Amy Bradley’s disappearance, dismissing trafficking rumors

Amy Bradley was a 23-year-old woman who disappeared on March 23, 1998, while aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas. Amy had been traveling with her family to the Caribbean and had spent the evening dancing at the ship’s nightclub. The next morning, she was found missing, with only a few personal items left behind.

Amy's disappearance has still not been solved, even after many investigations. There are many views about what happened to her, including the idea that she may have been a victim of human trafficking.

In July 2025, Netflix released a documentary series titled Amy Bradley is Missing, which revisited the case and explored various theories, including the possibility of trafficking.

The documentary brought renewed attention to the mystery, particularly highlighting new findings and the emotional toll on her family. Recently, the internet has been buzzing with skepticism regarding the theory that Amy Bradley was trafficked, as depicted in the documentary. A viral image, which was found in 2005 on a s*x worker website, tied to this theory sparked heated discussions online.

However, many dismissed the idea that Amy was trafficked. One Reddit user commented:

"I haven’t come across a single explanation or theory for how this trafficking operation could have worked. You can’t just traffic someone on a whim, there’s a full-scale plan in place. It just doesn’t make sense to me that traffickers would dedicate so much time and effort on such a high-risk/low-return location like a cruise ship."

Further reactions to the trafficking theory continued to emerge.

"The more plausible suggestion I’ve seen is that she left on her own due to the promise of easy drugs and a fun time.", one fan suggested.

“I think if another pair of shoes was missing it would have been mentioned. Unfortunately, I think this documentary and similar tellings of this case omit any information that doesn’t support the ‘Amy is alive and coming home’ theory.”, another Reddit user stated.

“As someone mentioned, that is an awfully difficult way to traffic someone requiring some Mission Impossible skills and timing.”, one comment read.

A separate user pointed out the odd timing of Amy returning to her cabin.

“If Yellow wanted to lure her somewhere, the most opportune time would have been while they were both already out dancing and drinking. But to let her go back to her room and then hope that she meets you later? And at such an odd time (5:30/6 am)?”, another comment read.

“I haven’t watched the documentary yet but it seems weird why people aren’t accepting the most obvious answer. I’m also kinda surprised more drunk people don’t fall overboard.”, one fan commented on Reddit.

“The doc heavily pushes you to believe she was trafficked.”, another user critiqued the docuseries.

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On a s*x worker website, Amy Bradley was allegedly ‘found’ seven years after her disappearance

A breakthrough in the human trafficking theory came in 2005 when Amy Bradley’s family received an anonymous photo of a woman who looked strikingly similar to Amy. The photo appeared on a s*x worker website based in the Caribbean.

The Bradley family, particularly Amy’s mother, Iva, was horrified and hopeful at the same time. Since the photo was sent to Amy's family through an email tip line, it made people wonder if she had been sold. Even though the woman in the picture looked a lot like Amy, there was no solid proof that she was Amy.

The FBI did a forensic study of the picture and compared Amy's face to the woman's in key ways. The study found similarities between the two people, such as their cheekbones and chin shape, as per LADbible. However, the circumstances of the picture are still unclear because the image's source could not be found.

Theories about Amy’s involvement in the s*x industry persist, though they have not been conclusively proven.

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Netflix documentary Amy Bradley Is Missing

Netflix’s Amy Bradley is Missing revisits the case of Amy’s disappearance and the many theories surrounding it. The three-part docuseries takes a deep dive into the events leading up to her vanishing, with interviews from Amy’s family, eyewitnesses, and even figures who have not publicly spoken about the case before.

One key figure in the documentary is Alister "Yellow" Douglas, a ship performer who was seen dancing with Amy the night she disappeared. Though the FBI questioned him, there was no evidence to suggest he was involved in her disappearance. The documentary also explores the possibility that Amy might have left the ship voluntarily, a theory that was previously underexplored.

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Trafficking theory explored

A still from Amy Bradley is Missing (Image via Netflix)

The theory that Amy was trafficked has been one of the most widely discussed in the wake of her disappearance. However, the more the theory is explored, the more questions arise.

The challenges of trafficking someone from a cruise ship, with its tight security and constant movement, have left many skeptical. Despite the supposed sightings of Amy in various locations, including a brothel in Curaçao and a beach in the Caribbean, no concrete evidence has ever emerged to prove that Amy was trafficked.

The documentary does not shy away from discussing the human trafficking theory. Still, it also offers other plausible explanations, such as the possibility that Amy left the ship on her own due to personal reasons.

There are numerous theories surrounding Amy’s disappearance, but none have provided a definitive answer. The case remains open, and the hope that Amy might one day be found still lingers, despite the passage of time.

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Amy Bradley Is Missing is currently streaming on Netflix.