American woman vanishes from yoga retreat in the Bahamas

Taylor Casey, a 41-year-old American woman, disappeared two weeks ago from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. Her family is pleading for authorities, including the FBI, to get involved after they say local police mishandled the investigation. NBC’s Maggie Vespa reports for TODAY.
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#missingperson #bahamas

[@gritsnwavy3059]

I'm glad this is making national news.

[@styphlynne8253]

Travel Advisory in USA People caution your kids and loved ones this is so tragic.

[@luvmifro1003lovesfamily]

Yessssss! So many BW go missing and we don't hear about it. Our local news outlet is doing better regarding missing teens. But the Nation news has lagged behind. I'm definitely glad to see this being brought to light. Prayers for her and her family

[@styphlynne8253]

I understand your perspective however several of my peeps have undergone gender assignment yet many people wont give it up & Those born intersex (not fully developed XX or XY) have ambiguous genitalia. Maybe the USA needs to allow more states the right to abortions. Then women with a fetus not developing can eliminate it rather than go through social sabotage.

[@doubledownpairs2635]

Fix the audio!

[@WowDaniX]

I’ll never go there. I’m sorry this happened to your daughter. But i’m thankful for the exposure

[@lindagibson744]

@WowDaniX for most of the people at the retreat are foreigners.

[@kimberlyagee7338]

Lord this is so sad. I feel for her mom because the feeling of helplessness is horrible especially when it comes to your children .Praying for Taylor's safe return.

[@heightsofsagarmatha]

They voted for crime but want symoathy when they get victimized. A big No to that

[@MonochromaticBlues]

HHE WAS BORN WIth BALLSNACOCK 3Issafkingman

[@lindagibson744]

Notice how most of these retreats are near water, like a lake or ocean and most of those individuals who go missing has to be the work of insiders. Note the other individual who went missing in Guatemala, it was said she went out on the lake there and was not seen since.

[@daniharr3278]

They need to get a private investigators

[@shawna7227]

Yep

[@monicarose2135]

Hmmm...a woman staying in a tent at an unsecured location w/a Level 2 travel warning w/creeping men wandering around; sounds like a recipe for a woman's disappearance

[@Loveabounds.]

It’s a man

[@MaudePoison]

It's a MAN for one and he's from CHICAGO! Ask the sharks or the foreign owners of the retreat.

[@AinsleyORiley]

Choose the bear 🐻

[@AinsleyORiley]

@@MaudePoisondon’t speculate

[@jetpark3743]

It's a man

[@tiffanypatterson]

I don't understand why staying in a tent was even an option.

[@dominiquegordon8813]

Like why would she opt for that

[@tiffanypatterson]

@@dominiquegordon8813 idk... She probably thought it was a somewhat controlled environment... at minimum a security guard or something. Even the hotels have security and those people are staying indoors. What would make the retreat facility not have any security when some of their guests are staying outside in tents? The retreat website says that the bathrooms are a short walk away and the prices range from $2400 to $5300. smh

[@dominiquegordon8813]

@@tiffanypatterson that was a mess to be ok with staying in tents on a resort🤦‍♀️

[@user-cc8ht3im4h]

I went to Costa Rica about 15 years ago to a yoga retreat and there was an option to stay in a tent. The compound was gated. I stayed in a room.

[@taniaacosta688]

I always go to yoga retreats and I pay to stay in a room . I would never pay big money to stay in a tent

[@coupontherapy2635]

God please help this family and bring Casey to safety fast.

[@Kay-12345]

Praying for Taylor’s safe return ♥️♥️🙏🏿♥️♥️

[@purple7vi0let]

So there's no surveillance cameras 📸 at this "resort"....??? Why would anyone go pay lots of money to sleep in a tent in a foreign country???? Lots of odd questions.

[@tiffanypatterson]

That's what I'm wondering... How much was this retreat and how much was it to stay in a tent on the beach... smh

[@styphlynne8253]

An over confident young adult who might not be realizing the literal lack of LEOs there, believing the bs from the resort.

[@nopressurenodiamonds5566]

You couldn't pay me a million dollars to do that, but she is probably one of those trustworthy, Zen, free spirited type. I pray they find her.

[@darlenechandler2403]

Perhaps since she is Trans and originally a man she felt safe and not fearing, as a woman would feel in an insecure tent and grounds,especially have to wonder to washrooms away from the tents at night, would scare me.

