What Happened to Elizabeth Waddell? Inside Her Disappearance

Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell was last seen swimming near the Grand Anse beach in Grenada on July 22

NEED TO KNOW

• Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell is a 44-year-old North Carolina mother who was reported missing in Grenada on July 22
• Liz and her friend were staying in an Airbnb on the south side of the island when she went for a swim in nearby waters
• Liz’s husband, Cailen Waddell, stated that he and authorities believe there is “no foul play” involved in her disappearance

Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell is a 44-year-old woman who was reported missing in Grenada on July 22.

The North Carolina mother was last seen swimming near the Grand Anse beach, a two-mile stretch of sand and water on the southwest coast of Grenada. Liz was visiting the island with a friend as part of a three-week vacation. The two friends moved to an Airbnb on July 21.

On July 22, Liz swam around a jetty in the water in front of the property until noon, per surveillance videos released by her family. However, around 5:30 p.m. that evening, Liz was last seen swimming in the ocean near Grand Anse “far from the shore,” according to witnesses.

Just 20 minutes later, her friend contacted local authorities and reported her missing. The police officially reported her missing the following day on July 23. Liz’s husband, Cailen Waddell, subsequently flew to Grenada in hopes of locating Liz, but he returned home on July 31.

Cailen and their family created a website, titled Find Liz, where they have continued to post updates. On July 29, Cailen wrote that he and the authorities have both come to the conclusion that “there was no foul play.”

Although Cailen has left the island, he assured people that “the investigation will continue.” He also thanked the Royal Grenada Police Force, all the volunteers and everyone who has supported their search.

Here’s everything to know about Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell’s disappearance.

Liz and her friend arrived in Grenada on July 11 and went to an Airbnb on July 21

Liz, a physical therapist from Cary, N.C., arrived in Grenada with a friend on July 11, Royal Grenada Police Force Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught said at a news conference on July 28.

Liz and the friend first vacationed at a resort on the west side of the island for 10 days, starting on July 11. On Tuesday, July 21, Liz and her friend moved to an Airbnb on the south side of the island.

The property was located on the waters near Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s.

Liz spent the morning and afternoon swimming around a jetty near Grand Anse

On Wednesday, July 22, Liz and her friend spent much of the day on the property and swimming in the waters outside of the Airbnb near Grand Anse Beach, according to Connaught.

The police interviewed her friend, local witnesses and watched surveillance footage from the Airbnb to determine her activity that day.

Surveillance footage, released by her family, showed Liz at her Airbnb on July 22. At 11:44 a.m. local time, the footage showed Liz walking near the shoreline before heading toward the jetty and then entering the water at 11:47 a.m.

Liz “was not seen on surveillance footage returning from the water,” Connaught said. He added that he also received “several eye witness accounts indicating that she was seen swimming in the open water.”

Liz was last seen swimming in the ocean near Grand Anse at around 5:30 p.m. on July 22

On July 22, Liz “was last seen swimming in the ocean near Grand Anse, around 5:30 PM, far from shore,” Cailen shared in a July 29 update to the Find Liz website.

“She communicated her confidence in her swimming and location, as well as the beauty of the island,” he shared.

Cailen explained that he and investigators were specifically trying 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.”

In a previous update, Cailen described the water Liz was in as about 5 feet deep and approximately 20 feet from the shore, at most. He said the body of water was “like a lake, not ocean water we experience in North Carolina.”

He noted that Liz “did not have her wallet, cards, or cash with her, nor did she have shoes.”

Her friend reported her missing at 5:50 p.m.

While Liz was swimming, her friend was inside for most of the afternoon completing an online course, Liz’s longtime friend Amanda Romano-Harmon told WRAL on July 24. After finishing the course, she went to look for Liz but only saw her towel on the pier. She started to “panic” and called Cailen to let him know that she was missing.

“She hadn’t seen her for a few hours,” Romano-Harmon said. “She was starting to panic because she knew Liz didn’t have her phone or anything with her, and so they wound up filing a missing persons report right away.”

At 5:50 p.m. on July 22, Liz’s friend went to the South St. George Police Station and reported her friend missing.

“That report triggered an immediate police response, including an initial search of the premises, the surroundings, shoreline and desperate searches of all of the areas in and around that resort,” Connaught said in the press conference.

On July 23, the Royal Grenada Police Force officially issued a missing persons alert with Liz’s information. The report lists Liz as 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a medium build and short blonde hair.

Liz’s husband, Cailen, traveled to Grenada to help with the search

In a July 24 Facebook post, Cailen wrote that he was headed to Grenada to assist in the search efforts.

“I am on my way there now to help search,” he wrote. “I expect nothing less than Liz’s safe return — so please sent [sic] your love, light, thoughts and prayers our way.”

Cailen said that he and authorities believe there was no “foul play” involved

Cailen and other loved ones have continued to post updates on the Find Liz website.

“I understand that there are likely many questions, and there are for me too,” Cailen wrote in a July 28 post. “I am heartbroken that she is missing. Those of you who knew us best knew our commitment to each other, to travel, to nature, and exploring the world as a team. I am so thankful for the outpouring of community support. It is far beyond what I ever expected, please continue to send love, good thoughts, and what every positive vibes best fit your belief system.”

In a July 29 post, Cailen wrote that “despite our exhaustive efforts,” all efforts to find her had 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, while adding that “the missing person investigation into her disappearance will continue.”

Meanwhile, Connaught said in his July 28 press conference that he and his police force have “not reached or announced any final conclusion regarding the circumstances surrounding Ms. Waddell’s missing person’s status.”

On July 31, Cailen shared that he was leaving Grenada and returning home “with a broken heart.”

“While the missing person investigation remains open, I am grieving. I am devastated, my heart hurts, and the world around me feels like a blur,” he wrote. “I floated along Grand Anse Beach this morning, spending some time enjoying the beauty of the place she was last seen. I imagined Liz’s contentment relaxing in the warm calm salty water.”

He continued, “She’s not lost. She’s exploring the sea, still sharing her magic with those around her.”

Cailen later thanked the Royal Grenada Police Force, the Grenadian people and the people who have supported his efforts on their GoFundMe page.

“I’m grateful for the 9 other friends and family in Grenada this week as we look for Liz,” her sister, Anna Watkins, wrote. “We share each other’s pain and ease them by sharing memories of Liz. We honor her by enjoying the beauty the Caribbean, trying to find moments of peace in places she did. Noticing the good has also been helpful, the people of Grenada are amazingly kind and supportive of us.”

Read the full article here