American woman missing in the Bahamas after vanishing from yoga retreat

An Illinois woman who went to a yoga retreat in the Bahamas has gone missing, and her family and friends say they are baffled by her disappearance and frustrated by the police response.

Chicago youth program director Taylor Casey, 41, vanished from a beachside yoga retreat on Paradise Island and was reported missing on June 20.

“I need them on the island to act like it’s their child that’s missing,” Casey’s mother, Colette Seymore, told TODAY in a story broadcast July 3.

Casey went missing from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island, prompting friends and family to travel there in the hopes of tracking her down.

They have also been pleading with the FBI to get involved.

“We refer you to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and decline to comment further,” the FBI said in a statement to NBC News on July 2.

Casey’s friend, Emily Williams, described the current state of the Bahamian police's investigation as "non-existent."

Casey’s loved ones say Bahamian police have mishandled investigation, claiming the tent where Casey was staying remained open to the public, even though it may have been a crime scene.

They also say no one put out any missing person posters. In addition, they claim police and staff at the retreat told some guests — but not all — that a woman had gone missing, while telling Casey’s family not to approach guests about the matter.

“They were on vacation, and they wanted to respect their privacy,” Williams said they were told about why they shouldn’t talk to guests.

Casey’s family said they were afraid she may have been targeted. The United States issued a Level 2 travel advisory to the Bahamas in January due to increased crime.

Police in the Bahamas say their investigation has been thorough, and that they have deployed divers, drones and tracking dogs in the hunt for Casey.

“We used our drone technology, we used our canine, we’ve used our divers,” said Chrislyn Skippings, superintendent of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

“This is a matter of priority for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and we will continue to work arduously, doing all we can to locate Taylor and ensure her safe return to her family,” the RBPF said in a statement.

Authorities in the Bahamas told NBC News that investigators found Casey’s phone in the ocean, but her passport has not been located. Police also said they found Casey's journal and other personal effects.

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat said it’s worked to help locate Casey, continues to offer updates to its guests and “encouraged” them to “speak freely” in front of Casey’s family.

“We did our best to provide (Casey’s family) with support … (meeting) with them along with the police and U.S. Embassy representatives on two occasions ...” it said in a statement.

Police in Chicago have issued a missing persons alert for Casey, while her family and friends continue to pursue the matter.

“Let me make this clear to the U.S. media, the public, and our government officials: We are not satisfied with how this investigation has been handled thus far,” Williams, Casey's friend, said in a statement.

“And what we learned and observed during our time meeting with the authorities and Ashram leaders is disturbing and infuriating.”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com