[@PageTurnerr__]

I feel heartbroken for the family, and hope the mother finds peace. I also think being clear that Taylor is a biological male / trans woman would help bring clarity to this case, and potentially aid in the search and investigation. Could this have been a hate crime? Was Taylor on any type of hormone therapy impacting mood/emotions?

[@daniharr3278]

Yes I was thinking this too. The hormone therapy can make u suicidal.

[@aprilrae6551]

I think maybe the other guest did not want to share a tent with a transgender. Maybe Taylor was sleeping on the beach and was attacked.

[@user-zk4en8lv2r]

It's absolutely crazy that the family has not brought up that Taylor is trans. I thought they wanted to find Taylor, but I don't know why they wouldn't mention something this important. Taylor could be in a hospital right now- unable to speak- and no one realizes that this biological male is Taylor. Taylor could also have been targeted by trans haters or by people who identified Taylor as a man. Give the public information if you want the public to help.

[@virtuallyyours7851]

How do we know she is transgender?

[@virtuallyyours7851]

@@user-zk4en8lv2rhow do we know she is trans? Her family probably hasn’t brought it up because she is a Christian with a Bible and they know trans and Bible and Christianity don’t go together.

[@elmobolan4274]

A woman in a tent in the Bahamas??? As a woman myself, i wouldn't be able to sleep!!

[@BarnaliD]

What do you mean?

[@lilianx8937]

I stayed at this retreat quite a few times although never in a tent. Lots of people stay in the tents through. The retreat doesn’t have any road access. The only way to get there is by boat from Nassau or walk over from Atlantis from the beach or another very obscure walking path. It has to be someone in the know. God bless!

[@iamradiance]

Exactly. Thank you confirming that in order to get there someone must be in the “know”!

[@francescamurray9420]

The police here in the Bahamas don’t even deal with our problems it’s sad but they will get no help it’s a lost cause

[@caudraypratt3161]

I agree 👍

[@DJDAVINCI]

Useless and corrupt.

[@nopressurenodiamonds5566]

Same in the US. They dont look for you if you go missing unless you are a white woman.

[@deborahwa2015]

I am from the Bahamas. A tourist missing is definitely not the norm here. Bahamians just don't fool with tourists generally. Her phone found in the waters rule out that she went for a swim as a sound person does not swim with their phone at night (she was last sited at 11:30pm). Now her passport being missing is a mystery. Did she leave to travel elsewhere? Why would anyone take her passport unless she carried it around in her bag. She believed in Christ as she had a Bible. But the kind of chanting these people do at the retreat would make Christians very wary to join in as they open doorways for evil spirits it is commonly believed. I would be glad for the US police to get involved as she was probably harmed or taken by a foreigner on the island. MOST Bahamians have never heard of this retreat. I'm oblivious as to why it has no security guards and surveillance cameras as having them is a major thing for businesses, resorts/hotels, and private homeowners throughout the Bahamas . How can you let people sleep in an isolated area outside in tents without security? I pray the police are given new leads and that this won't end horribly. But then again I've been hearing a rumor that Taylor threw her phone into the water and ran away with her passport to escape from someone.

[@nopressurenodiamonds5566]

Contact the police if you are hearing rumors, those rumors help find out what happened to this poor lady. Respectfully...

[@MonochromaticBlues]

@@nopressurenodiamonds5566call it poor or whatever but DONT CALL IT A MAN

[@anytopicgoes4119]

Is the person a transgender woman!? They need to say this.

[@naturalscratcher9498]

Yes

[@anytopicgoes4119]

@@naturalscratcher9498 because the Bahamas said that they weren’t able to make a missing person flyer because it was told that the missing person left the US as a male and arrived in the Bahamas as a female.

[@darlenechandler2403]

YES and I agree it should be noted in the media, as perhaps he felt no fears staying with no security, as a woman may fear the tents on the beach and be more concerned. Are they now looking for a man or a woman, perhaps it would help in solving the mystery. When dressed like a woman did they meet someone; or angered someone.

[@janicebourdage3567]

My heart breaks for the family of this woman. I am praying that the U.S. gets involved, as Taylor is a U.S. citizen.

[@TheregoesMerl]

Passport missing? ?? 😮😮😮 they need to question all the retreaters

[@BamaSquirrel]

Praying Taylor is found safe and praying for Taylor’s family and friends 🫶🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@MsJayski]

You dont Bible and Yoga.

[@karlaplascencia7998]

This is so fishy. Justice needs to happen. We will not forget her and will continue to pray for her to be found safe.

