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Taylor Casey case: FBI expert breaks down search for American woman missing in Bahamas
As the search intensifies for Taylor Casey, a Chicago woman who disappeared on June 19 while on a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, a former FBI agent breaks down what steps the agency would take to aid in the effort.
“Is it possible that she’s kidnaped and being held for ransom and somebody hasn’t reached out yet? Those are hopeful, right? Because any day that you can say that my loved one is still alive … it’s a good day,” Scott Duffey, retired FBI supervisory special agent and co-director of Wilmington University Criminal Justice Institute, told Fox News Digital.
Royal Bahamas Police Force Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said Wednesday that Casey’s cellphone was found in the ocean, but her other belongings are still at the retreat, the Nassau Guardian reported.
Now that investigators have Taylor’s cellphone, Duffey said they will explore all possibilities, whether this is a criminal case or was an accident.
TAYLOR CASEY BAHAMAS SEARCH: MISSING AMERICAN’S PHONE FOUND IN OCEAN, POLICE SAY
Taylor Casey (Find Taylor Casey Facebook Page)
Some examples he offered that investigators are looking into are: Did she go into the ocean for a swim and drowned, or did she go on a hike and fall, or did she get lost or was she the victim of a crime?
“Nine days is a long time to be missing,” Duffey said. “If you went into the wilderness, if you went into the ocean, but if you don’t have that exit, some piece of information to say I saw them come out or this or that, it will remain a search for her and hoping that she is alive.”
Duffey said there are several factors that would take it from a search and rescue to a search and recovery.
“Search and rescue is we want to locate somebody who is endangered but hoping that they’re still alive. And so it’s search and rescue, and then you see the transition to recovery. And of course, family and friends never want to hear recovery,” Duffey explained.
“Because until they have that one item to say there’s where she was, so, for example, let’s say she was out in the ocean hundreds of miles or many miles off. She goes over the boat and there’s nothing else. Then at some point you can say, this is turning into a recovery. But until they get that piece, you know, nine days, it’s a long time to be missing,” Duffey continued.
FAMILY OF MISSING CHICAGO WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED DURING YOGA RETREAT IN BAHAMAS ‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’
Taylor Casey’s mother said she’s “deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and well-being” and that Taylor “would never disappear like this.” (Family of Taylor Casey)
Duffey said the FBI would be involved on day one of her reported disappearance and that they would be working with Bahama authorities immediately upon request.
“[The] FBI handles all crimes against Americans overseas and can either assist the locals or look to prosecute here in the U.S. with that jurisdiction as the assist. This is why any terror attack in the world against a U.S. citizen can be prosecuted here,” Duffey said.
“Once they determine it’s most likely a mysterious disappearance, then the FBI gets triggered through the legal attaché office and the FBI office that handles that region of the world for all crimes against an American citizen,” Duffey said.
CHICAGO WOMAN VANISHES IN BAHAMAS WHILE ATTENDING YOGA RETREAT
Taylor Casey was last seen in the Bahamas more than a week ago. (Find Taylor Casey Facebook Page/Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)
Duffey added that this case would have been handled similarly to the Natalee Holloway case in Aruba and the missing woman from Florida, Ana Maria Knezevich, who was believed to be killed by her Serbian husband in Argentina.
Casey, 41, remains missing after being last seen at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island in Nassau.
Duffey said investigators are treating this case with urgency as each day Taylor is not found, it’s less likely she’ll be found alive.
Casey’s family said they are “deeply concerned” for her safety and well-being as the search continues.
“I believe Taylor is in danger because she was eager to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return,” Taylor’s mother, Colette Seymore, said in a statement. “Taylor would never disappear like this.”
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Former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton are among the prominent guests Friday paying tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson at his memorial service in Chicago.
Hundreds of people were seen lined up earlier Friday morning to enter the 10,000-seat House of Hope arena for the event remembering the longtime civil rights leader, two-time Democratic presidential candidate and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are some of the other notable attendees.
President Donald Trump, who is not attending the event, said on Feb. 17 following the 84-year-old’s death that he knew Jackson “well” and described him as “a good man.”
REV JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND RAINBOW PUSH FOUNDER, DIES AT 84
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Jill Biden and former President Joe Biden attend a public memorial service to celebrate the life of civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson in Chicago, Ill., on March 6, 2026. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
The three former Democratic presidents, who are each scheduled to speak at the event, were met with cheers as they entered the House of Hope on Friday.
On the day of his death, Jackson’s family said, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.”
VANCE, HARRIS, OBAMA ISSUE TRIBUTES TO REV JESSE JACKSON
People gather for a memorial service for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago, on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
“He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family,” said a statement from Jackson’s family.
