'Police should have done more to find Taylor Casey', says mother

By JADE RUSSELL 

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SIX months after the mysterious disappearance of American woman Taylor Casey, her mother continues to criticise the efforts of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) in locating her daughter.

Colette Seymore, Ms Casey’s mother, told Newsweek earlier this month that police have not done enough to find her daughter, who vanished during a yoga retreat. 

Ms Casey, 42, a Chicago native, was attending a month-long programme at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas. She was reported missing on June 20 after failing to attend her morning classes at the retreat on Paradise Island. 

Friends and family of Ms Casey have also expressed frustration with the RBPF’s handling of the investigation. They have called for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take over, citing a lack of confidence in local authorities. The family alleges discrimination may have played a role in the case’s handling because Ms Casey is a transgender woman. 

In her interview with Newsweek, Ms Seymore shared her dissatisfaction with the investigation. 

"I just feel like the Royal Bahamas Police Force hasn't done what they should have done, considering my child," Ms Seymore, told Newsweek. "And I believe if my child was Caucasian, way more would have been done."

Ms Seymore added she was “frustrated” with the RBPF’s approach. 

"I don't feel like they're handling it at all the way it should've been handled," Ms Seymore said. 

In September, Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Tribune that police intended to contact Ms Casey’s family but did not provide a timeline. However, the family claims they have received no recent updates from the authorities. 

In July, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander revealed that Ms Casey’s phone, retrieved from the ocean, could not be accessed due to water damage. Despite assistance from US experts, extracting information from the device has proven difficult. 

Police have used drones, examined Ms Casey’s phone, and interviewed individuals as part of their investigation, but efforts have been unsuccessful. 

In June, an anonymous donor offered a $10,000 reward for information about Ms Casey’s disappearance. 

Last week, a Facebook page dedicated to the search, Find Taylor Casey, urged supporters to continue contributing during the holiday season:“This holiday season, support the ongoing search for our beloved Taylor Casey with a donation. Your support allows us to continue the work of finding her.” 

A fundraising campaign on Chuffed for Taylor Casey had raised $50,805 as of press time. 

Comments

ExposedU2C says...

The FBI has told this missing person's mother all there is to know about the reasons for 'his' disappearance. The Chicago clan the mother represents should know by now that Bahamian authorities do not react well to shakedown tactics aimed at creating fraudulent grounds for any kind of lawsuit.

Posted 28 December 2024, 12:22 p.m. Suggest removal

joeblow says...

... when a person has a belief that is demonstrably and verifiably untrue, society used to be grounded enough to call their erroneous belief a lie. Now they affirm the delusion and attempt to shame or belittle those who call a lie a lie! That dudes mother is a woman, he is not!

Posted 28 December 2024, 12:54 p.m. Suggest removal

birdiestrachan says...

I understand the family pain but I do believe the police are doing their best. .

Posted 28 December 2024, 8:44 p.m. Suggest removal

1pnewman says...

Three comments that really encapsulate the ignorance , bigotry and downright stupidity of modern day Bahamian society.
One is a conspiracy cretin, the second is a certifiable fool and the last is a biased individual who is justifiably derided every time he posts drivel on this website.

Posted 29 December 2024, 11:22 a.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

And you no doubt represent one vote for young Bahamian children being transgendered if they so desire against the will of their parents. I suspect you know nothing at all about the former Chicago based employer of Taylor Casey and others like him who are so willing to promote the devil's work, even if doing so destroys the lives of young children and their families.

Posted 29 December 2024, 12:59 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

When no body is available to confirm life or death, parents may hold onto every hope that their child is alive.

There is an American kayaker who recently faked his death on a kayaking trip then moved to Europe. The authorities were able to determine he was still alive by tracing his activities pre disappearance. In another recent, separate incident, a young lady dissapeared in the US. In that case she simply disconnected from everything and everyone to take a break. Again, by tracing her activity pre disappearance, authorities were able to determine that no foul play was involved and that she'd voluntarily dissapeared to Mexico. (In that incident her father believing her dead committed suicide)

This is not that. It is very hard to plan a disappearance and leave no trace. Wishing someone has not come to harm by their own hands or someone else's, has nothing to do with gay, straight, transgender, it's just human. Locally we've had many persons go missing on fishing trips with no body ever recovered. My belief remains that Taylor's phone signaled her last location, the only unknown is whether foul play was involved.

Posted 29 December 2024, 11:12 p.m. Suggest removal

IslandWarrior says...

"I am sickened to hear this 41-year-old MAN referred to as a 'child.' Call the man my son or address him by his given name. It seems clear that he is simply tired of the overbearing control in his life and has decided to separate himself from his gay lifestyle. Sickening."

Posted 30 December 2024, 8:42 a.m. Suggest removal

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