Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell is a 44-year-old physical therapist from Cary, North Carolina, whose disappearance during a vacation in Grenada has drawn widespread attention. While much of the coverage has focused on the search for Liz, her family has remained at the heart of the story.
Liz is married to Cailen Waddell, and the couple have an adopted adult daughter named Suwan. The family’s close relationship has become particularly important as Cailen and Suwan traveled to Grenada following Liz’s disappearance and joined efforts to find her.
The case remains under investigation, and the circumstances surrounding Liz’s disappearance have not been definitively established.
Who Is Suwan?
Suwan is Elizabeth and Cailen Waddell’s adopted adult daughter.
The family has generally kept their personal life away from the public spotlight. As a result, relatively little verified information about Suwan has been made public compared with the extensive coverage surrounding Liz’s disappearance.
What is clear from reporting is that Suwan is an important member of the Waddell family and joined her father in traveling to Grenada during the search for her mother.
A Close Family
Liz and Cailen have built their family life in Cary, North Carolina.
Friends who have known the couple for decades have described the Waddells as a close family. Their longtime connections in the community have also become evident during the search, with friends and relatives helping distribute information and raise awareness about Liz’s disappearance.
Cailen has repeatedly spoken about his wife with affection, describing her as a loving and free-spirited person who easily connected with people.
The Grenada Trip
Liz was vacationing in Grenada with a close friend when she disappeared.
The pair had been staying at an Airbnb near Grand Anse Beach. On July 22, Liz went toward the beach for a swim.
Surveillance footage later reviewed by authorities and the family showed her entering the water around midday. According to reports, she was swimming near a jetty before eventually moving out of the camera’s view.
She did not return to the accommodation.
The Search Begins
When Liz could not be located, her friend became concerned and contacted Cailen.
A missing-person report was subsequently made, and the Royal Grenada Police Force began searching the area.
Authorities appealed to fishermen, boat operators and residents along the southern coastline for information that could help determine what happened to her.
Cailen traveled to Grenada to assist with the search, while family members and volunteers also became involved.
Suwan Joins Her Father
Cailen and Suwan traveled to Grenada as the search intensified.
Their presence reflected the personal stakes of the investigation. Rather than watching developments from North Carolina, they went to the island to help with efforts to locate Liz and gather information about her final known movements.
Family friends also worked to spread Liz’s photograph and details of the case through social media and news organizations.
What Liz Was Wearing
One unusual aspect of the disappearance is that Liz reportedly left without many of the items people would normally take when leaving for an extended outing.
According to her family and friends, she went toward the beach wearing swimwear and carrying a towel. She did not have her phone, identification or shoes with her.
Her belongings being left behind became an important part of the timeline investigators were trying to reconstruct.
A Later Sighting
A potentially significant development emerged when witnesses reportedly told Cailen that they saw Liz farther offshore at approximately 5:30 p.m., several hours after surveillance footage showed her swimming.
According to Cailen’s account, two jet-skiers reportedly interacted briefly with a woman they believed was Liz. She allegedly indicated that she was a good swimmer and declined their suggestion that she return toward shore.
That account has not been independently confirmed by publicly released surveillance footage, making the exact timeline an important part of the continuing investigation.
What Happened?
The disappearance remains unresolved.
Cailen has said that he and the family do not suspect foul play. Authorities and the family have increasingly focused on the possibility that Liz experienced difficulty in the water, although her whereabouts have not been established.
It is therefore premature to state as fact that she drowned. No confirmed recovery has been publicly reported, and the investigation continues.
Family Searches for Answers
The emotional impact on Suwan and the rest of the family has been substantial.
Cailen has continued to thank people in Grenada and elsewhere who assisted with the search. The family has also used online channels to distribute information and keep public attention on the case.
Their efforts have included sharing photographs, reconstructing Liz’s movements and encouraging anyone who may have seen her to come forward.
Elizabeth Waddell has one adopted adult daughter, Suwan, with her husband, Cailen Waddell.
Suwan and Cailen traveled to Grenada after Liz disappeared from the Grand Anse Beach area on July 22, 2026. The family has worked alongside authorities and supporters to establish what happened to her.
Liz was last confirmed on surveillance footage entering the water around midday. A later reported sighting by jet-skiers has added another element to the investigation, but that account has not publicly resolved the mystery.
For now, the most accurate description is that Liz Waddell remains missing. Although drowning has been discussed as a possible explanation and her husband has said the family does not suspect foul play, neither should be presented as a definitive finding until authorities establish what happened.
Suwan and Cailen’s involvement has underscored how deeply the disappearance has affected the Waddell family as they continue seeking answers about Liz.
