Elizabeth Waddell missing in Grenada as family seeks help
Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell, a 44-year-old Cary, North Carolina mother and physical therapist, remains missing in Grenada after she was last seen near Grand Anse Beach in St. George's on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Her husband and friends are pleading for tips as Grenadian police continue the search.
Key Takeaways
- Elizabeth Waddell, 44, of Cary, N.C., was last reported seen in the Grand Anse Beach area of St. George's, Grenada, on July 22, 2026.
- Family and friends say she went toward the water for a swim and left a towel on a pier nearby.
- Her husband, Cailen Waddell, a Town of Cary parks official, has traveled to help search and praised local police.
- Grenadian authorities are asking fishermen, boat operators, and southern-coastline residents for information.
- Tips can go to the St. George Police Station at 444-4454, the Criminal Investigation Department at 440-3921, or 911.
Waddell is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy in Cary and holds a doctorate in physical therapy from UNC-Chapel Hill. According to the Royal Grenada Police Force alert reported by WRAL, she was last seen around 8 a.m. Wednesday in the Grand Anse Beach area. The Grenada Broadcasting Network said she had traveled to the island with a friend.
Friends told ABC11 that she left a towel on the pier and went for a swim. Longtime family friend Amanda Romano-Harmon said Cailen called after learning Liz went missing around midday. "She's an amazing person, and we want to bring her home," Romano-Harmon said.
What do we know about the Grenada disappearance?
Police launched a missing-person search and appealed specifically to fishermen, boat operators, and residents along Grenada's southern coastline. A missing-person notice described Waddell as having a medium build and short blonde hair; she was also pictured with short pink hair. Height details have varied in coverage, with some reports citing about 5 feet and an official release stating 5-foot-5.
Cailen Waddell, operations manager for the Town of Cary's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department, shared the alert on Facebook and asked contacts with ties to the island to spread the word. On his way to Grenada, he told the Grenada News Network his wife is "a loving, free-spirited person" who "could make friends with anyone."
"Liz went missing in the afternoon on Wednesday. I am on my way there now to help search. I expect nothing less than Liz's safe return," he wrote on Facebook, according to the New York Post.
How are family and friends helping the search?
Romano-Harmon said she and her husband have known the Waddells for decades—their husbands were college roommates—and that her 16-year-old daughter calls them aunt and uncle. Her husband planned to travel to Grenada on Monday to assist Cailen with search efforts. Friends say Cailen has praised Grenadian authorities for their communication and work on the case.
This developing case joins other unfolding investigations covered in our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries section as loved ones push for any lead that could bring Waddell home safely.
Where should tips about Elizabeth Waddell go?
Anyone who has seen Waddell or has information is asked to contact the St. George Police Station at 444-4454, the Criminal Investigation Department at 440-3921, or 911. Authorities also urge business operators and people along the southern coastline to report anything that could assist. Romano-Harmon asked the public not to dismiss small details: "If you have any, any information, no detail is too small."
Grenada officials had not released further public details on the circumstances beyond the ongoing search as of the latest reports.