New surveillance footage captured Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, a 44-year-old physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, swimming in the Caribbean waters off Grenada hours before she was reported missing on July 23, 2026. The video, released by her family, shows Waddell jumping off a jetty into the sea at approximately 11:47 a.m. on July 22.
At the time of the sighting, Waddell was on a trip with a friend at an Airbnb in the Grand Anse neighborhood of St. George’s, the capital city. The footage shows her walking toward the beach before entering the water. Her friend was visible on the beach, adjusting a chair under trees. Waddell returned into view of the camera 19 minutes later and then began walking toward Grand Anse beach at 12:04 a.m.
"I went out and did this swim yesterday,” Cailen Waddell, Elizabeth’s husband, wrote on findliz.com, a website established to aid in the search for his wife. He described the swimming conditions as calm, with shallow areas near the shore and rocks available for stopping.
Police are investigating unconfirmed reports that a group of jet skiers may have interacted with a woman matching Waddell’s description offshore around 5:30 p.m. on the day she was last seen on video. Authorities are working to gather additional security footage from hotels along the beach and to connect with the individuals on the jet skis.
The Royal Grenada Police Force initially issued an appeal for assistance from fishermen, boat operators, and coastal residents. Efforts to locate Waddell have included a GoFundMe campaign, the dedicated website, and a tip line. Her husband flew to Grenada to participate in the search, joined by friends and family. However, after consulting with local authorities, the U.S. Embassy, and family members, Cailen Waddell stated that he now believes no foul play was involved in his wife’s disappearance.
"Despite our exhaustive efforts, we have not been successful. 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,” he wrote Wednesday. "The missing person investigation into her disappearance will continue, and we are specifically hopeful to determine her actions between the time she was last seen on video and the time she was seen in the water around 5:30, as well as any further sightings. No detail is too small.”
Waddell is described as an avid traveler, with past social media posts showing her excursions with her husband and their adopted adult daughter, Suwan. She was last seen wearing blue-and-white striped shorts and a burnt orange, loose crop top.
