Authorities in Grenada are searching for Elizabeth Waddell, a 43-year-old physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, who disappeared on July 22 after entering the ocean near Grand Anse Beach while on vacation with a friend.
Surveillance footage captured Waddell stepping off a pier and swimming in shallow waters around noon, but security cameras did not record her returning to shore.
Friends and family confirmed she left her rental property without her mobile phone, prompting an immediate search after she failed to return for several hours.
Investigation Details
Royal Grenada Police Force officials stated that investigators are reviewing security footage, interviewing witnesses, and reconstructing Waddell's movements.
"At this time, this matter continues to be treated as a missing person investigation," said Randy Connaught, Acting Police Commissioner for the Royal Grenada Police Force.
Connaught detailed a timeline showing Waddell walking toward the jetty around 11:36 a. m.
, entering the water at 11:51 a. m.
, and swimming nearby at 12:04 p. m.
The timeline noted that Waddell's vacation companion walked outside to search for her at 12:46 p. m.
before returning alone.
Multiple witnesses, including individuals on jet skis, reported seeing a woman matching Waddell's description swimming farther out in open water later that afternoon around 5:30 p.
m.
According to local reports, a jet ski rider approached her to offer help, but she declined assistance and stated she was a strong swimmer.
Family Response
Her husband, Cailen Waddell, along with the couple's adult daughter, traveled to Grenada to assist local authorities and the U.
S. Embassy with search efforts.
"We have now seen video footage that confirms on Wednesday, Liz was last seen, around 12:04 PM, about 20' at most from shore in water around 5' deep swimming towards the beach at Grand Anse," said Cailen Waddell.
He noted that new clothing photos helped confirm she entered the water wearing beige shorts with blue stripes and a burnt-orange crop top.
Following consultations with local authorities and officials, he stated that investigators do not suspect foul play in her disappearance.
"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," said Cailen Waddell.
Friends in Cary described Waddell as a caring physical therapist and fitness instructor well known within her community.
The U. S.
State Department confirmed it is aware of the case, and police urge anyone with information to contact authorities immediately.