[@Loveabounds.]

They didn’t post the posters because on the posters it says black female when it’s actual black male

[@kaylee3867]

Oh really? Wow 😮

[@Blissedx]

Yes I find it strange that they are not mentioning this....

[@VRAIJESS]

Hold on….. caseys a male???

[@Loveabounds.]

@@VRAIJESS yes

[@jupitersun3]

@@VRAIJESS Yes....a transgender. It has been confirmed by multiple news sources. I'm very intuitive and as soon as I saw the pic I wondered if they were transgender.

[@lucanolallo1776]

I certainly would not be living in a tent on a remote island with no security cameras nor guards in a country with a travel advisory. Very naive and very sad for a woman with so much life and love.

[@athorpe630]

Hoping for a safe return but im also hoping she didn't get caught swimming in a riptide. Fix your sound.

[@tylerbhumphries]

I don’t think it will be that simple. Her phone was found in the ocean and her passport is missing. Who would go swimming with those two things on them?

[@robertchandler2124]

The employees are responsible!!!

[@Starfish2145]

Finally getting coverage! 🙏

[@ArabsforIsrael]

That's a MAN, not a woman. Get it right.

[@AnnMitt]

What ?!? 😳

[@naturalscratcher9498]

Either way the person is missing so that’s the point they need to be found🤦🏾‍♀️

[@ArabsforIsrael]

@@naturalscratcher9498 you can facepalm all you want, but there are A LOT of people who've tragically gone missing, young and old. what makes this person so special? because he's a dude pretending to be a woman??

[@Notagain44]

They should have released this Info to the public. Now it makes sense as to why they are saying Casey was targeted.

[@darlenechandler2403]

@@ArabsforIsraelI worry too if she angered a male, who thought she was female and hurt him for that reason, in anger.

[@vanessafw4503]

What happened to the audio?

[@AnnMitt]

Guests sleep in tents off the beach and random men are allowed to walk through the yoga resort?!? Parents need to hire a lawyer and start a lawsuit.

[@JB-pe2yn]

That's a full grown man!

[@lolarodriguez426]

And Mom will NOT refer to Taylor as her or she, always Taylor

[@JuMiMi86]

What difference does this rumor make? Taylor is missing, can we put a person's safety first?

[@lolarodriguez426]

@@JuMiMi86 I do care about her safety and I want her found safe as well, everyone in my house is praying for her

[@athorpe630]

So we still would want her safe return.

[@MyBizOnlu]

​@JuMiMi86 this is not a rumor, mother even made reference in earlier interview. What helps is if he wanted to not be found will people look for man or woman if he is hiding as a man. I have to assume behind the scenes mom has been forthcoming with police at least. I would hope like anyone he is found alive.

[@MyBizOnlu]

People all over may be looking for this younng man, and yes he is a man, so how about giving true details. If a man is found it wont be reported as everyone looking for female. Even mom made reference in an earlier interview. Sure the police have this but community if any searching wont be aware. Hope he is found alive and just didnt want to be found.

[@marknewton6984]

A strange happening.

[@hotindecember1951]

Plot twist: we are now looking for a male

[@marknewton6984]

I am confused.

[@FloeticEnigma]

Hold up!!! I knew something was amiss. This is a man?!?!?!

[@MyBizOnlu]

@@FloeticEnigma yes and his mom stated so in an interview

[@vbin9081]

I hope they find him safe and sound. Praying.

[@elizabethnovak4088]

Sound please!!

[@Shell_Michelle]

The poor mother saying it's every mother's worst nightmare.... breaks my heart. A human is a human. 😢❤

[@user-pg7cx9wo1m]

That's NOT a woman !!

[@snicholson8884]

Not a female *

[@darlenechandler2403]

@@snicholson8884It is a man. Weather man or dressed woman, people should be safe and found safe.

[@MaudePoison]

The FBI has been involved. The missing person's photos have been online. And the crime in The Bahamas is gang related. People hardly bother tourists. Kidnapping is quite rare. He's from CHICAGO of all places where there's more crime than ever. Probably more than the entire Caribbean combined. You guys need to seek help from the Yoga retreat about your son's whereabouts. Likely he was a shark's meal due to where his phone was found or at worse he didn't disclose his true self to some guy.

[@jay-t1030]

Missing man*

[@jazzyjazz1823]

Can’t hear

[@darlenechandler2403]

Put it on closed captions, that is what I did and was able to read what they were saying.

