North Carolina Mom's Last Known Moments Before She Vanished on Caribbean Island Captured on Newly Released Footage

The mother had stepped outside during a tropical getaway, unaware that a camera was recording the final confirmed movements her loved ones would be able to trace.

Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell, a 44-year-old physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, was reported missing after visiting Grand Anse Beach in St. George's, Grenada, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

More than a week later, footage from outside her rental property offered a closer look at that morning, but it also left her family with a troubling gap of several hours.

Who Is the Woman at the Center of the Search?

Liz was staying at an Airbnb with a friend in Grand Anse, a resort neighborhood known for its white sand beach. She had traveled to Grenada as part of a life filled with international trips and a deep affection for the water.

Her husband, Cailen Waddell, described travel, nature, and exploring the world as commitments they shared. Photographs from earlier trips showed Liz visiting places including Mexico and Thailand, often alongside Cailen and their adopted adult daughter, Suwan Waddell.

Liz was also known for bringing a playful energy into ordinary moments. The physical therapist might join children playing in a park, while her bright hair, love of unicorns, and fondness for the sea made her immediately recognizable to those closest to her.

Cailen had known her for more than two decades. They met at the American Dance Festival in Durham in 2003 and had been together ever since.

"I realized this year that Liz and I have been together longer in life than we have been apart," he wrote in a July 31 statement on the Find Liz website. "We balance each other, and that makes for a great partnership."

That long history made the silence after July 22 almost impossible for her family to absorb. Before investigators could determine where Liz might have gone, however, they first had to establish exactly when she left the rental.

What Did the Rental Camera Record That Morning?

The newly released surveillance video began at 11:45 a.m., when Liz could be seen walking in the direction of the beach. Two minutes later, she reached a jetty and jumped into the water.

As Liz swam nearby, the friend traveling with her appeared on the beach and adjusted a chair beneath some trees. Nothing visible in the footage suggested an emergency.

Liz returned within view of the camera 19 minutes later. At approximately 12:04 p.m., she was about 20 feet from shore, swimming toward Grand Anse Beach in water estimated to be around five feet deep.

The recording also corrected earlier reports about what she had been wearing. Liz had on blue-and-white striped shorts and a loose, burnt-orange crop top, both of which were relatively new.

Her family did not believe they had existing photographs of her in those clothes, making the camera image especially important. A still taken from the footage showed her short blonde hair along with the outfit investigators were now asking people to look for.

Cailen later entered the same stretch of water himself, trying to understand the swim his wife had made. He found calm conditions near the shore, with rocks available for someone to rest on and water shallow enough for Liz to stand in if necessary.

"It is easy. There are lots of rocks you can stop at if you need," he wrote. He compared the water to a lake rather than the rougher ocean conditions the couple knew from North Carolina.

The camera therefore appeared to show Liz safely approaching the beach shortly after noon. Yet investigators had reason to believe that her time in the water may not have ended there.

When Was Liz Possibly Seen Again?

Police began examining an account from people riding Jet Skis who reportedly interacted with a woman resembling Liz farther from shore at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Cailen said authorities were attempting to locate those witnesses and determine precisely where the encounter occurred. Officers were also seeking security recordings from hotels positioned along the beach.

The potential sighting created a period of nearly five and a half hours that remained unexplained. Liz had no wallet, cards, cash, or shoes with her, according to her husband. "It seems improbable, if the potential sighting from Jet Skis was her, that she was in the water for 5.5 hours," he acknowledged.

The later witnesses reportedly described the woman as confident about her swimming ability and her location. She also expressed appreciation for the beauty of the island.

Those remarks offered some reassurance about her condition at that moment, provided the woman was Liz. However, without a confirmed location or additional footage, her movements between 12:04 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. remained the central mystery.

Cailen said investigators hoped to verify what his wife did during that period and locate anyone who might have seen her afterward. "No detail is too small," he stressed.

How Did Grenada Respond to Her Disappearance?

The Royal Grenada Police Force publicly reported the American visitor missing on July 23, one day after her last confirmed appearance. Police appealed directly to fishermen, boat operators, coastal residents, and anyone else who might have noticed her.

Cailen, an operations manager for Cary's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources, flew to Grenada to assist. Over the following week, nine other relatives and friends joined the effort.

Local authorities and Grenadian residents contributed hundreds of hours to the search. Members of the public also offered concern, assistance, and information to the family during an increasingly painful wait.

A dedicated telephone line and website were established to collect tips. Friends also organized a fundraiser to cover travel and resources for Cailen and the search team.

By July 31, the campaign had raised $24,429 toward its $28,000 goal from 241 donations. Its organizer said any money not required for the search would be donated to refugee programs and charities in recognition of Liz's compassionate nature.

The family also asked travelers to examine their own vacation material. Anyone who had taken photographs or videos around Grand Anse Beach, Quarantine Point, or the nearby town was urged to look carefully at people appearing in the background.

Family friend Amanda Romano-Harmon explained that the uncertainty had become emotionally exhausting. "I love the Waddells, they are our family and I just want her found," she said, according to the Find Liz website.

As the search continued without an answer, those who had flown to Grenada faced the painful question of when to return home.

Why Did Her Loved Ones Begin Leaving the Island?

On July 29, Cailen announced that the extensive search had not located his wife. After speaking with relatives, Grenadian authorities, the U.S. Embassy, and others involved, he said he agreed with the official assessment that foul play was not suspected.

The missing-person investigation would remain active, particularly the effort to confirm Liz's movements during the missing hours. Still, some relatives and friends began departing Grenada to process what had happened.

Cailen thanked local police for their compassion and persistence. He also expressed gratitude to Grenadian residents, saying everyone the family encountered had shown genuine concern for Liz.

Her sister, Anna Watkins, left the island on July 30 with what she called "a broken heart." Before departing, she floated along Grand Anse Beach and tried to imagine the contentment Liz might have felt in its warm, calm water.

Ann also said she was grieving even though the investigation remained open. She described the world around her as blurred by pain, but she was trying to keep her sister's personality at the center of her thoughts.

She told her children that the ocean had always been a happy place for their aunt. The children laughed when Anna suggested that Liz's love of the sea and her particular kind of magic might mean she had become a mermaid.

"She's not lost. She's exploring the sea, still sharing her magic with those around her," Anna wrote.

The thought helped her endure a week spent searching and remembering with the other loved ones who had traveled to Grenada. They also tried to find peaceful moments in places Liz would have appreciated.

What Happens as the Family Returns Home?

Cailen confirmed on July 31 that the family would leave Grenada that day. "We have done what we can here, and the investigation will continue," he wrote.

He thanked the police force, the people of Grenada, donors, and members of the press who helped spread awareness. Search-related expenses were expected to continue as authorities pursued new information.

The family was not ready to participate in interviews, but updates would be posted if further evidence emerged. Cailen also pointed people toward the couple's Instagram pages and Liz's personal and business YouTube channels for a better understanding of who she is.

While looking through old photographs, he found an image taken exactly 22 years earlier at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. He said it captured Liz's spirit and sense of fun, qualities he was not yet emotionally ready to describe in full.

For now, the footage answers one question while leaving the most important one unresolved. It shows Liz swimming through calm, shallow water toward Grand Anse Beach, then the known record of her movements abruptly stops.