22 July 2026
Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell was last seen at Grand Anse Beach in St. George's, Grenada, according to CBS News citing the Royal Grenada Police Force.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Force
22 July 2026
Waddell was identified by CBS News as a 44-year-old North Carolina mother.
CBS News
22 July 2026
Waddell was on a three-week vacation with her close friend Heather Poole, according to CBS News citing family information.
CBS News citing family information
22 July 2026
Waddell left the Airbnb where she was staying around noon, according to CBS News citing family information.
CBS News citing family information
22 July 2026
After Waddell did not return for hours, Heather Poole went looking for her and found her towel, according to CBS News citing family information.
CBS News citing family information
22 July 2026
Amanda Romano-Harmon, described by CBS News as Waddell's friend and the family spokesperson, said the Royal Grenada Police Force recovered surveillance video showing Waddell going to the pier and getting into the water before floating out of camera view.
CBS News
22 July 2026
Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught said surveillance video showed Elizabeth Waddell walking toward a beachside pier at about 11:30 a.m.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught · added 16 Aug 2026
22 July 2026
Connaught said the surveillance video showed Waddell sitting on sand, walking on the pier, entering the water and swimming beneath the pier shortly after noon.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught · added 16 Aug 2026
22 July 2026
Connaught said Waddell's friend and travel companion was seen walking toward the pier about 45 minutes later and then returning alone.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught · added 16 Aug 2026
22 July 2026
Connaught said Waddell was not seen returning from the water.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught · added 16 Aug 2026
22 July 2026
Connaught said investigators had received eyewitness accounts indicating Waddell was swimming in the open ocean later in the afternoon before she was reported missing.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught · added 16 Aug 2026
22 July 2026
Cailen Waddell said eyewitnesses later reported interacting with Elizabeth Waddell at about 5:30 p.m. farther from shore.
CBS News citing Cailen Waddell · added 16 Aug 2026
26 July 2026
The Royal Grenada Police Force asked anyone with information on Waddell's whereabouts to contact authorities, according to CBS News.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Force
26 July 2026
Cailen Waddell, Waddell's husband, said on Facebook that he was traveling to Grenada to help search, according to CBS News.
CBS News
27 July 2026
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told CBS News the department was aware of reports of a missing American in Grenada and referred questions to local law enforcement in Grenada.
CBS News
28 July 2026
Waddell's family released some surveillance footage, while police had not publicly released surveillance footage or images related to the disappearance.
CBS News · added 16 Aug 2026
28 July 2026
Police were working to collect more security footage from hotels along the beach, according to Cailen Waddell.
CBS News citing Cailen Waddell · added 16 Aug 2026
28 July 2026
Connaught said search efforts had covered land and sea.
CBS News citing Royal Grenada Police Acting Commissioner Randy Connaught · added 16 Aug 2026
29 July 2026
Cailen Waddell said in a statement that the ongoing investigation would focus on tracing Elizabeth Waddell's movements in the hours before she disappeared.
CBS News citing Cailen Waddell · added 16 Aug 2026
29 July 2026
Cailen Waddell said in a statement that, after consultation with family, local authorities, the U.S. Embassy and others in Grenada, he believed no foul play was involved.
CBS News citing Cailen Waddell · added 16 Aug 2026