News Americas, New York, NY, August 3, 2024: Today, August 3, 2024, marks 45 days since American trans woman, Taylor Casey, disappeared from a yoga retreat in the Bahamas.
This week, her family and friends in Chicago announced a $10,000 reward for an information on her disappearance.
Casey was attending a month-long retreat with Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Paradise Island to become a yoga instructor when she stopped showing up to classes on June 20th. She was last seen on June 19th.
Her family believes prejudice may be involved in her disappearance, as Casey, 42, is transgender. Authorities have assured a thorough investigation and are cooperating with the U.S. government in the search for Casey. However, the family has retained attorney John Q. Kelly and remains unaware of any new leads.
The chief superintendent of police in the Bahamas was suspended earlier this month on an unrelated matter.
The Bahamian police had recovered an iPhone believed to belong to Casey, but have been unable to access its contents. Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander reported that a search dog tracked Casey’s scent from a tent to the water, where it ended. The phone was found underwater, but American authorities have also struggled to unlock it. Surveillance footage has not provided any leads, and underwater drones used on July 3rd failed to find additional clues.
The US State Department has maintained a Level 2 travel advisory for The Bahamas since January, advising increased caution due to crime, particularly on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. The advisory highlights issues such as violent crime, poorly regulated watercraft activities, and recent shark incidents. It urges travelers to exercise vigilance, especially when engaging in water-based activities and when staying at short-term rental properties without private security.
“The majority of crime occurs on 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 US State Department states. “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. ”
