Full Breakdown
Missing North Carolina Therapist Vanishes on Grenada Beach
7/29/2026, 12:29:16 AM
Core Event
On July 22, 2026, Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, 44, a physical-therapy practitioner from Cary, North Carolina, was last seen entering the water at Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s, Grenada. Surveillance footage captured her walking onto a pier, removing a towel and swimming beneath a jetty, but no video shows her returning to shore. Her traveling companion reported her missing to Grenadian police that afternoon, prompting an immediate investigation.
Background & Context
Waddell arrived in Grenada from Miami on July 11, 2026 with a friend and stayed on the island’s western side for ten days. The pair moved to the Hideaway Waterfront Apartments near Grand Anse on July 21. Waddell, founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy and a UNC-Chapel Hill doctorate holder, was on a three-week vacation.
Timeline
- July 11 – Arrival in Grenada.
- July 21 – Change of accommodation to Grand Anse area.
- July 22, ? 11:36 a.m. – Video shows Waddell walking toward the jetty.
- ? 11:51 a.m. – She removes her towel and enters the water.
- 12:04 p.m. – She is seen swimming beneath the jetty.
- ? 12:46 p.m. – Her friend walks the pier alone.
- 5:50 p.m. – Friend files a missing-person report.
- July 23 – Police issue a public missing-person notice.
- July 24 – Husband Cailen Waddell announces he is en route to Grenada.
Data & Statistics
- Height: police bulletin lists 5 ft 5 in; family statement says “about 5 ft.”
- Build: medium; hair described as short blonde, later photo shows pink highlights.
- Search assets: Royal Grenada Police Force, Grenada Coast Guard, divers from St. George’s University, and U.S. FBI analysts reviewing video.
- Community response: a Facebook group, a family-run website (findliz.com), and appeals to local fishermen and residents.
Official Statements & Responses
“The investigative team is also examining whether any person, vessel or vehicle moved to the relevant locations during this critical period,” — Randy Connaught, Grenada commissioner of police. The FBI confirmed through its Legal Attaché in Bridgetown that it is ready to assist Grenadian officials. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the agency is aware of the report and can help families file missing-person reports while deferring substantive questions to local law enforcement.
On-the-Ground Reports
Family friend Amanda Romano-Harmon described the last moments: “She had her swimsuit on, and she went outside their Airbnb.” She later found Waddell’s towel on the pier and, after hours of searching, filed the missing-person report. Local volunteers have been combing the shoreline, and the Coast Guard has deployed boats for several days, though no trace has been located.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Height: police bulletin vs. family description.
- Hair color: official release notes short blonde hair; later photo shows pink highlights.
- Time of disappearance: some outlets cite an 8 a.m. sighting, while surveillance timestamps place the swim around noon.
- No eyewitness accounts confirm seeing Waddell after she entered the water, and the extent of underwater search results remains undisclosed.
What’s Next
Grenadian authorities continue to appeal for tips from fishermen, boat operators and residents along the southern coast. The search effort remains active, with divers and aerial surveillance deployed as needed. No scheduled hearings or official updates have been announced beyond ongoing public appeals. Anyone with information is urged to contact the South Saint George Police Station or the nearest Grenadian police outpost.
