She Vanished While Attending A Yoga Retreat In The Bahamas Last Month, And Her Phone Was Found Underwater
This past June, 41-year-old Taylor Casey of Chicago, Illinois, decided to travel to the Bahamas. There, she planned to go on a month-long yoga certification retreat at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas.
The retreat took place on Paradise Island, a small resort linked to downtown Nassau – the capital city of New Providence island – via bridges.
Taylor had spent 15 years practicing yoga and went away on the retreat in order to “fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice.” In total, her trip was supposed to last four to five weeks.
Yet, on June 19, 2024, Taylor mysteriously disappeared.
Throughout the retreat, she’d made sure to regularly stay in contact with her friends and family – giving them updates on her trip. She also claimed how, once it was over, she was excited to travel home and share what she’d learned.
The day before Taylor vanished, June 18, she texted her mom a photo of herself along with a message that read, “I miss you, Mom. I miss you. Look, I’m at the beach.”
Then, the following evening of June 19, she was last spotted at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas. Taylor failed to show up for her morning classes the next day and was never seen or heard from again.
At that point, staff members contacted the American Embassy on June 20 and reported Taylor missing to the Royal Bahamas Police.
An investigation into her disappearance was promptly launched, and the search for Taylor included canines, divers, and drones in the area surrounding the yoga retreat, as well as other island areas.
Facebook – pictured above is Taylor
Authorities ultimately found Taylor’s cell phone in “nearby waters.” However, the precise location of the discovery was not made public, with police citing the ongoing investigation.
The fact that Taylor’s cell phone was found underwater has left her friend, Emily Williams, puzzled and pushing for answers.
“What we’re hearing does not sound like Taylor, and we need more information,” Emily said.
“We need to know where Taylor is. We need to know what happened, and we need the full story.”
Taylor’s mother, Colette Seymore, also shared her disbelief over what happened.
“Oh my god, I miss Taylor. Taylor should not be missing as far as I’m concerned,” Colette stated.
Taylor’s disappearance comes in the wake of a State Department level 2 travel advisory for Americans visiting the Bahamas, which was issued in January in response to heightened crime.
“Violent crimes, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and [redacted] assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence,” the U.S. Department of State said on its website on January 26, 2024.
Taylor’s loved ones have created a Facebook page entitled Find Taylor Casey to raise awareness about her case.
In a press release posted to the page, Taylor’s mother shared her concern and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“We are deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and well-being. We love Taylor and want her home,” Colette said.
“I believe Taylor is in danger because she was eager to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return. Taylor would never disappear like this.”
Taylor is five foot ten, weighs 145 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Her natural hair is often covered by a durag.
If you have any information regarding Taylor’s disappearance, you are urged to contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force Criminal Investigations Department at 502-9991/2.
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