A North Carolina physical therapist vanished during a trip to Grenada, turning what should have been a Caribbean visit into a frantic search along one of the island’s most recognizable beach areas, as reported by The New York Post.
Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, 44, was reported missing while staying near Grand Anse, a resort neighborhood in the capital city of St. George’s known for its white sand beach and postcard scenery.
A North Carolina woman has vanished without a trace while on vacation in the Caribbean.
Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, (44), a physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, was vacationing on the island of Grenada when she disappeared Wednesday morning.
Authorities say she was… pic.twitter.com/tdEPxDVSWR
— Unmasked True Crime (@crimeunmasked) July 26, 2026
The Royal Grenada Police Force said Waddell was last seen around 8 p.m. Wednesday on Grand Anse Beach.
By Thursday, authorities had launched a missing persons search and were asking the public to help.
Police made a specific appeal to fishermen, boat operators, and residents along the southern coastline.
They were urged to watch for any sign of Waddell and report possible sightings to authorities.
Her husband, Cailen Waddell, issued an emotional plea as he traveled to Grenada to join the search. He said he wanted “nothing less than her safe return.”
In a Friday morning Facebook post, he wrote, “Facebook Friends. My wife Liz is missing in Grenada.” The desperate message quickly spread as friends, relatives, and strangers began sharing her information.
He also wrote, “Liz went missing in the afternoon on Wednesday. I am on my way there now to help search. I expect nothing less than Liz’s safe return” while asking for prayers, love, and help from anyone with contacts on the island.
Police described Waddell as having a medium build and short blonde hair, though the missing persons notice reportedly showed her with short pink hair.
Officials listed her height as 5 feet 5 inches, while WTVD reported she is believed to be closer to 5 feet tall.
Waddell is married to Cailen Waddell, who works as an operations manager for the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources in Cary, North Carolina.
The couple has roots in that community, where Liz built both a professional practice and a personal network.
Waddell graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She later opened Art of Movement Physical Therapy in Cary, combining her years of physical therapy experience with a long background in fitness and dance.
According to her professional biography, Waddell has more than a decade of physical therapy experience and more than two decades of experience in fitness and dance.
Her interests included pole dancing, CrossFit, hiking, travel, and walks with her husband around Cary.
Her social media painted the picture of a woman who loved movement, travel, and family.
Her Facebook page included photos from international trips, including Mexico and Thailand, along with pictures of her husband and their adopted adult daughter, Suwan.
The disappearance has rattled those following the case because so few details have been made public.
Officials in Grenada have not offered additional information about what may have happened after she was last seen on the beach.
That silence leaves a lot of room for worry, and plenty of Americans know exactly how unsettling it is when a citizen disappears overseas, and answers arrive slowly.
Families want facts, not vague updates and bureaucratic fog.
Waddell had also posted publicly about recent health struggles. In a May 22 update, she said she had been dealing with long COVID, post viral issues, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, endometriosis, and perimenopause-related problems.
She wrote that her symptoms began last September and had forced her to stop working, stop going to the gym, and spend much of her time sleeping.
In that same update, she said she was improving and gradually returning to a more consistent work schedule.
Now, attention is focused on the shoreline, the water, nearby boats, and anyone who may have seen her Wednesday evening.
Police have asked people in the area to remain alert and come forward quickly with any information.
URGENT: NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN MISSING IN GRENADA – SEARCH CONTINUES
Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, 44-year-old physical therapist from North Carolina, vanished while on vacation in Grenada last week.
She left her towel on a pier Wednesday morning before going for a swim… and… pic.twitter.com/XUzcqWQIbt
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 27, 2026
For Waddell’s family, the mission is painfully simple. They are looking for Liz, and they are asking anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to help bring her home safely.
