A man named Wesley Bell from Texas went missing in 2013 from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas, and was assumed to have drowned after an extensive search by Bahamian police. This is the same retreat where Taylor Casey, a Chicago woman, disappeared last month. Bell’s parents believe he drowned, and his mother had not heard about Casey’s disappearance. The retreat has been featured in various publications as a top travel destination, but has recently faced scrutiny due to the disappearances. Danniel Ward-Packard, who was at the retreat when Bell went missing, believes he drowned and warns against connecting his case to Casey’s. She describes the atmosphere at the retreat before and after Bell’s disappearance. The Bahamas has a high rate of unintentional drownings, but police have not found evidence of foul play in either Bell’s or Casey’s cases. Casey, who is Black and transgender, disappeared during a yoga instructor program and her friends and family have criticized how the investigation was handled. Retreat staff claim that no one had gone missing before Casey, but Bell’s disappearance was well-known. Bahamian officials have responded to criticisms of the investigation, urging caution in making prejudicial statements. The retreat maintains that police believe Casey left voluntarily.
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