A North Carolina physical therapist has gone missing while vacationing on the Caribbean island of Grenada, prompting an intensive search by local authorities and her family as they plead for information about her whereabouts. Elizabeth «Liz» Waddell, 44, a physical therapist and fitness instructor from the Raleigh area, was last seen Wednesday at Grand Anse Beach in St. George's, near the Airbnb where she was staying with a friend.
The Royal Grenada Police Force described Waddell as 5 feet 5 inches tall with short blonde hair, and also released a photo showing her with pink hair to aid the search. According to a close family friend, Amanda Romano-Harmon, Waddell and her friend had traveled to Grenada for a vacation. On the day she disappeared, Waddell went outside to the pool area while her friend remained inside to take an online course. When the friend finished, she noticed Waddell was gone and found only a towel on the pier. Concern grew over the next several hours, especially because Waddell had left her phone behind. The friend eventually filed a missing persons report with local police.
Waddell's husband, Cailen, was at work when he learned of her disappearance. He took to social media Friday to announce he was heading to Grenada to assist in the search and urged anyone with connections to the island to share information. Speaking with Grenada Broadcasting Network, he described his wife as a «loving, free-spirited person» who «could make friends with anyone.» He added that she often did so during her travels. The couple has been together for more than two decades, and Romano-Harmon said they are a tight-knit family with deep roots in the Raleigh community.
The search effort involves police officers, divers, and students from St. George's University, according to local reports. Authorities are specifically asking fishermen, boat operators, and residents along Grenada's southern coastline to report any sightings that could assist in locating Waddell. The U.S. State Department confirmed it is aware of the case and is providing standard consular assistance to the family. A spokesperson said the department can help with filing missing persons reports and explaining local procedures, but declined to provide further details due to privacy considerations.
Waddell is the founder of Art of Movement Physical Therapy and holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also works as a fitness instructor at Aradia Fitness, which posted about her disappearance on social media, calling the news «disheartening» and asking the community to pray for her safe return. Friends and colleagues have expressed shock and concern, describing Waddell as an experienced traveler who would not simply wander off without telling anyone.
The disappearance has drawn attention beyond Grenada, with online posts spreading through missing persons networks and local news outlets in North Carolina. The friend who was traveling with Waddell told authorities that she had last seen her wearing a swimsuit and that the only clue was a towel left on a nearby pier. Police have not ruled out any possibilities and continue to coordinate with search teams using boats and aircraft. Anyone with information is urged 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 the nearest police station.
