Family of Missing NC Woman Liz Waddell Leaves Grenada as Search Continues

The family of Liz Waddell, who vanished near Grand Anse Beach on July 22, has returned home to North Carolina as the investigation continues.

Husband and sister of missing Liz Waddell depart Grenada after week-long search

The family of Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell, the 44-year-old North Carolina woman who disappeared while on holiday in Grenada, departed the island on Friday, July 31, according to People.com — leaving behind an open missing persons investigation and no confirmed leads on her whereabouts.

"To everyone invested in Liz's story: The family will travel home today, Friday, July 31," her husband Cailen Waddell wrote on a dedicated search website. "We have done what we can here, and the investigation will continue."

Liz was last seen on Wednesday, July 22, entering the sea near Grand Anse Beach in St. George's shortly before noon. She had been vacationing with a female friend. Surveillance footage from their rental property captured her going into the water, Commissioner of Police Randy Connaught of the Royal Grenada Police Force confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday, July 28.

Hours after she entered the water, Liz was reported missing. That same evening, around 5:30 p.m. local time, her husband said she had been spotted "far from shore" and noted she had "confidence in her swimming and location." No further sightings were reported. By Friday, July 24, Cailen had flown to Grenada to join the search. Efforts involving local authorities, family members, and community volunteers produced no significant breakthroughs.

On Wednesday, July 29 — one week after Liz was last seen — Cailen stated that he does not believe foul play was involved. "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," he wrote.

When announcing the family's return to their home in Cary, North Carolina, Cailen expressed gratitude toward everyone who had assisted — from the Royal Grenada Police Force and local press to supporters of the family's GoFundMe campaign and the Grenadian public. "Every Grenadian we have encountered has warmly welcomed us and expressed so much genuine concern for Liz," he wrote.

He also reflected on his relationship with his wife. "On a more personal note, I am simply not ready to write about all the things Liz means to me," Cailen wrote. "We met in 2003 at American Dance Festival in Durham and have been together ever since." He added: "I realized this year that Liz and I have been together longer in life than we have been apart. We balance each other, and that makes for a great partnership."

Liz's sister, Anna Watkins, posted her own statement on Thursday, July 30. "Today I leave Grenada with a broken heart," she wrote. "While the missing person investigation remains open, I am grieving. I am devastated, my heart hurts, and the world around me feels like a blur."

Watkins said she takes comfort in knowing that Liz had been enjoying the island's waters and beauty on the day she vanished. She described her sister as having a "magical spirit" and a "deep love for the sea." "I've reminded my kids about how the ocean is a happy place for their Aunt Liz," Watkins wrote, adding that she has told her children Liz "could mean she became a mermaid." "She's not lost. She's exploring the sea, still sharing her magic with those around her," Watkins wrote.

The missing persons investigation remains active. Liz Waddell's disappearance has drawn coverage from news outlets around the world since she was first reported missing.

Source: Google News GD — Crime