CHICAGO — More than a year after Chicago resident Taylor Casey, a 41-year-old Black trans woman, vanished while attending a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, her family is still searching for answers — and pushing for U.S. officials to step up efforts in the case.
Casey was last seen on June 19, 2023, during a retreat at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island. Since then, her loved ones say they’ve encountered stonewalling, inconsistencies, and a lack of transparency from Bahamian authorities, leaving them feeling abandoned.
Mysterious Disappearance During Spiritual Trip
Casey had traveled to the Bahamas to deepen her yoga practice, friends said. She’d been studying yoga for over 15 years and was drawn to the Sivananda ashram for its intensive teacher training course.
On June 19, retreat leaders reported her missing — she hadn’t shown up for morning classes, and her belongings were found undisturbed in her cabin. No official signs of foul play were disclosed, but many elements of the investigation remain murky.
Casey’s mother, Vickie Bracken, has led efforts from Chicago to maintain public attention on her daughter’s case.
“I believe my daughter is in danger,” Bracken told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’ve gotten nothing — no answers, no updates that make sense.”
FBI Steps In, But Progress Is Slow
In recent months, U.S. lawmakers and the FBI have become more actively involved. The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas confirmed that they’re assisting local officials, and the State Department has acknowledged receiving increasing pressure to apply diplomatic scrutiny to the case.
But despite the new attention, Bracken says Bahamian authorities have not allowed her to see the full case file — and some critical details remain elusive, including surveillance footage timelines and records of who Casey interacted with during her last known hours.
“They’ve refused to turn over video,” Bracken said. “They tell me to wait, to trust. But it’s been a year.”
Support In Chicago And Beyond Grows
Local LGBTQ+ and racial justice advocates in Chicago have rallied behind the family. Organizations like Brave Space Alliance and Equality Illinois have amplified Casey’s story, calling her disappearance part of a larger crisis of Black trans women going missing or being harmed with little accountability.
The case has also become a rallying point for conversations about international travel safety, the vulnerability of trans people abroad, and how families of color are often left out of global justice systems.
Loved Ones Keep Hope Alive
Despite the passing time, Bracken and other family members say they’re not giving up.
They held a one-year vigil this week in Chicago, where community members lit candles, shared memories, and demanded transparency from Bahamian officials and the yoga retreat organizers.
“I know my daughter didn’t just disappear,” Bracken said. “We need answers. We need the truth.”
The family has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal and travel expenses as they push for a more thorough international investigation.
Do you believe U.S. authorities should apply more pressure in international missing person cases involving Americans? Share your thoughts and support for Taylor Casey’s family in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
