Yoga retreat participant missing in Bahamas, mother pleads for return

On June 21, the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a missing person report for a 41-year-old black woman named Taylor Casey. Casey had 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 indicates she is slim, weighs about 145 pounds and is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall. The document said she was last seen on June 19. A news release posted on a Facebook page dedicated to the search for Taylor added that she has natural hair, “often covered by a durag.”

People.com detailed that organizers of the Sivananda Ashram yoga retreat in the Bahamas were the first to report the 41-year-old missing. Organizers reportedly alerted the woman's family and the U.S. Embassy after she failed to attend her morning class on June 20. The missing Chicago resident was reportedly working toward yoga certification at the retreat.

How is Taylor Casey's family dealing with the news?

Taylor's mother, Colette Seymore, has expressed concern about her child's fate and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. In a statement, Colette shared her belief that her daughter was “in danger.”

The concerned mother noted that Taylor, who has been practicing yoga for 15 years, “was looking forward to sharing her yoga experience with others upon her return.” The press release states that the yoga enthusiast attended the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat “to fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice.”

“Taylor would never disappear like that,” Colette said.

In a conversation with ABC News, the mother added: “Taylor still calls me, stays in touch. Taylor sent me beautiful pictures of the Bahamas, Taylor in the ocean. We want Taylor to come home. We need Taylor in our lives. We miss Taylor.

Notably, the US State Department issued a Level 2 warning to travelers to the Bahamas in January. This level 2 encourages travelers to exercise “increased caution”.

What else do you need to know about Taylor Casey's disappearance?

As of the date of this report, a Chuffed fundraiser has raised more than $11,000 of a $25,000 goal to mobilize Taylor's family and friends. The fundraiser said donations would be used to “build a legal team to carry out this international search” and pay travel expenses for those in the United States to “come together and defend Taylor” .

Additionally, the money raised will also allow up to five family members or friends to travel to the Bahamas. Colette is said to be there and has met with the Royal Bahamas Police. The search for her daughter continues. CNN reported in June that police found the yoga enthusiast's phone somewhere in the water, though it's unclear how far from her retreat it was.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477).