ECNETNews, New York, NY, August 3, 2024: Today marks 45 days since the mysterious disappearance of Taylor Casey, a 42-year-old American trans woman, from a yoga retreat in the Bahamas.
This week, her family and friends from Chicago announced a $10,000 reward for information regarding her whereabouts. Casey was attending a month-long retreat at Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Paradise Island to train as a yoga instructor. She was last seen on June 19th and ceased attending classes starting June 20th.
Concerns arise from her family regarding potential bias related to her transgender identity in connection with her disappearance. Local authorities have committed to conducting a thorough investigation and are working alongside U.S. government officials in the search for Casey. Despite these assurances, her family has hired legal representation and has not received updates on any new leads.
Notably, the Chief Superintendent of Police in the Bahamas was recently suspended on an unrelated issue. Authorities recovered an iPhone, believed to be Casey’s, but attempts to access its contents have been unsuccessful. Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander reported a search dog traced Casey’s scent from her tent to the water’s edge, suggesting a concerning turn in the investigation. The phone was located underwater, but investigators have faced challenges in unlocking it. Attempts to gather evidence from surveillance footage and underwater drones deployed on July 3rd have yielded no significant leads.
In light of ongoing safety concerns, the U.S. State Department has maintained a Level 2 travel advisory for The Bahamas since January, urging travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime rates, particularly on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. The advisory emphasizes the prevalence of violent crime and warns travelers to be vigilant, especially when participating in water-related activities or staying at short-term rental properties lacking private security.
“The majority of crime occurs on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. In Nassau, increased vigilance is advised in the ‘Over the Hill’ area, where gang violence has contributed to a high homicide rate,” the advisory states. “Violent incidents, including burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, can happen in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Travelers should be especially cautious when staying at short-term vacation rentals that do not have security measures in place.”
