The search for Elizabeth Waddell missing in Grenada has captured national attention after the 44-year-old North Carolina physical therapist disappeared during a Caribbean vacation on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Waddell, known to friends and family as “Liz,” was last seen swimming near Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s, the capital of Grenada, and has not been located since. As days have passed without confirmed answers, her family, local authorities, and the U.S. State Department continue working together in hopes of a safe resolution.
Who Is Elizabeth Waddell
Elizabeth Waddell is a resident of Cary, North Carolina, where she is well known in the local community as a physical therapist and fitness instructor. She is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy and earned her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to running her own practice, Waddell has taught fitness classes at Aradia Fitness in the Cary area, where friends and clients describe her as warm, outgoing, and deeply community-oriented.
Waddell is married to Cailen Waddell, who serves as the operations manager for the Town of Cary’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department. The couple has children together, and Waddell is described by loved ones as a devoted wife and mother. Friends who have known the family for more than two decades say she is the kind of person who “could make friends with anyone” and often went out of her way to help others, a sentiment her husband echoed in interviews following her disappearance.
How Elizabeth Waddell Went Missing in Grenada
According to the Royal Grenada Police Force, Waddell traveled to Grenada with a close friend for a vacation, arriving on the island on July 11, 2026. The two women had rented an Airbnb near Grand Anse, a popular tourist stretch known for its white sand beaches and clear turquoise water in St. George’s.
On the morning of July 22, while her friend was finishing an online class inside the Airbnb, Waddell put on her swimsuit, grabbed a towel, and went outside to swim. Surveillance footage later reviewed by investigators showed Waddell walking along a jetty near the property at approximately 11:36 a.m. before entering the water. Her husband later stated that the footage confirmed she was last seen around 12:04 p.m., roughly 20 feet from shore in water about 5 feet deep, swimming toward Grand Anse Beach.
Her friend went outside to check on her around 12:46 p.m. but could not locate her. After searching the area and realizing Waddell had left without her phone, the friend became increasingly concerned and filed a missing-persons report with local police at 5:50 p.m. that same day. Investigators noted that Waddell had left behind only her towel, with no other signs of what may have happened after she entered the water.
Investigation and Search Efforts
Grenadian authorities, led by acting Commissioner of Police Randy Connaught, have confirmed that the case is being actively treated as a missing person investigation. Search efforts have included both land and sea operations, with the Coast Guard and local dive teams conducting underwater searches and a K9 unit deployed to assist in locating Waddell.
Police have said investigators are reconstructing Waddell’s movements using surveillance footage collected from properties along the coastline and are examining whether any people, vessels, or vehicles were in the area during the critical window of her disappearance. Officials have specifically appealed to fishermen, boat operators, and residents along Grenada’s southern coastline to report any sightings or information that could help locate her.
Regarding Waddell’s travel companion, Commissioner Connaught stated that there is “nothing questionable” about her account of events and that she has continued cooperating fully with investigators throughout the process.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed it is aware of the case and is assisting Waddell’s family, though the agency has declined to share further details, citing privacy considerations.
Family’s Response and Public Appeal
Cailen Waddell learned of his wife’s disappearance while at work in Cary and traveled to Grenada soon after to join the search effort. He has since been joined on the island by the couple’s adult daughter and Waddell’s twin sister. In an interview with the Grenada Broadcasting Network, Cailen Waddell praised the responsiveness of local police, saying investigators have been “incredibly communicative” and have made significant efforts to help find her.
He has also used social media to appeal for public help, writing on Facebook shortly after her disappearance that he expected “nothing less than Liz’s safe return” and asking anyone with connections to the island to share information with local contacts. The family has launched a dedicated website to share updates on the search and has also posted surveillance footage publicly in hopes that it might jog someone’s memory or provide new leads.
Amanda Romano-Harmon, a close friend of the Waddell family for more than 25 years, has also spoken publicly about the search, describing Waddell as someone who valued her intuition about people and often went out of her way to help others. Romano-Harmon has said the family is reviewing Waddell’s recent online search history to identify places she may have wanted to visit in Grenada, in hopes that retracing her possible steps could uncover new information.
Public Interest in the Case
The disappearance of Elizabeth Waddell has drawn significant national media coverage, with outlets including CBS News, NBC News, ABC News affiliates, and Fox News reporting on developments as they unfold. Much of the public interest stems from the fact that Waddell is a well-known and well-liked figure in her home community of Cary, combined with the mystery surrounding how a woman swimming close to shore in relatively shallow water could vanish without a trace.
Security consultants who have commented publicly on the case have noted that missing-person investigations involving open water tend to be especially complex, since search areas can expand quickly once the ocean becomes part of the equation. The involvement of Grenada’s Coast Guard has been cited as an important factor in broadening the scope of the search.
Community members in Cary, including clients from Waddell’s physical therapy practice and fellow instructors at Aradia Fitness, have expressed support for the family and hope for her safe return. Waddell’s professional reputation and personal warmth appear to be central reasons the case has resonated so strongly with people well beyond Grenada.
Latest Updates on Elizabeth Waddell’s Disappearance
As of the most recent police briefing, Grenadian authorities have confirmed that Waddell remains missing and that the investigation is ongoing nearly a week after she was last seen. Commissioner Connaught reiterated during a press briefing that the case continues to be treated as a missing person investigation, stating that authorities remain hopeful she will be found alive and safe.
There is no official confirmation at this time regarding what may have happened to Waddell after she entered the water, and authorities have not released any findings suggesting foul play or a specific theory about her disappearance. Investigators say they continue to review evidence, additional surveillance footage from surrounding properties, and witness accounts as the search progresses.
Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, information surrounding the case may continue to change as Grenadian police release further updates. Readers are encouraged to rely on official statements from the Royal Grenada Police Force and verified news outlets for the most accurate and current details.
Final Thoughts
The case of Elizabeth Waddell missing in Grenada remains an active and evolving investigation, with search efforts continuing across land and sea nearly a week after she was last seen swimming near Grand Anse Beach. Her family, supported by local authorities and the U.S. State Department, continues to hold onto hope for her safe return while urging anyone with information to come forward.
As a respected physical therapist and beloved figure in her North Carolina community, Waddell’s disappearance has struck a personal chord for many who know her, as well as for those following the story from afar. Until further confirmed details emerge from Grenadian officials, all information regarding her whereabouts should be treated as unconfirmed, and updates should be sought only through verified law enforcement and news sources.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story, and feel free to share your thoughts or well-wishes for Elizabeth Waddell and her family in the comments below.