Police are still searching for missing American woman nearly 3 weeks after she vanished from yoga retreat in the Bahamas

Sara Smart, CNN

(CNN) — Investigators looking for missing American Taylor Casey successful nan Bahamas person enlisted nan thief of hunt dogs, marine teams and formation crews, officials said, arsenic nan hunt for nan Chicago female nears nan three-week mark.

Casey, 41, was past seen June 19 connected Paradise Island, a mini edifice enclave conscionable disconnected nan seashore of nan land of New Providence, nan Royal Bahamas Police Force said. She was location to be a yoga retreat.

A missing personification flyer released by constabulary did not supply specifications of nan circumstances of her disappearance aliases opportunity whether foul play is suspected.

During a June 22 search, a canine picked up a scent from a shelter and tracked it to nan water, but nan scent ended there, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said astatine a news convention Monday.

Two days later, hunt crews recovered Casey’s compartment telephone successful nan water, but they person been incapable to entree its contents, officials said.

Investigators successful nan Bahamas asked American authorities for thief unlocking nan phone, but they besides had nary luck, Fernander said Monday.

Authorities besides reviewed surveillance footage from astir nan island, but location is “no accusation to link astatine this time,” nan constabulary commissioner added.

Casey’s mother, Colette Seymore, traveled to nan Bahamas to meet pinch police, US Embassy activity and organizers of nan Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat wherever Casey was reported missing.

“I had to return location without her. This is each mother’s worst nightmare,” Seymore said successful a news merchandise past week aft returning to nan US. “I felt an urgent request to return because without (US) authorities support, we whitethorn ne'er find retired what happened to my Taylor.”

Casey’s family asked nan FBI to return complete nan search, saying they “are not satisfied pinch really this investigation has been handled frankincense far.”

“What we learned and observed during our clip gathering pinch nan authorities and Ashram leaders is disturbing and infuriating,” Emily Williams, a friend of Casey who accompanied Seymore connected nan trip, said successful nan release.

The US State Department is alert of reports of a missing US national successful nan Bahamas, a spokesperson told CNN past week, declining to remark connected Casey’s lawsuit specifically.

When a US national is missing, nan section useful pinch section authorities and communicates pinch families openly, nan spokesperson said.

When asked for comment, nan FBI referred CNN to nan Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Yoga retreat asked constabulary to investigate

Police successful nan Bahamas were alerted to Casey’s disappearance by nan Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, which asked them to analyse aft Casey grounded to be greeting classes, nan retreat said successful a connection to CNN.

Taylor, who has been practicing yoga for 15 years, went to nan yoga retreat “to fulfill a semipermanent extremity of deepening her practice,” nan family said.

Seymore visited nan retreat connected June 27 – a travel nan family’s connection called “deeply unsettling.”

When Seymore arrived astatine nan retreat pinch her team, nan segment appeared mostly unprocessed by authorities, nan merchandise stated. Among Casey’s belongings were a Bible and different books, a sketchpad pinch paintings, affirmation cards, apparel and toiletries.

“It became evident to america erstwhile we met pinch nan Sivananda Ashram leaders that they were struggling to support a linear and cohesive communicative regarding Taylor’s disappearance,” Williams said.

Ram Soskin, nan lead head of nan Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, told Casey’s family that connected nan Monday earlier her disappearance, an unidentified man pinch a walkie-talkie was seen stepping nan aforesaid level wherever Casey’s shelter was, nan merchandise states.

On nan time Casey was past seen, 1 of nan retreat participants was approached by a alien while sitting unsocial astatine nan beach, nan subordinate told Seymore’s team, according to nan release.

“The unidentified man was wearing a Celtics shot headdress and dressed successful each black. He claimed he was from Chicago and was willing successful taking a yoga class. He proceeded to travel her onto nan property,” nan merchandise states.

Seymore said constabulary advised her not to speak to guests astatine nan retreat and authorities noted not each of them were alert of Casey’s disappearance. Seymore described nan retreat arsenic “cultish,” and claimed students were being “coerced to obey” retreat leaders, “even if that meant holding backmost accusation astir my child,” according to nan release.

Staff met pinch Taylor’s mother and friends erstwhile astatine constabulary office and erstwhile astatine nan retreat, Jonathan Goldbloom, a typical for nan ashram, told CNN successful a statement.

“To beryllium clear, nan constabulary advised america that while we tin promote organization members to speak pinch them, it must beryllium their choice. So, we announced their beingness to Taylor’s classmates and teachers and invited anyone wanting to meet pinch them to travel forward,” Goldbloom said. “Many of our organization members chose to speak pinch them and nan ashram did not intervene successful position of what individuals said. They were encouraged to speak freely. Any perceived hesitancy could person been owed to their ain grieving processes.”

The retreat has been asking crossed channels for group to travel guardant pinch accusation and providing guests pinch regular updates, Goldbloom said.

“All of america are distraught complete Taylor’s disappearance, and our hearts spell retired to her family and friends,” Goldbloom said.

CNN’s Lauren Mascarenhas, Amanda Musa, Kylie Atwood, Jamiel Lynch, Amanda Jackson, Lucy Kafanov and Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report.