[@user-df2vg2ph7n]

Don't go there it's not what you think

[@Stuck.in.the._Abyss]

audio is broken for anyone else?

[@MysMajisT1]

😩

[@nadiasingh8700]

I never travelled alone and don’t plan to. Glad I’m a scare crow and don’t trust random people when alone Hope this beautiful woman are found 🙏😔

[@tammyslaughter7141]

Something is off here. Why would she have a Bible at a yoga retreat? Yoga and Christianity don’t mix! Is it possible that it was just (placed) there?

[@GDRAGON8818]

Who took the picture of her on the beach, i believe the last photo taken of her before going missing

[@JohnMoog-ug6bk]

Not. A. Woman.

[@geisalagordon9966]

I JUST changed my husband's Birthday cruise from the Bahamas to another place. Man! Praying she is found alive, and for her family! Two weeks and NOW National US news! 😡😢

[@TiashniqMiller]

Unnecessary but all the best 👌🏾

[@peasndough]

I hope it's Mexico 💕

[@avasd59]

People go missing everywhere.. Especially in the US

[@MaudePoison]

Just say you can't afford it...

[@chrisscott3030]

This is exactly why I don't do yoga.

[@Amy.PCB.home.]

Terrible sound quality. Does the USA have a liasion to the Bahamas? Call that office. The police are not looking, sad. Ask the Local workers there at the Ashram, what did you see or hear? Ask the local drug dealer? Don't B S. the family.

[@TedRobinson-cc9od]

The Commercials Continue ...It's Better in The Bahamas 🇧🇸....

[@user-vf4nf6tl3v]

ITS A MAN STOP THE MADNESS

[@spiritmoonintuitive]

Curious; when a guest decides on what type of accomodations they want, does the retreat choose which one or the guest?

[@xblackcattearsxcattears7308]

What is up with the sound?

[@butterflysmile348]

Today Show, Please fix the audio in this video.

[@Starfish2145]

I think someone took her. 🙏

[@bebe553]

I can't hear anything !!!

[@renewashington791]

AUDIO IS MISSING 😡 😡

[@stephaniethomas2223]

WOW NON EXISTENCE POLICE PART OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

[@jjupiter1218]

This story is wild!!!

[@Necyboo]

Paradise Island is not the main land where the majority of local Bahamians live. It very upscale rich area with little to no crime. Did they ever question that American Chicago tourist?

[@marissabergado7112]

Scary 😱 AF! I was going to go to Bali this year. But I didn’t because these stories creep me out. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@BoraMinette]

Went to Bali in October for my bday for a few weeks. Absolutely loved it! Very safe. Had no issues. Pure bliss. Can’t wait to go back.

[@Carolina_girl86]

I can’t hear it.

[@darlenechandler2403]

Press the closed caption button and read on the screen

[@StarLababy12]

I can't hear!! And my volume is up!!

[@charliewilson3369]

There's some places Americans shouldn't go.

[@kendrah8365]

Let’s make sure we amplify this story!!! I know good and well how missing stores about folks of color don’t get nearly as much air time. 💔 Having a missing family member is excruciating and terrifying. May this family find answers about where Taylor is!!!

[@MsBenitaButrell]

This is so sad! Where is she???!! How can we help?

[@MaudePoison]

Stop saying she. That's probably why they're still missing. People are looking for a woman when it's a MAN!

[@darlenechandler2403]

She is a man and yes sad, I keep wondering if when as a female, she met a male and when they found out it was a male also, something bad happened. Used to happen a lot when men didn’t get the complete surgery to change from male to female.

[@whitneybrown4067]

Blessings💜🙏….

[@insanebabyskyinsane9642]

I feel like they took advantage of her because she was trans I believe it was a fight at the beach they took her phone and through it in the water😢

[@cheamea]

I feel absolutely bad for her mother, on top of everyone judging her for her child being trans, it’s just a sad situation

[@anniehills3580]

Someone threw or dropped that phone. WHY? I THINK SHE WAS TAKEN😮😢

[@StasWys]

I was looking at this yoga retreat center… glad I saw this. I won’t go here

[@iamradiance]

That yoga retreat KNOWS where that lady is….It’s TIME to demand answers

[@carolynlowe1354]

Sounds Fishy to me. Could that man have abducted her in a boat, jet ski or other. .? I hope she’s found alive & well. Casey is a human being.

[@CourageUnderFire87]

It took almost a month to make the national news!

