As the search intensifies for Taylor Casey, a Chicago woman who went missing June 19 while on a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, a former FBI agent explains what steps the bureau plans to take to assist in the investigation.
“Is it possible that she’s been kidnapped and held for ransom and no one has contacted her yet? That’s wishful thinking, right? Because any day that you can say your loved one is still alive is a good day,” Scott Duffy, a former senior FBI special agent and co-director of Wilmington University’s Criminal Justice Institute, told Fox News Digital.
Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings of the Royal Bahamas Police Force said Wednesday that Casey’s cell phone had been found in the ocean, but her other belongings were still at the Retreat. Nassau Guardian report.
Now that investigators have Taylor’s cell phone, Duffy said they will look into all possibilities to see if this was a criminal matter or an accident.
Taylor Casey Bahamas search: Missing American’s cell phone found in ocean, police say
Taylor Casey (See Taylor Casey’s Facebook page)
Among the things he cited investigators are looking into are: Did she swim in the ocean and drown, go hiking and fall, get lost or was she the victim of a crime?
“Nine days is a long time to be missing,” Duffy said. “Even if she went into the wilderness, even if she went into the water, unless there’s an exit point or we’ve seen them come out or anything like that, we’re going to continue to look for her and continue to pray that she’s alive.”
Duffy said there are several factors that lead to the shift from search and rescue to search and recovery.
“Search and rescue is about finding people who are in danger but hopefully still alive. So there’s search and rescue and then we move on to recovery.” And of course, family and friends don’t want to hear about the recovery,” Duffy explained.
“Because until we find one piece of evidence that shows where she was – let’s say she was out at sea, hundreds of miles away – she passed on a boat and nothing else – then at some point we can say this is on the way to recovery. But until we find that evidence – nine days – is a long time to be missing,” Duffy continued.
Family of Chicago woman ‘deeply concerned’ after disappearance during yoga retreat in the Bahamas
Taylor Casey’s mother said she was “deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and well-being” and that “Taylor would never disappear like this.” (Taylor Casey’s Family)
Duffy said the FBI was involved from the first day her disappearance was reported and will work with Bahamian authorities immediately if requested.
“[The] “The FBI handles all crimes against Americans overseas and can assist those there or use its jurisdiction to prosecute in the United States. This is why any terrorist attack against U.S. citizens anywhere in the world is prosecuted in the United States,” Duffy said.
“If it is determined that this is likely a mysterious disappearance, the FBI will begin an investigation through the legal counsel’s office and the FBI office in that area, which has jurisdiction over any crimes against U.S. citizens,” Duffy said.
Chicago woman disappears in Bahamas during yoga retreat
Taylor Casey was last seen over a week ago in the Bahamas. (See Taylor Casey’s Facebook page/Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)
Duffy added that the case should have been treated similarly to that of Natalee Holloway of Aruba and Ana Maria Knezevic, a missing woman from Florida who is believed to have been murdered in Argentina by her Serbian husband.
Casey, 41, remains missing since she was last seen at the Sivananda Ashram yoga retreat on Paradise Island in Nassau.
Duffy said investigators were working the case with urgency because each day that goes by without Taylor becomes less likely to be found alive.
Casey’s family said they were “deeply concerned” for her safety and wellbeing as the search continued.
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“We believe Taylor is at risk because she was eager to return home and share her experiences at the yoga retreat with others,” Taylor’s mother, Collette Seymour, said in a statement. “There is no way Taylor would disappear like this.”
