Search for Missing North Carolina Woman in Grenada

A woman from North Carolina disappeared during a trip to Grenada, prompting a search campaign by her family and friends for her safe return. Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, 44, last appeared at Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s, near her accommodations in the Grand Anse sector, according to the Royal Grenada Police Force.

Waddell, a physical therapist and resident of the Raleigh area, stands at 5 feet 5 inches tall. She has short blonde hair, although authorities shared an image of her with pink hair as part of their appeal for public assistance in locating her. Her professional site identifies her as the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy, holding a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A friend informed WRAL News that Waddell traveled to Grenada with another friend for leisure. The friend reportedly lost track of Waddell after staying at their Airbnb for an online class while Waddell went outside, presumably to swim.

“She had her swimsuit on, and she went outside their Airbnb,” stated Amanda Romano-Harmon to the local media. “They had a pool overlooking the bay. Liz was exploring from the pool, while her friend focused on her online course. After finishing her class, she noticed Liz missing, prompting her to check outside. She discovered the towel left on the pier,” suggesting Waddell might have gone swimming.

The friend’s concern grew throughout the following hours, aware that Waddell didn’t have her phone. This led to filing a missing-persons report.

Her husband, Cailen Waddell, learned about the situation while at work and posted on social media the following Friday, expressing plans to travel to Grenada to aid the search. He encouraged anyone familiar with the island to provide information that might help find her. He described her as a loving and sociable individual to a local media outlet in Grenada.

“My wife is a loving, free-spirited person. She could make friends with anyone. She often did,” Cailen shared with the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN).

The police request information from people around Grenada’s southern coastline, including fishermen and boat operators, to contribute to the search efforts.

A missing persons alert for Liz Waddell emerged on July 23rd from Grenada officials. The search involves police officers, divers, and students from St. George’s University, as confirmed by GBN.

The U.S. State Department acknowledged reports of an American citizen’s disappearance in Grenada, affirming the high priority of U.S. citizens’ safety abroad but refrained from sharing more details citing privacy policies. However, they assured assistance to families regarding missing persons reports and local protocols.

Aradia Fitness, where Waddell works as a fitness instructor, described her disappearance as “disheartening” in a social media post, hoping for her safe return.

Authorities urge the public to contact the South Saint George Police Station at 444-4454, the Criminal Investigation Department at 440-3921, the police emergency line at 911, or any nearby police station with relevant information about her whereabouts.