[@MaudePoison]

I think 2 weeks... the first week the resort didn't bother

[@YogaBlissDance]

Oh that is creepy re: guys walking right in the retreat center who were dressed strangely ok, that is not normal for that place. There are some guys but they are all there for yoga. There is not "security" it's pretty low staff...OMG yeah they need to interview those attendees....

[@BarnaliD]

Didnt this happen last year with two women dissappearing at a yoga retreat?

[@Gettingitreal]

This better be as big as Natalie. I’ll be watching.

[@vaderthekittenchannel1979]

I 🙏 Taylor is found soon and is back with her family.

[@JaniceBlackmon]

Sad to say this young lady is no long with us Lord strengthen her mother❤

[@bambooblue74]

Time is of the essence. I hope the family gets some support for the US side and greater support on the Bahamian side.

[@MichelleCarithersAuthor]

always, always a backstory to anything "reported"

[@SiStarPEACE]

No audio

[@jr-nh2hn]

Prayers she is found safe

[@user-pg7cx9wo1m]

He

[@tiz6549]

Why do women continue to travel by themselves in situations like this..

[@peasndough]

Man****

[@user-pg7cx9wo1m]

This is a man

[@Soulsoother333]

This is very sad & I am starting to have my heart strings tugged , I’m just praying she appears man. Sad

[@darlenechandler2403]

She may be somewhere as she is a male and they can’t find him, as looking when dressed as a female.

[@Chowlife]

National news!!!! Thank God. Please find her immediately

[@tkeyah331]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@spiritmoonintuitive]

Full investigation of the retreat.

[@christinamerritt9669]

Audio

[@TheloniousJackson]

The FBI have more important things to worry about than a missing tourist

[@BO-baddest]

I don’t think this was a drowning incident, but rather a kidnapping one. I really hope they find the person responsible for this.

[@Hollywood305]

Where is the passport?

[@lasheenaward5823]

Bahamians don't kidnap ppl and we really don't harm our tourists Google this

[@funmio8338]

@@lasheenaward5823 oh wow, so what do you think happened

[@lasheenaward5823]

@@funmio8338 the ppl at the retreat

[@funmio8338]

@@lasheenaward5823 wow.. I watched some other videos where they mentioned a random person visited the tents and said they were also from Chicago. Was Taylor the only one from Chicago? Could this be intentional? Hmm

[@senai795]

why wouldn't the us get involved w/ a missing us citizen case, they usually do.

[@phoebeshentomlinson25]

Someone always missing from Bahamas.

[@latifaabdul8328]

I think y’all need to call the alphabet mafia and get them on this job.

[@heightsofsagarmatha]

They're too busy trying to stop orange man

[@wlcoston]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@leo-gi3yc]

😮😢

[@cccalll]

The world has changed for the worst! I will never understand why people ignore these travel restrictions from the government! Americans have a(I can do whatever I want)mentality, then end up missing or worse! Think before you travel🤷‍♂️

[@terrylarry5149]

I’m never going to the Bahamas

[@TiashniqMiller]

The Bahamas is made of 700 islands and Cays. There are many different places to visit. It’s not just one place

[@avasd59]

Let's not pretend that the US is the safest place on earth....as a European citizen I've been to Asia, Africa and soon Central America but the US is not on my bucket list yet

[@virtuallyyours7851]

You’re missing out. I’m Bahamian, born and raised. This has nothing to do with the island. I believe the retreat is responsible. Perhaps they found out she is a man. Bahamians don’t entertain or believe in other genders. You are a biological male or female. That’s it!

[@darlenechandler2403]

@@avasd59I have travelled extensively to Europe and no issues and the states years ago, but now I fear it has become more dangerous. People are being robbed in Mall parking lots and some killed.

[@soylabonita]

Police did it

[@cynthiaholland13]

I actually thought she was a younger woman. We need more eyes on the ground there.

[@darlenechandler2403]

Male

[@daniharr3278]

My Dad sad in the 70s, the Bahamas always had high crime and tourists disappearing.

[@leandra5248]

Well that's not true . Bahamians don't kidnap tourist period.

[@darlenechandler2403]

@@leandra5248Perhaps not kidnap, but some have stalked tourists on the beach and it happened to me on Cable Beach, followed walking back from the hotel Wyndham where I had lunch and was followed during the day, so I switched my trips to Paradise Island, and Atlantis, where security was and no issue, but did not go to isolated areas off the beaten track on the beach.

[@leandra5248]

@@darlenechandler2403 okay I see.