News Americas, New York, NY, July 11, 2024: Taylor Casey, an American transgender woman from Chicago, remains missing in The Bahamas three weeks after disappearing during a yoga retreat. Today, on her 42nd birthday, her family is urgently appealing for FBI intervention.
Casey’s family and friends, dissatisfied with the current investigation, are pressing the FBI to take over the search. They voiced their concerns at a press conference and birthday gathering at the South Shore Cultural Center. Casey’s mother, Colette Seymore, delivered an emotional letter expressing the pain of her daughter’s absence, comparing it to the pain of childbirth 42 years ago.
Emily Williams, a close friend of Casey, highlighted issues with the current investigation, noting that the FBI can only become involved if invited by the Royal Bahamian Police Force, which has yet to extend such an invitation. Williams contradicted local authorities’ claims of FBI involvement, stating that they are only working with the legal attaché of the US embassy in Nassau.
Local media reports that Bahamian National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed the FBI’s use of drone technology in the search. Despite this, Casey’s family remains concerned that her case is not receiving the necessary attention due to bias against Black transgender individuals.
Jackie Boyd, another friend, emphasized the broader issue of media and authority neglect in cases involving Black transgender people. Boyd stressed the urgency of maintaining pressure on both American and Bahamian authorities to ensure Casey’s safety and the integrity of the investigation.
The group “Find Taylor Casey” cited the Human Rights Campaign’s statistic that nearly three-quarters of transgender homicide victims are People of Color. They praised Casey’s lifelong efforts to combat violence against queer youth and expressed their commitment to seeking justice for her.
Taylor Casey was last seen on June 19 at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in The Bahamas. Having practiced yoga for 15 years, she was attending the retreat to deepen her practice. When she failed to attend morning classes, the retreat alerted Bahamian authorities.
This week, Bahamian police 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 3 failed to find additional clues.
Seymore, who reported her daughter missing, shared her frustration with the lack of urgency displayed by local investigators. Upon arriving in The Bahamas, she found no missing persons flyers for Casey and described the investigators as nonchalant.
In light of this, Casey’s mother had to return to Chicago without answers, facing what she describes as every mother’s worst nightmare.
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.
