Full Breakdown
Missing North Carolina Mom Vanishes During Grenada Beach Vacation
7/28/2026, 2:22:21 AM
Core Event: Disappearance at Grand Anse Beach
Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, 44, a physical-therapy clinic founder from Cary, North Carolina, was last seen on July 22, 2026 at Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s, Grenada. While staying at an Airbnb with a friend, she left the pool area in a swimsuit, walked to the pier and entered the water. Her towel was later found on the pier; she had no phone, identification or shoes. Surveillance video captured her swimming before she floated out of the camera’s view, after which she was not seen again.
Timeline
- July 22, 2026 – Waddell disappears; friend files a missing-persons report.
- July 22 – Royal Grenada Police Force begins a search, deploying officers, divers and the Coast Guard.
- July 23 – Police issue a missing-person poster and appeal to fishermen, boat operators and coastal residents.
- July 24 – Husband Cailen Waddell posts a plea on Facebook, travels to Grenada with his daughter and sister-in-law.
- July 27 – Media outlet PEOPLE contacts Airbnb for comment (no response reported).
Official Statements & Responses
- **U.S.
- Cailen Waddell (husband, Town of Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources operations manager): He described the police as “wonderful” and said the “investigation is ongoing.” He also emphasized that “no detail is too small” in the search effort.
Data & Statistics
- Reported height: approximately 5 feet (family friend) versus 5 feet 5 inches listed on the official poster.
- Hair color: described as short blonde by family, while the poster shows pink hair.
- No forensic evidence or recovered footage has been released publicly.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The primary inconsistencies involve the missing-person poster’s photograph and physical description. Several sources note the discrepancy between the pink-haired image and Waddell’s actual blonde hair, as well as the differing height figures. Additionally, while police confirmed the existence of surveillance video showing Waddell’s last movements, the footage has not been made public, leaving a gap in visual evidence for the public.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She had her swimsuit on, and she went outside their Airbnb,” — Amanda Romano-Harmon
- “She's an amazing person, and we want to bring her home,” — Amanda Romano-Harmon
- “It shows her … floating, swimming around, but then she, you know, she floats out of the camera view and so that's the last footage of Liz,” — Amanda Romano-Harmon
- “My wife is a loving free-spirit person. She could make friends with anyone and she often did,” — Cailen Waddell, spokesperson
What’s Next
Grenadian police continue to coordinate divers, Coast Guard units and local volunteers in the search. The Royal Grenada Police Force maintains its public appeal for information, and the U.S. State Department remains prepared to assist the family with procedural support. No specific future milestones have been announced.
