This story was updated on July 2 to reflect the latest details of Taylor Casey’s disappearance.
On June 21, the Royal Bahamas Police Force publicized a missing person report for a 41-year-old Black woman named Taylor Casey. She traveled to the Paradise Island area for a month-long yoga retreat.
The missing person report showed a photo of Taylor with dark hair, a “light brown” complexion, and wearing glasses. Other information about her noted that she has a slim build, is about 145 pounds, and is around 5 feet and 10 inches tall. The document stated that she was last seen on June 19. A press release posted on a Facebook page dedicated to finding her noted that she has natural hair, “often covered by a durag.”
People.com detailed that organizers at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas were the first to report the 41-year-old missing. The organizers reportedly alerted the woman’s family and the U.S. Embassy after she didn’t attend her morning class on June 20. The missing Chicago resident was reportedly working toward getting a yoga certification at the retreat.
How Is Taylor Casey’s Family Dealing With The News?
Taylor’s mother, Colette Seymore, has expressed numerous concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding her child’s disappearance. She believes her daughter would “never disappear like this” and is “in danger.” Colette noted that Taylor — a 15-year yogi — “was eager to share her yoga experience with others upon her return.” The family’s details included that the 41-year-old went to the retreat “to fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice.”
Colette and her team recently returned stateside from a “disturbing and infuriating” trip to the Bahamas, quoting Taylor’s close friend, Emily Williams. A July 1 press release shared that the mother, friend, and others met with local police, the U.S. Embassy, and Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat leadership.
The loved ones’ latest press release claims no missing persons flyers of Taylor plastered around the retreat. They stated that leaders and yogi students on the property provided lacking and unclear information regarding the case. Moreover, the loved ones believe the police’s investigation thus far has demonstrated “a lack of serious attention.”
“We had to beg to talk to [Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat] students. But then I feel like they were told what to say and not to say,” claimed Colette. “My impression is that it [Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat] is cultish. And students were being coerced to obey them [Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat leaders] even if that meant holding back information about my child missing.”
What Else Is There To Know About The Disappearance?
The search for Taylor remains ongoing. CNN reported in late June that police found the yogi’s phone somewhere in the water, although it’s unclear how far from her retreat it was.
Overall, the mother and her team described the visit to the retreat as “deeply unsettling.” They collected Taylor’s belongings, including a Bible, a sketchbook, books, and more.
“We are calling on the U.S. State Department to deploy the FBI to take over this investigation immediately, and the Bahamian police to allow the FBI to carry out a proper investigation,” Emily stated. “The FBI can find Taylor.”
“I had to return home without her. This is every mother’s worst nightmare,” noted Colette. “I felt an urgent need to return because without U.S. government support, we may never find out what happened to my Taylor.”
As of this report, a Chuffed fundraiser has raised over $23,000 out of a $25,000 goal to mobilize Taylor’s family and friends. Donations will go toward “setting up a legal team to navigate this international search,” and paying the travel expenses of those advocating for her.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477).
The U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory in January for American citizens visiting the Bahamas. Level 2 encourages travelers to implement “increased caution.”