The search continues for a Chicago woman missing in the Bahamas. What we know so far

NASSAU, Bahamas — The phone of a Chicago woman who went missing during a yoga retreat in the Bahamas was found in the water Tuesday as her family traveled to the Bahamas to work with authorities to find her.

The search continues for Taylor Casey, 41, last seen on the evening of Wednesday, June 19, at the Sivananda Ashram yoga retreat on Paradise Island, approximately five miles from Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a missing person alert for Casey on Friday, June 21, two days after she was last seen.

Phone located

Casey's niece, Traysia Conard, told NewsNation Live on Wednesday that she last saw her aunt's phone ringing in the water.

According to NewsNation, Conard was the only family member who knew Casey's location on the Find My Phone app for iPhone. When she learned Casey was missing, Conard checked the app and saw she was in the water, where Casey's phone was located Tuesday morning this week, NewsNation reported.

According to Conard, Casey had gone to the yoga retreat to further her yoga training and was in a yoga teacher training program. Conard said that on Tuesday, June 18, a day before her aunt disappeared, Casey sent the family pictures of herself on the beach and told them she was having fun.

In a statement, the yoga retreat said it notified the U.S. Embassy and informed Casey's family of her disappearance after she failed to show up for class.

“My grandmother texted him Wednesday (June 19), and no response, but we didn’t think anything of it,” Conard said. “On Thursday (June 20) we received a call from the yoga retreat saying Taylor had not been seen.”

Colette Seymore, Casey's mother, said in a statement that she believed her daughter was in danger.

“We are deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and well-being,” Seymore said. “We love Taylor and want her to come home.”

Recommendations for travelers

The US State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas in late January, with government officials warning of water hazards and crime in parts of the country, including the area where Casey was returned.

The notice reads in part: “The majority of crimes occur on the islands of New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport). In Nassau, the practice has increased vigilance in the “Over the Hill” neighborhood (south of Shirley Street), where gang violence has led to a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population.

“Violent crimes, such as burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies are not present.

In a statement shared with NewsNation, the State Department said it was aware of Casey's disappearance and that there was no higher priority than the well-being and safety of American citizens at the foreigner.

Bahamas Police have not shared any updates, only asking people who may have information on Casey's whereabouts to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force Criminal Investigation Department at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-8477.