Disappearance of Taylor Casey
Disappearance of Taylor Casey | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 1982 |
| Disappeared | June 19, 2024 (aged 41) Paradise Island, Nassau, The Bahamas |
| Status | Missing for 1 year, 1 month and 29 days |
| Website | findtaylorcasey |
Taylor Casey (born July 11, 1982 – disappeared June 19, 2024) is an American missing person who disappeared on June 19, 2024, on Paradise Island, Nassau, The Bahamas, aged 41.
Disappearance
Casey was born on July 11, 1982,[1] and is from Chicago. She is a trans woman of color and youth advocate, as well as a veteran of the United States Army.[2] The fact she was trans was originally hidden by her family, due to fears of discrimination.[3][4] In summer 2024, she traveled to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island, a resort island, in Nassau, The Bahamas. She had been a yoga instructor since c. 2009.[5] Her visit came following a January 16, 2024 travel warning regarding sex crimes in the country.[6][5]
She was last seen on the evening on June 18. The last time she and her mother—Colette Seymor—spoke, she recalled sensing fear in her voice.[7] An unidentified man with a walkie-talkie, wearing a Boston Celtics baseball cap and otherwise all black clothing, near Casey, was noticed that night also.[8] She was reported missing on June 19, after failing to attend yoga classes; she was confirmed missing by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on June 20.[9]
In July, authorities recovered Casey's iPhone 56 feet underwater, after being led to it by a search dog.[7] Her journal was also located.[10] Also in July, her family requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation search for her, citing possible discrimination.[11] Support for Casey came from Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth, the Embassy of the United States, Nassau and the Brave Space Alliance.[12] Her family placed a $10,000 reward for information regarding her whereabouts.[9] A fundraiser was created, which received over $47,000 in donations by October.[13]
References
- ^ Bishop, Sydney (2024-07-19). "Taylor Casey's loved ones are keeping hope alive a month after the Chicago woman disappeared in the Bahamas". CNN. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ "Emily Williams: A Black trans Army veteran vanished in the Bahamas. Why won't her country help find her?". Chicago Tribune. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ Glenza, Jessica (2024-07-11). "Family of missing woman in Bahamas shielded trans identity over fears of bias". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ "Mother of American missing in Bahamas shielded daughter's trans identity". NBC News. 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ a b "A Chicago woman is missing 8 days after a Bahamas retreat. Here's what we know". The Washington Post. 2024-06-27. Archived from the original on 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ "Chicago woman Taylor Casey goes missing on Bahamas yoga retreat". www.bbc.com. 2024-06-26. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ a b "No answers 3 months into search for Taylor Casey, Chicago woman missing in the Bahamas - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ Smart, Sara (2024-07-09). "Police continue search for missing American woman in the Bahamas nearly 3 weeks after she vanished during yoga retreat". CNN. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ a b "1 year since Chicago woman, Taylor Casey, went missing in the Bahamas and still no answers - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ Alund, Natalie Neysa. "Police find missing Chicago woman's cell phone, journal in Bahamian waters". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ "Taylor Casey update: Mom of woman who disappeared in Bahamas blames police". Newsweek. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ "On the eve of her birthday, Taylor Casey's mother pushes for answers". NBC Chicago. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ^ "Update on search for missing Taylor Casey who disappeared four months ago". Newsweek. 2024-10-25. Retrieved 2025-08-08.