Surveillance footage has captured the final known moments of Elizabeth 'Liz' Waddell, a 43-year-old North Carolina woman who disappeared on July 22 while vacationing in Grenada. The video shows Waddell swimming in the ocean just hours before she was reported missing near Grand Anse Beach.
Waddell and a friend had been vacationing on the Caribbean island and moved to an Airbnb on the southern part of Grenada on July 21. The following morning, at approximately 11:36 a.m., Waddell was seen on security footage walking toward a jetty near the Airbnb. After sitting in the sun for several minutes, she entered the ocean at 11:51 a.m.
Three minutes later, a small boat passed by as Waddell's traveling companion adjusted a beach chair. By 12:04 p.m., Waddell was seen swimming toward Grand Anse Beach. Her friend was observed looking for her around 12:46 p.m. before returning to the Airbnb, according to police chief Randy Connaught.
Waddell was not seen returning from the water in the footage, and her friend reported her missing at 5:50 p.m. Waddell's husband, Cailen Waddell, confirmed in a statement on a family-created website, FindLiz.com, that his wife was last seen about 20 feet from shore in approximately five feet of water, wearing blue and white striped shorts and a burnt orange crop top.
He noted that his wife did not have her phone, wallet, shoes, or cash with her when she entered the water. "The water is shallower near shore, where Liz could touch if she wanted, and the water is like a lake, not like ocean water we experience in North Carolina," Cailen Waddell stated, describing the conditions he observed during a recent swim in the same area.
Later that day, after finishing an online course, Waddell's friend went to look for her again and found her towel still on the pier. Amanda Romano-Harmon, a longtime friend of Waddell and a spokesperson for the family, told WRAL that the friend became alarmed because Waddell had left without any personal belongings. A missing persons report was filed shortly thereafter.
Authorities are investigating the disappearance. One witness reported seeing a woman he believed to be Waddell swimming far from shore around 5:30 p.m. on the day she went missing. The witness stated he offered assistance, but the woman declined, saying she was a strong swimmer. Police are working to confirm the details of this interaction.
The Royal Grenada Police Force, along with the Coast Guard and local dive teams, have been involved in the search efforts. A K9 unit has also been deployed. Police are appealing to local fishermen, boat operators, and residents for any information regarding Waddell's whereabouts.
Waddell, a physical therapist and founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy in Cary, North Carolina, had traveled to Grenada with a friend. Her husband and adult daughter traveled to the island on Friday to assist with the search. Friends described Waddell as an adventurous individual who enjoyed traveling and experiencing new cultures. An online fundraiser has been established to support the search efforts.