An intensive search continues for Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Waddell, a 44-year-old woman from North Carolina, who vanished during a vacation on the Caribbean island of Grenada. The Royal Grenada Police Force reported her missing on Wednesday after she was last seen near Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s.
According to a family friend, Waddell appeared to have gone for a swim, leaving a towel on the pier before she disappeared. She was visiting the island with a friend and had been staying at the Hideaway Waterfront Apartments in Grand Anse. The Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN) provided this information.
Local police have issued a call for information from fishermen, boat operators, and residents along the southern coastline, urging anyone who may have seen Waddell to come forward. They have released a description of her as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, with short blond hair.
“The police have been wonderful,” said her husband, Cailen Waddell, who traveled to Grenada to assist in the search efforts. According to him, the police have been communicative and proactive in their efforts to locate his wife, a woman he described as ‘a loving, free-spirited person’ who easily made friends.
Details of the Disappearance
A family friend, Amanda Romano-Harmon, provided further details on the situation. She explained that Waddell’s travel companion was engaged in an online course at their Airbnb while Waddell went for a swim. The Airbnb featured a pool overlooking the bay where Waddell had been relaxing.
After completing the online course, Waddell’s friend was unable to find her and went searching. Romano-Harmon recounted seeing Waddell’s towel on the pier, leading the friend to believe she had gone swimming. As Waddell had left her phone behind and did not return for several hours, her absence was reported to the authorities.
In response, the Grenadian police urge anyone with relevant information to reach out to the South Saint George Police Station or any nearby police stations.
U.S. State Department’s Involvement
The U.S. State Department has weighed in, citing the safety and security of Americans as a top priority. They acknowledged the reports of Waddell’s disappearance and indicated their ability to assist families with missing persons reports. However, they referred questions about the investigation to the local authorities in Grenada.