On July 22, 2026, Elizabeth Waddell, a 44-year-old physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, went missing while vacationing in Grenada. She had arrived on the island on July 11 with a female friend, and they had been staying at a resort before moving to a different accommodation in the Grand Anse area on July 21. On the day of her disappearance, Waddell was seen on surveillance footage entering the sea at approximately 11:51 a.m. and was later spotted swimming beneath a jetty. However, she was not seen returning to shore, raising concerns about her safety.
The Royal Grenada Police Force, led by Commissioner Randy Connaught, reported that eyewitness accounts confirmed Waddell was swimming in open water. Her friend, who was present during the incident, was seen on video walking towards the jetty at 12:46 p.m. but returned alone. The friend reported Waddell missing at 5:50 p.m. the same day, prompting an immediate police response and a search operation. Authorities have appealed to local fishermen, boat operators, and residents to report any sightings of Waddell.
Waddell's husband, Cailen, arrived in Grenada shortly after her disappearance and has been cooperative with the investigation. The couple has an adopted adult daughter named Suwan. The police have stated that they are in contact with the FBI regional office, which may assist in reviewing the surveillance footage. As of now, the investigation is being treated as a missing person case, and officials remain hopeful that Waddell is still alive and somewhere on the island.
Waddell is described as being about 5 feet tall, of medium build, and having short blonde hair. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and opened her own practice, the Art of Movement Physical Therapy, in Cary. Waddell is known for her active lifestyle, which includes activities such as pole dancing, CrossFit, and hiking, often enjoyed with her husband in their hometown.