Former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton arrive at a memorial service for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago, on Friday, March 6, 2026. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
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“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family added. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions.”
Fox News’ Patrick McGovern and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
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The free agency tampering period has begun for the NFL, and the Detroit Lions are among the active teams acquiring players as they try to get back to the playoffs after they did not meet their own standard for last season.
On Monday, it was revealed that 2025 Lions backup quarterback Kyle Allen was heading to Buffalo, leaving another hole in the roster to fill. Nearly 24 hours later, that hole has been filled, as veteran quarterbackTeddy Bridgewater is heading back to Motown.
Bridgewater spent the 2023 season with Detroit, in what initially was going to be his final season in the league.
However, after coaching Miami Northwestern Senior High School to a state championship in Florida during the 2024 season, he announced he was planning to unretire, and Detroit picked him up for their push towards the top seed in the NFC.
Bridgewater then resigned as head coach at Miami Northwestern and signed with Tampa Bay to backup Baker Mayfield last season.
He appeared in four games last season, throwing 15 passes for the Buccaneers, which were his first NFL pass attempts since 2022.
Bridgewater is a safe option at backup quarterback in Detroit, as the former Rookie of the Year has had a steady career since entering the league with Minnesota out of Louisville in 2014.
Bridgewater returns to back up Jared Goff under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, as this is a situation where Detroit stuck with a player they knew. For Petzing, this is not the first time coaching Teddy Bridgewater, as he was an offensive assistant with Minnesota when they drafted Bridgewater in 2014.
A leg injury derailed his career after a Pro Bowl season in 2015, but he has started 37 games since the injury as a journeyman. Bridgewater left Minnesota and Drew Petzing and would overlap with Dan Campbell when the quarterback played for New Orleans in 2018 and 2019. In addition to Minnesota, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Detroit, Bridgewater has also played for Carolina, Denver, and Miami.
Detroit stuck with a safe and familiar option in Bridgewater, as a majority of their offense, alongside most of their offensive staff, have worked with the quarterback before. If Bridgewater is turned to in any situation, there will be full confidence in the Louisville product to make the right play.
NFL Draft Implications
This puts Detroit in a unique position when looking ahead towards the NFL Draft, as a popular mock draft pick for Detroit was taking a quarterback, with Cole Payton, Luke Altmyer, and Taylen Green all being among the names mentioned.
Bridgewater is an excellent mentor alongside Goff, but having three quarterbacks on the Lions roster after injury-riddled campaigns in the last two seasons may not be the wisest allocation of a roster spot.
For the time being, Detroit has their backup quarterback for the season, and there is not a better option than Bridgewater when it comes to familiarity and adaptability. While the former Pro Bowl quarterback has yet to throw a pass in Detroit, he has the familiairity and trust of the coaching staff to be a backup entering a pivotal year.
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County leaders are moving forward with a plan to collect unpaid fees owed to the medical examiner’s office by funeral homes.
What we know:
A Milwaukee County committee on Tuesday, March 10, advanced legislation allowing the county attorney to pursue collections from funeral homes with large outstanding debts owed to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Earlier this year, the medical examiner’s office began requiring funeral homes with outstanding balances of $25,000 or more to pay fees up front for services such as death certificates, cremation permits and body transport. Funeral homes collect those fees from families and are expected to pass them along to the county.
What they’re saying:
“What is the overall number we’re waiting on?” asked Milwaukee County Supervisor Sky Capriolo.
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“We do list 18 funeral homes that have a balance, currently, of $25,000 or more,” said Timothy Schabo, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner operations manager.
“Our hope is that, certainly, we’ll be able to avoid any litigation,” said William Davidson, deputy corporation counsel.
“If a family is paying a funeral home for services, and someone at the funeral home is not paying the county, where is that money going? We don’t know?” Capriolo asked.
Officials say it is not uncommon for funeral homes to carry large balances, and some are already aware of their debts, are on payment plans or pay quarterly.
The medical examiner says if families cannot pay and qualify for assistance from the state or county, those fees are waived.
“I understand there is some delay for some families receiving assistance from this program,” Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak said. “However, the funeral homes that we are talking about haven’t been paying us for a long period of time.”
Dig deeper:
The medical examiner said the outstanding balances continue to grow.
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Medical examiner records show four Milwaukee funeral homes currently owe a combined $1,324,100, including one funeral home with a balance of more than $512,000.
FOX6 reached out to the funeral homes for comment but has not heard back.
The legislation now heads to the full Milwaukee County Board for consideration.
The Source: FOX6 attended the Milwaukee County committee hearing regarding the funeral home debt.
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