Missing Chicago person last seen at yoga retreat in Bahamas

CHICAGO (CBS) — A Chicago resident has been reported missing while traveling to the Bahamas.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed that Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen in the Paradise Island area of ​​Nassau, Bahamas on June 19. This is a popular tourist area with many resorts, restaurants, beaches and more.

A friend said in a Facebook post that Casey had attended a yoga retreat center before “mysteriously disappearing.”

On Tuesday evening, The Yoga Retreat Bahamas confirmed Casey's disappearance and said they had asked police to investigate. The yoga retreat center said it also informed the U.S. Embassy and Casey's family.

Casey's appearance was discovered last Thursday, when she had not attended morning classes, the retreat center said. The last time she was seen at the retreat was last Wednesday evening, the retreat center said.

“The Ashram is asking anyone with information about Ms. Casey to contact local police,” the retreat center said. “In the meantime, she is cooperating with authorities in their investigation.”

Casey's niece said family members, including a grandmother, would travel to the Bahamas on Tuesday to help with the search. Casey's family lives in the suburb of Hazel Crest.

In a statement, Casey's mother, Colette Seymore, said: “We are deeply concerned for Taylor's safety and well-being. We love Taylor and want her to come home.”

In January 2024, the Bahamas was subject to a level 2 travel advisory because of delinquency. U.S. officials warned: “Violent crimes, such as burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. »

“The reason the State Department issued this advisory is due to the increase in gang crimes in the Bahamas,” said Peter Greenberg, CBS News travel editor. “As there is an increase in gang-related crime in places like Mexico or Jamaica, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t go there.”

Greenberg added that such notices often generate fear, but it's important to know your surroundings.

“Where the problems arise for any American traveler is when, say, they go out at night with friends or alone in an area that they don't know, or don't understand, or that isn't theirs familiar and they're not traveling in groups,” Greenberg said. “That's when they can get into trouble.”

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas and the Bahamas Tourism Authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the disappearance.