Search for Chicago woman who disappeared in the Bahamas is expanded: Police

The search has been expanded for a Chicago woman who disappeared last week during a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, police said.

Taylor Casey, 41, was last seen on June 19 at the Sivananda Ashram yoga retreat on Paradise Island. She was reported missing the following day because she failed to show up for morning classes, the organization and police said.

The search for Casey — which involved drones, dogs and divers — has expanded beyond the immediate area of ​​the retreat to other parts of the island, Chrislyn Skippings, chief superintendent of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, told reporters Wednesday afternoon. Investigators are also reviewing security cameras, she said.

“Let me say that our priority is to find Taylor … in good health,” Skippings said during the meeting.

Skippings said it was too early in the investigation to assess any suspicion of foul play.

Casey’s cellphone was found “in the water,” Skippings confirmed, but did not specify where it was found due to the ongoing investigation.

Casey was attending a yoga certification retreat when she disappeared, the yoga retreat said. Skippings could not say when Casey would arrive in the Bahamas for the retreat, but said it would be four to five weeks.

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat told ABC News it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

“The Ashram is asking anyone with information regarding Ms. Casey to contact local police,” the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas said in a statement on Tuesday.

Casey’s family traveled to the Bahamas as part of the investigation and met with police on Wednesday, Skippings said.

Her mother, Colette Seymore, said it was out of character for Casey to disappear like that and she was concerned for her safety.

“Taylor always calls me and stays in touch. Taylor sent me beautiful pictures from the Bahamas, Taylor in the ocean,” Seymore told ABC News. “We want Taylor home. We need Taylor in our lives. We miss Taylor.”

A U.S. State Department spokesman told ABC News that the department was aware of reports of a missing U.S. citizen in the Bahamas.

“When a U.S. citizen goes missing, we work closely with local authorities to search for them and share information with families wherever we can,” the spokesperson said. “For the State Department, the well-being and safety of U.S. citizens abroad has no higher priority. We stand ready to provide assistance to U.S. citizens and their families in need.”

The spokesman said the State Department would not comment further for privacy reasons.