Chicago Woman Missing After Traveling to Paradise Island for Yoga Retreat

Chicago Woman missing Traveling to Paradise Island Yoga Retreat

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Jun 25, 07:19 am

Photo: (Photo : Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images )

Authorities in the Bahamas are looking for a Chicago woman, Taylor Casey, who disappeared after journeying to Paradise Island for a yoga retreat, according to police and her family.

Chicago Woman Reported Missing in a Yoga Retreat

Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Wednesday, her family declared on Monday.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force released a missing persons flyer two days later, looking for data on her locations. The flyer affirms she was last sighted on Paradise Island, connected to Nassau by a bridge.

Taylor Casey's mother, Colette Seymore, expressed profound worry for Taylor's safety and welfare. Seymore suggested that Taylor could be at risk because she was enthusiastic about sharing her yoga retreat experience with others when she returned.

"Taylor would never disappear like this," Seymore added. Organizers of the Find Taylor Casey Facebook page described her as "a cherished friend, daughter, aunt, and beloved community member" in an email.

Her family described her as having an "energetic and affectionate nature." They noted that the Chicago native has devoted 15 years to practicing yoga and has a strong aspiration to improve her skills. The trip to the Bahamas was intended to help her achieve this goal.

Seymore is traveling to the Bahamas to coordinate with police, according to the family statement. The family hopes someone will come forward with data on her locations.

Casey is described as a Black American with a light complexion, slender build, standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall, and commonly covering her natural hair.

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas, part of the global Sivananda Yoga organization with sites in India, France, Austria, New York state, and California, did not instantly react to a request for comment on Monday.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop publication defined the Paradise Island yoga retreat as "otherworldly," surrounded by dense tropical gardens and white-sand beaches.

In January, due to a rise in murders, robberies, and gang crime in Nassau, the U.S. State Department increased its travel advisory for the Bahamas to Level 2, suggesting Americans "exercise increased caution."

U.S. travelers to the Bahamas were also recommended to "keep a low profile."

California Woman, 10 Others Missing From Yoga Retreat

Nancy Ng, a woman from California, vanished under mysterious circumstances while kayaking on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala over a month ago.

Ms. Ng was reportedly kayaking with 10 others from a yoga retreat where she was taking a break from work.

Authorities initially suspected that Ms. Ng drowned in the lake. However, her family has raised concerns about the lack of cooperation from the last individuals who saw her, casting doubt on this theory.

Despite weeks of search efforts with minimal leads, new details have slowly emerged, including a crucial witness coming forward.

As of now, Ms. Ng has not been located. The only trace of her remains a haunting video showing her waving goodbye from the shore before joining her fellow kayakers on the ill-fated trip.