Chicago police issue alert days after disappearance in Bahamas – NBC Chicago

Lina Portman2 days ago

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Days after a Chicago woman was reported missing from a yoga retreat she was attending in the Bahamas, Chicago police have issued a missing person alert.

Police issued an advisory Monday for Taylor Casey, a 41-year-old woman from the city who mysteriously disappeared while attending a yoga retreat in June in the Bahamas, shortly after the United States issued a “Level 2” travel advisory for the island due to crime. She was last seen on June 19 and is currently listed by police as a missing person.

“If you have had recent direct contact or correspondence with the above missing persons, or if you have any information regarding the current location of the missing persons, please contact the Area 5 Special Victims Unit immediately at (312) 746-6554,” the bulletin states.

No further information was provided about the alert, including why it was issued several days after her disappearance was first reported.

Casey was attending the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island in Nassau when she went missing, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a flyer posted on Facebook. Organizers of the program say Casey was discovered missing on June 20 “while she was not attending morning classes.”

“A participant in our yoga certification program, Taylor Casey, is missing,” the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat announced on Facebook last week. “She was last seen at the retreat late on the evening of June 19.”

The statement also asked anyone with information about Casey's whereabouts to contact local police.

“The Ashram is working with the authorities in their investigation,” the statement said. “Your assistance is greatly appreciated.”

The retreat is described as a “dynamic yoga ashram offering vacations, classes and teacher trainings as well as cleanses, detox programs, healing arts training, family programs, kirtan and more,” according to the group’s Facebook page.

Visitors can rent a variety of accommodations while staying at the Ashram, including rooms, huts and tents, as shown on the group's website.

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago's request for comment.

Last week, Casey's mother Colette Seymore said in a news release that family and friends were “deeply concerned for Taylor's safety and well-being.”

“We love Taylor and want her home,” said the statement, posted on a public Facebook group called “Find Taylor Casey.”

Seymore added that Casey was eager to share her experience at the yoga retreat with others upon her return, which led her to believe her daughter might be in danger.

“Taylor would never disappear like that,” the statement said.

According to the statement, Seymore was scheduled to travel to Paradise Island and Nassau this week to coordinate with local authorities.

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A recent report from the Nassau Guardian newspaper said police used drones, divers and a canine unit to search for Casey. At a local news conference Wednesday, Nassau Chief Commissioner Chrislyn Skippings said Casey's cellphone was found in the ocean and recovered, but his belongings were still at the ashram.

“Let me say that our priority is to find Taylor and to find him healthy,” Skippings said in the Nassau Guardian report.

According to the report, police searched the island and surrounding area. Authorities were unable to confirm what type of accommodation Casey was staying in during his time at the retreat.

The outlet also noted that the Bahamas' tourism director general met with family members and local police as part of the investigation.

“This is an ongoing police investigation,” tourism general manager Latia Duncombe told local reporters. “Our thoughts are with the person's family.” [who] is missing and I am sure the authorities are doing everything in their power to find a solution.

In January, the United States issued a “Level 2” travel advisory for the Bahamas, warning travelers to “exercise increased caution in the Bahamas due to crime.”

“The majority of crime occurs on the islands of New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport),” the advisory states. “Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults, occurs in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies are not present.”

The Nassau Guardian said Duncombe responded to the travel advisory this week.

“The destination is safe and we need to make sure that visitors feel safe when they visit The Bahamas,” Duncombe said. “Any time something strange happens, it increases the concern and we want to make sure that we handle it in a very measured way.”

NBC Chicago has reached out to Casey's family, the yoga retreat and the Royal Bahamas Police Force for more information. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.