The cell phone of a Chicago woman who is missing in the Bahamas was found in the ocean as her family and friends travel to the Caribbean island to help in her search, according to reports.
Taylor Casey, 41, went missing on June 19 when she failed to attend classes at a yoga retreat at a resort on Paradise Island, and the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a missing person alert for her two days later.
Authorities on Wednesday said they found the phone but it's unclear how far away it was from the retreat.
"We have conducted extensive investigation into the matter," Royal Bahamas Police Force Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said Wednesday, WABC-TV reported. "Our priority is to find Taylor and to find Taylor in good health."
He said the search for Casey involved drones, search-and-rescue dogs, divers, as well as the scouring CCTV cameras and interviewing those who attended the yoga retreat.
Trayisa Conrad, Casey's niece, told NewsNation she had her aunt's phone on the Find My iPhone app and checked it when she heard Casey was missing.
The app showed that Casey's phone was in the water, where police recovered it Tuesday.
She described her aunt as a "sweet lady" and said she had been practicing yoga for 15 years.
"She takes trips all the time," Conard said. "This was out of the ordinary."
Colette Seymore, Casey's mother, said she will be among a group of family and friends aiding the search after launching the "Find Taylor Casey" Facebook page.
"I believe Taylor is in danger because she was eager to share her yoga retreat experience with other upon her return," Seymore said. "Taylor would never disappear like this."
"We are deeply concerned for Taylor's safety and well-being," Seymore added. "We love Taylor and want her home."
