The cell phone of an American woman who went missing from a yoga retreat in the Bahamas has been found more than two weeks after she disappeared, authorities said on Tuesday.
The mobile device of Chicago resident Taylor Casey, 41, was discovered in “nearby waters,” according to a statement by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Other personal belongings including her journal have also been found. Her U.S. passport has not been located, the police force said, adding that it deployed drones, K-9 units, and other resources to search for Ms. Casey.
While local authorities announced the discovery of her personal belongings in “nearby waters,” they did not specify whether the items were found right off the beach or at sea. The police force could not be reached for further comment on its investigation.
Ms. Casey’s mysterious disappearance came after the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory earlier this year warning U.S. citizens visiting the Bahamas to “exercise caution due to increased crime.” It further recommended that American travelers avoid boat tours with commercial recreational watercraft since those activities are often unregulated.
Ms. Casey was last seen at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in Nassau on June 19.
The facility said in a statement on Instagram that they alerted local authorities and Ms. Casey’s family of her disappearance after she did not show up for a morning class on June 20.
Ms. Casey traveled to the Bahamas to attend the yoga certification retreat, according to her family.
“Taylor, known for her vibrant and loving personality, has been practicing yoga for 15 years and went to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat to fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice,” her family said in a statement.
“Eager to return to Chicago, she looked forward to sharing her newfound knowledge and experience with others.”
The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear. A missing person flyer released by local law enforcement did not say whether foul play is suspected in the case.
Chicago Police issued its own missing persons alert this week urging anyone who may have had any recent direct contact or correspondence with Ms. Casey to come forward and contact the Area 5 Special Victims Unit.
While it remains unclear whether foul play was a factor in the case, Ms. Casey’s family believes her disappearance is suspicious because she was looking forward to coming home and eager to share her yoga retreat experience with others, according to her mother Colette Seymore.
“Taylor would never disappear like this,” she said in a statement.
Her mother has since traveled to the Bahamas to assist in the search for Ms. Casey.
“This is a matter of priority for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and we will continue to work arduously, doing all we can to locate Taylor and ensure her safe return to her family,” the police force stated.
