Cary community praying for missing woman Elizabeth Waddell's safe return: 'This is sad'
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A week after Cary resident Elizabeth "Liz" Waddell vanished while staying at an Airbnb in Grenada, friends, business owners and residents are continuing to share memories of her as search efforts on the island expand.
A website dedicated to the effort to bring Waddell home, FindLiz.com, now features a newly released image of the 43-year-old. Her family says the picture is taken from security video at the Airbnb where she was staying on the day she disappeared.
Waddell's husband, Cailen Waddell, remains on the island and has been posting updates online as the search continues.
Liz Waddell worked as a physical therapist in Cary and also taught dance at a local studio.
"We are still praying for Liz's safe return," the studio's owner said Wednesday,
Teresa Peron, owner of Vintage Vogue in Cary, said Waddell was a longtime customer who visited her antique shop regularly.
"I'm shocked, shocked," Peron said.
Peron described Waddell as warm and kind.
"You can feel her karma, her energy being, being a nice person," she said.
WATCH: Grenada authorities give update on missing NC woman
An online fundraiser supporting search efforts has collected more than $18,000, according to organizers.
Peron said the news of Waddell's disappearance has been difficult for those who knew her.
"Beautiful person again. Minding herself. Not too talkative, but when she get to know me, we will talk about lots of things, and this is sad. It's sad," she said.
Grenada authorities said Tuesday they are intensifying search operations.
Officials reported that crews have searched underwater and deployed a K9 unit as part of the ongoing effort to find Waddell.
