Full Breakdown
Missing North Carolina Mom Vanishes While Swimming at Grenada’s Grand Anse Beach
7/30/2026, 9:51:43 PM
Core Event: Disappearance of Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell
On July 22, 2026, Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, a 44-year-old physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, was last captured on security footage swimming off Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s, Grenada. The video shows her walking toward a jetty, entering the water, and swimming beneath the structure before disappearing from view. Her belongings—including phone, identification and shoes—were left at the Airbnb where she was staying.
Background & Context
Waddell arrived in Grenada on July 11 with a close friend for a three-week vacation. After ten days at a western-side resort, they moved to an Airbnb in the Grand Anse area on July 21 to explore the island.
Timeline
- July 11 – Flight from Miami to Grenada.
- July 21 – Relocation to the Grand Anse Airbnb.
- July 22
- 11:36 a.m. – Walks toward the jetty (surveillance).
- 11:51 a.m. – Enters the water.
- 12:04 p.m. – Footage ends as she swims beneath the jetty.
- ~5:30 p.m. – Eyewitnesses report a woman matching her description swimming farther out.
- 5:50 p.m. – Friend files a missing-person report.
- July 24 – Husband Cailen Waddell arrives to assist the search.
- July 28 – Police release the July 22 footage.
- July 29 – Family update: no trace found.
Data & Statistics
- Estimated swimming distance at 12:04 p.m.: about 20 feet from shore in water roughly 5 feet deep.
- Search efforts have included land, shoreline, underwater, aerial and drone sweeps covering a 10-mile coastal stretch.
Official Statements & Responses
- Royal Grenada Police Force Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught said the case is being treated as a missing-person investigation and noted investigators are reviewing tide patterns, cellphone data and possible vessel movements.
- Cailen Waddell, the husband, posted on the family website FindLiz.com that he has consulted with authorities and the U.S. Embassy.
- The U.S. Embassy in Grenada and the FBI have been briefed; no FBI personnel are on the island.
On-the-Ground Reports
Friend Amanda Romano-Harmon said Waddell left the Airbnb wearing only her swimsuit and towel, and that only the towel was found on the pier after hours of searching.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Surveillance ends at 12:04 p.m., showing Waddell beneath the jetty. Separate eyewitness accounts place a woman matching her description in open water around 5:30 p.m., a gap of more than five hours that investigators have yet to reconcile. No additional video evidence has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “after careful and thoughtful consultation with family, local authorities, the U.S. Embassy, and others here in Grenada, I join authorities in believing there was no foul play.” — Cailen Waddell
- “Mrs. Waddell was not seen returning from the water,” — Randy Connaught
Why It Matters
The case highlights the challenges of cross-jurisdictional disappearances, prompting calls for travelers to register with embassies and for island nations to review emergency response protocols for tourists.
What’s Next
Grenada police have asked fishermen, boat operators and residents to report any sightings. The family’s website continues to solicit information, and search teams remain active in the coastal area. No further scheduled actions have been announced.
