'Disturbing': Missing Chicago Woman's Friend Details Search Trip In Bahamas

CHICAGO — Taylor Casey, the Chicago woman who disappeared on a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, has been missing nearly two weeks, and a trip to aid in the search left her loved ones afraid and unsettled, they told multiple media outlets.

Casey’s cellphone was found last week in the ocean, according to reports, which said authorities have refused to give the phone to her family.

Emily Williams, a friend of Casey’s, told NBC Chicago in a prepared statement that meeting with officials and retreat leaders was “disturbing and infuriating.” She said that Casey’s belongings at the retreat appeared “largely unprocessed” by authorities, police told Casey’s loved ones not to talk to retreat guests, and Williams and Casey’s mother returned to the U.S. earlier than planned due to concerns for their safety, the outlet reported.

Casey, 41, was last seen late June 19 at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Paradise Island. The Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a missing person flier about the disappearance June 21. On Monday, Chicago police also issued a missing adult alert for Casey.

At 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 145 pounds, Casey is slim, and she has natural brown hair she often wears covered by a durag, according to her family.

When her mother, Colette Seymore, visited the retreat, she saw no missing person posters, had to beg to speak with students and felt as if they were told what to say, WLS reported.

One retreat participant did recount Casey being approached on the beach June 19 by a man in a Celtics baseball hat who claimed to be from Chicago and followed her onto the property, according to WLS.

The retreat, which previously said it had asked police to investigate Casey's disappearance as well as contacted the U.S. Embassy and her family about the situation, in an email Tuesday said it was not aware of the story about the man from Chicago.

“All of us are distraught over Taylor’s disappearance, and our hearts go out to her family and friends,” the email said.

“We met with them along with the police and the representatives of the US embassy on two occasions – once at police headquarters and once at the ashram. Taylor’s family and friends stayed at the ashram for many hours after the end of the official meeting to collect her belongings and speak with Taylor’s teachers, fellow students and administrators.

“To be clear, the police advised us that while we can encourage community members to speak with them, it must be their choice.”

The retreat did not intervene with any interviews, according to the email, which said Casey’s loved ones “thanked us profusely for our help.”

Seymore is calling for U.S. government support and feels authorities have done the bare minimum, although officials have said they’ve talked to numerous people and used drones, divers and a K-9 in the search, according to WLS.

Seymore said that despite a Bahamas national security official telling the media the FBI was helping investigate, she had been told that was not the case by the U.S. Embassy, NBC Chicago reported.