Authorities in the Bahamas were searching for a Chicago woman reported missing after she traveled to Paradise Island to attend a yoga retreat, according to police and family.
In a statement Monday, family members said Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Wednesday.
Two days later, the Royal Bahamas Police Force distributed a missing persons flier seeking information on her whereabouts, family said.
The flier states she was last seen that day in the area of Paradise Island, which is connected by bridge to the city of Nassau.
“We are deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and well-being,” her mother, Colette Seymore, said in a statement from the family. “I believe Taylor is in danger because she was eager to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return. »
« Taylor would never disappear like this, » she added.
Organizers of the Find Taylor Casey Facebook page said by email that she’s « a cherished friend, daughter, aunt, and beloved community member. »
The Chicago resident is known for her « vibrant and loving personality » and has practiced yoga for 15 years, her family said.
She had long wanted to expand her knowledge and ability regarding the discipline, and the Bahamas trip was seen as a step toward that goal, the family said.
Seymore was traveling to Bahamas to coordinate with police, according to the statement.
Casey is described as a Black American with light skin and a thin appearance, standing 5 feet, 10 inches, with natural, often-covered hair.
Family members hope someone will step forward with information on her whereabouts.
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. It is part of a global Sivananda Yoga organization with retreats in India, France, Austria, New York state and California.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop publication described the Paradise Island yoga retreat is « otherworldly » and said it is « flanked by dense tropical gardens and white-sand beaches. »
In January, amid a spate of murders, robberies and gang crime in Nassau, the U.S. State Department increased its advisory level for would-be travelers to the Bahamas to Level 2, which urges Americans to « exercise increased caution. »
U.S. travelers to the nation were urged to « keep a low profile. »
Nicole Duarte contributed.
