NC mom Elizabeth Waddell missing in Grenada, family seeks help
Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell, 44, of Cary, North Carolina, disappeared Wednesday, July 22, 2026, near Grand Anse Beach in Grenada after heading to the water for a swim. Her husband and friends are pleading for help as the Royal Grenada Police Force searches the southern coastline for the missing physical therapist.
Key Takeaways
- Elizabeth Waddell, 44, went missing Wednesday, July 22, near Grand Anse Beach in St. George's, Grenada.
- Family said she left a towel on a pier and went for a swim; police are searching with help from coastal residents and boat operators.
- Husband Cailen Waddell, a Town of Cary official, traveled to help search and has asked for her safe return.
- Anyone with information is asked to contact St. George Police Station or Grenada's Criminal Investigation Department.
What happened to Elizabeth Waddell in Grenada?
According to family accounts reported by ABC11 News, Waddell disappeared after going down to the water near Grand Anse Beach for a swim. A family friend said she left her towel on the pier before entering the water.
The Royal Grenada Police Force said she was last seen Wednesday, July 22, in the Grand Anse Beach area of St. George's. WRAL reported she had traveled to Grenada with a friend, citing the Grenada Broadcasting Network.
Officials launched a missing-person search and appealed to fishermen, boat operators, and residents along the southern coastline to report any sightings. A missing-person notice described Waddell as having short blonde hair and a medium build.
Who is Liz Waddell and why does this matter?
Waddell is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy in Cary and holds a doctorate in physical therapy from UNC-Chapel Hill. Her husband, Cailen Waddell, serves as operations manager for the Town of Cary's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department.
In a May Facebook update cited by the New York Post, she described treatment for long-COVID/post-viral illness and chronic fatigue syndrome—issues often covered in longevity and biohacking reporting—and said she had been slowly returning to a more consistent work schedule.
Friends describe her as adventurous and free-spirited. Cailen told reporters she was a loving person who could make friends with anyone and was always willing to help someone.
How can people help find her in Grenada?
Cailen Waddell shared a Facebook plea asking contacts with island ties to spread the alert. He wrote that Liz went missing Wednesday afternoon, that he was on his way to help search, and that he expected "nothing less than Liz's safe return."
He later praised Grenadian police, saying they had been communicative and appeared to be doing everything possible. Family friend Amanda Romano-Harmon urged tipsters not to leave any stone unturned, saying no detail is too small.
Romano-Harmon said her husband planned to travel to Grenada on Monday to assist Cailen with search efforts. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the St. George Police Station at 444-4454, the Criminal Investigation Department at 440-3921, or 911.