Mysterious twist in case of missing yogi who vanished from Bahamas resort beloved by Gwyneth Paltrow
The family of a Chicago woman who disappeared from a yoga resort in the Bahamas says her cell phone was found at the bottom of the ocean.
Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen on June 19 and was reported missing the next day when she failed to show up for a morning class at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island, the Royal Bahamas Police Department said in a statement.
The retreat, just outside Nasseu, was described by Gwyneth Paltrow Goop publication as ‘otherworldly’ as ‘flanked by dense tropical gardens and white sandy beaches.’
Casey’s mother Colette Seymore said CBS News she received a disturbing call from the resort last week asking if she had heard from Casey. She said the last time she heard from her daughter was last week, when Casey sent her pictures in the Atlantic.
Brian Entin, NewsNation’s senior national correspondent, was present during Tuesday’s broadcast in Banfield.
Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen on June 19 and was reported missing the next day when she failed to show up for a morning class on Paradise Island
The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat was described as ‘otherworldly’ by Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle website, Goop
Seymore traveled to the Bahamas on Tuesday to meet with local authorities.
The retreat confirmed that Casey’s disappearance was discovered on June 20 when she failed to attend morning classes.
“She was last seen at the retreat late on the evening of June 19,” they said in a statement.
In January, the State Department increased the travel advisory for Americans traveling to the Bahamas to level two. US citizens are advised to ‘exercise extra caution’ due to rising crime.
New Providence, along with Grand Bahama, was among the islands identified as potentially dangerous for tourists.
According to a missing poster, Casey has been a yoga practitioner for 15 years and was at the retreat to “fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice.” She traveled alone and arrived in the islands on June 3.
The missing poster released by police in the Bahamas surrounding the disappearance of Taylor Casey on June 19
“Taylor would never disappear like this,” Casey’s mother said. She went on to say that her daughter was eager to share what she learned during the retreat with friends
“Taylor would never disappear like this,” Seymore said. She went on to say that upon her return, her daughter was eager to share what she learned at the retreat with friends in Chicago.
“I believe Taylor is in danger because she wanted to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return,” Seymore added.
“Taylor would never disappear like this.”
Seymore told CNN that she and other family members will travel to the Bahamas on Tuesday to assist in the search effort.
The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas said Monday that Casey has disappeared and that they are working with law enforcement officials.
“I believe Taylor is in danger because she wanted to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return,” Seymore added. She is seen with Casey
The alarm was raised when Casey failed to attend the morning session on June 20. The center said she was last seen the night before.
“The Ashram asks anyone with information about Ms Casey to contact local police. In the meantime, it is working with authorities on their investigation,” the center said.
The Sivananda Yoga organization has similar locations in New York, California, India, France and Austria.
According to the missing poster, Casey is a “light-skinned black woman, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She has natural hair that is often covered with a durag.”
Casey was born in Hazel Crest, a Chicago suburb about 20 miles south of downtown.
Family members will travel to the Bahamas on Tuesday to assist in the search. Casey is pictured with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
Casey is from Hazel Crest, a Chicago suburb about 20 miles south of downtown
After Taylor’s disappearance… CBS News Travel editor Peter Greenberg blames the increase in violence in the Bahamas on gang activity.
“The reason the Department of State issued that advisory is because of increased gang crime in the Bahamas. Because there is an increased crime with gangs in places like Mexico or Jamaica. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t go there.’
“What every American traveler gets into trouble with is when, let’s say, they go out at night with friends or alone in a neighborhood that they don’t know, or that they don’t understand, or that’s unfamiliar to them, and they’re not traveling in groups.’
“Then they could get into trouble,” Greenberg added.
A specific warning for American tourists included taking boat tours as they are “not consistently regulated.”
The retreat confirmed that Casey’s disappearance was discovered on June 20 when she failed to attend morning classes
“The majority of crime occurs on the islands of New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport),” the advisory reads.
‘Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies and sexual violence, occurs in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying in short-term vacation rentals where private security companies are not present.”
Despite the warnings, the Bahamas remains an extremely popular destination for American tourists. It was the second most popular destination during spring break, travel insurance expert Megan Walch told Chicago’s WGN TV.
‘Always take your surroundings into account. “Don’t answer the door at your hotel or where you’re staying if you don’t know who it is,” Walch added.