Texas Man's Disappearance Linked to Same Bahamas Yoga Retreat Where Chicago Woman Vanished

A troubling connection has emerged between two high-profile missing persons cases at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas. The retreat, located on Paradise Island in Nassau, is now associated with the disappearances of Wesley Bell, a Texas man who went missing over a decade ago, and Taylor Casey, a Chicago woman who disappeared just last month.

The Disappearance of Wesley Bell

Wesley Bell, a Houston, Texas resident, was last seen at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas on January 25, 2013. According to a missing persons flyer issued by Bahamian authorities at the time, Bell was reported missing while attending the retreat. Jonathan Goldbloom, a spokesperson for the retreat, has confirmed that Bell’s disappearance occurred at the same location as that of Taylor Casey, who went missing recently.

Goldbloom disclosed that, after an extensive search, Bahamian authorities concluded that Bell had drowned. Despite these findings, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has not provided further updates on Bell’s case. Repeated requests for information from NBC News Digital over nearly two weeks have gone unanswered. Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas has not responded to inquiries regarding Bell’s case.

Don Bell, Wesley’s father, has stated his belief that his son “drowned in the water” and noted that despite extensive efforts, authorities were unable to locate him. Wesley Bell's mother, Marie Bell, expressed her unfamiliarity with Taylor Casey’s case and declined to comment further, directing media inquiries to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the U.S. Embassy.

Retreat’s Reputation and Previous Incidents

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas has been recognized as a premier travel destination, featuring prominently in publications such as The New York Times, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, and HuffPost. From 2012 to 2019, the retreat was honored with a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence annually, underscoring its positive reputation. However, Goop’s review of the retreat appears to have been removed following reports of Casey’s disappearance.

Danniel Ward-Packard, who visited the retreat in 2013, described Wesley Bell as a “happy” individual with “great energy.” Ward-Packard recounted that Bell had gone snorkeling alone on the day of his disappearance, with his personal belongings—including shoes, a shirt, and a hat—found on the beach the following day. She described the incident as “traumatizing” for those present, contrasting the retreat’s peaceful setting with the sudden disappearance. Ward-Packard, who has returned to the retreat multiple times since, believes Bell’s death was accidental and cautioned against linking his case with Casey’s disappearance. She criticized the idea of turning their coincidences into a conspiracy and affirmed her confidence in the retreat’s safety.

High Drowning Rates and New Developments

The Bahamas has one of the highest rates of unintentional drownings in the Americas, according to the Pan American Health Organization, a United Nations health agency. In 2019, the country reported 6.4 unintentional drownings per 100,000 people, significantly higher than the regional average of 1.8.

The recent renewed interest in Wesley Bell’s case has been fueled by Taylor Casey’s disappearance from the same retreat. Casey, a 42-year-old Black transgender woman from Chicago, went missing on June 19, approximately halfway through a month-long yoga instructor program at the retreat. Her case has garnered substantial media attention, and her family and friends have been vocal in their criticism of both the retreat staff and the police regarding the handling of the investigation.

Casey’s Disappearance and Family Reactions

Following Casey’s disappearance, her personal belongings, including her passport, were found in her tent at the retreat. Her phone was discovered approximately 50 feet into the ocean, but authorities have been unable to access its contents. Casey’s family and friends have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the police investigation and the response from the retreat staff. Collette Seymore, Casey’s mother, highlighted discrepancies between the retreat’s assurances and the information later revealed. She has not had contact with Bell’s family and has refrained from commenting on his case.

In response to public and media scrutiny, Goldbloom stated that Bell’s disappearance was widely reported and acknowledged at the time, and that the retreat staff had fully cooperated with the investigation. Bahamian officials, in a statement issued earlier this month, urged against prejudging the investigation and criticized media portrayals they believe to be unjust and misleading.

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas has continued to defend its actions, asserting that police believe Taylor Casey left the ashram voluntarily, and has maintained its stance on the handling of her disappearance.

Conclusion

The resurfacing of Wesley Bell’s case in conjunction with the recent disappearance of Taylor Casey casts a spotlight on a troubling pattern at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas. While authorities have determined that Bell’s disappearance was due to drowning, ongoing public interest and media scrutiny have intensified focus on the retreat’s handling of such incidents. As investigations into both cases proceed, the intersection of personal tragedy, public interest, and institutional response remains a critical aspect of this unfolding narrative.