Search continues for missing Chicago woman Taylor Casey in Bahamas since June

Taylor Casey, a 42-year-old woman from Chicago, was last seen on June 19 while attending a month-long yoga retreat near Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Her disappearance has raised concerns among her family, who believe that the investigation has been hindered by prejudice due to her being transgender. They have expressed dissatisfaction with the local authorities' handling of the case and have requested the FBI to take over the investigation. In July, authorities recovered Casey's iPhone from approximately 56 feet underwater, following a search that involved tracking a scent from a tent to the water. Despite these efforts, investigators have not found any substantial leads, and surveillance footage from the area has not provided any useful information. The use of underwater drones during the search also yielded no results. Casey's family is actively seeking answers and has offered a $10,000 reward for information regarding her disappearance. Her mother, Colette Seymore, has voiced her frustration over the lack of missing persons flyers and the overall response from local authorities. She described the experience as a nightmare for any parent. As the search continues, the FBI has stated that they will defer to Bahamian authorities for comments on the investigation. The family remains hopeful for new developments and is committed to finding Taylor, who has been a prominent figure in Chicago's transgender community and a youth advocate for many years.