(NewsNation) — The niece of Chicago woman Taylor Casey, who went missing while participating in a yoga retreat on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, says she last saw her aunt's phone ping in the water.
Casey was last seen on the evening of Wednesday, June 19, at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, which is five miles from Nassau. Her disappearance was discovered after she failed to attend classes the next morning.
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat said in a statement it advised the U.S. Embassy, as well as Casey's family, about the 41-year-old going missing. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told NewsNation in an email that it is aware of reports about a U.S. citizen missing in The Bahamas, but declined further comment because of privacy considerations.
Royal Bahamas Police Force is now investigating.
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat has been described by Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop lifestyle brand as “otherworldly,” idyllic” and “fully immersive." It has gained a reputation around the world as a beautiful place to come and study yoga, as Casey was doing.
Taylor Casey's family grows more concerned
Traysia Conard, Casey's niece, said on "NewsNation Live" Wednesday that her aunt, "a sweet lady," has been doing yoga for 15 years, and even went to the Bamahas back in February.
"She takes trips all the time," Conard said. "This was an out of the ordinary."
Conard had been the only family member who had Casey's location on the Find My iPhone app. Once she heard Casey was missing, Conard checked the app, and saw it was in the water, where her aunt's phone was located Tuesday morning.
Colette Seymore, Taylor Casey’s mother, said in a statement that she believes her daughter is in danger.
“We are deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and well-being,” Seymore said. “We love Taylor and want her home.
Seymore is among a contingent heading to The Bahamas to be present amid the ongoing search.
Those with information can contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force's Criminal Investigations Deprtment at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-8477.
Bahamas Travel Advisory
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas, citing high crime rates.
A majority of this crime, the alert said, happens on the New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands.
"In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the 'Over the Hill' area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population," the alert stated. "Violent crime, 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 do not have a presence. "
Retaliatory gang violence, according to the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said in January, was the primary motive for 2024 murders, which have "occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets."
However, despite the United States government urging visitors to use extra caution, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis pushed back on some of these assertions. NPR reported he responded to the advisories by saying the government in the Bahamas is "alert, attentive and proactive to ensure that the Bahamas remains a safe and welcoming destination."
"The incidents described in the January 2024 US Embassy crime alert do not reflect general safety in The Bahamas, a count of sixteen tourism destinations, and many more islands," Davis said, pointing out that other tourism destinations also have a Level 2 advisory.