Disappearance of Taylor Casey | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 1982 |
| Disappeared | June 19, 2024 (aged 41) Paradise Island, Nassau, The Bahamas |
| Status | Missing for 1 year, 3 months and 13 days |
| Website | findtaylorcasey |
Taylor Casey (born July 11, 1982) is an American missing person [1] who disappeared on June 19, 2024. [2]
From Chicago, Casey is a transgender woman of color and youth advocate, as well as a veteran of the United States Army. [3] The fact she was transgender was originally hidden by her family, due to fears of discrimination. [4] [5] In summer 2024, she traveled to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island (a resort island in the Bahamas). She had been a yoga instructor since c. 2009; [6] her visit to the island came following a January 16, 2024 travel warning regarding sex crimes in the country. [7] [6]
Casey was last seen the evening of June 18, 2024; the last time she and her mother, Collette Seymore, spoke, Seymore recalled sensing fear in Casey's voice. [8] An unidentified man with a walkie-talkie, wearing a Boston Celtics baseball cap and black clothing was noticed near Casey that day. [9] Casey was reported missing on June 19, after failing to attend yoga classes; [2] she was confirmed missing by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on June 20. [10]
In late July, authorities recovered Casey's iPhone and journal from the water after being led to their location by a search dog. [8] [11] Her family requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation search for her, citing possible discrimination from the Bahamas Police Force. [12] Support for Casey came from Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth, the Embassy of the United States, Nassau and the Brave Space Alliance. [13] Her family placed a $10,000 reward for information regarding her whereabouts. [2]