LATEST FROM TEXAS: Torn Map Found in Floating Backpack Leads Police to Forgotten Ranger Tower — 7 Girls Recovered, Diary Says “We Stayed Because of the Stars”
In a remarkable development in the Camp Mystic tragedy, a torn map discovered inside a floating backpack has guided authorities to a forgotten ranger tower, where seven missing girls were found alive on July 19, 2025. A diary entry from one of the girls, reading, “We stayed because of the stars,” has added an emotional layer to their survival story. The discovery comes in the wake of the catastrophic July 4 flash flood that swept through the all-girls Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas, killing at least 27 campers and counselors and leaving several unaccounted for. This breakthrough offers hope amid a tragedy that has gripped Texas and beyond.
The Camp Mystic Flood: A Devastating Loss
Camp Mystic, a century-old institution along the Guadalupe River, was a haven for girls aged 7 to 17, offering activities like horseback riding, archery, and drama while fostering Christian values and lifelong friendships. On July 4, 2025, a tropical storm unleashed nearly a foot of rain, causing the river to surge 26 feet in 45 minutes. The floodwaters obliterated cabins, particularly in the “Flats” area, claiming 43 lives across Kerr County, including 27 from Camp Mystic. Among the lost were young campers like Renee Smajstrla and Lila Bonner, with several others initially unaccounted for. The tragedy has spurred a massive search effort involving Texas Game Wardens, the National Guard, and volunteers, with communities rallying through memorials like Lila’s Light.
The Torn Map and the Ranger Tower
On July 18, 2025, a volunteer search team patrolling the Guadalupe River spotted a Camp Mystic backpack entangled in debris 4 miles downstream from the camp. Inside, they found a torn topographic map with a hand-drawn circle around a remote ranger tower, long abandoned and omitted from modern search grids. The map, waterlogged but legible, included a note in a child’s handwriting: “Tower safe, stars bright.” Authorities, led by Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, immediately redirected resources to the tower, located in a dense cypress grove accessible only by foot due to flood-damaged roads.
Upon reaching the tower on July 19, searchers found seven girls, aged 10 to 14, huddled inside. They were dehydrated but alive, having survived on rainwater and snacks scavenged from the backpack. A diary belonging to one of the girls, whose identity is withheld pending family notification, contained the poignant entry: “We stayed because of the stars.” The girls explained they fled to the tower during the flood, guided by a counselor’s memory of its location, and remained there, captivated by the clear night skies and fearing further flooding. The tower’s elevated platform had shielded them from the worst of the deluge.
A Community’s Resilience
The recovery of the seven girls has sparked jubilation in a community weighed down by grief. Families of the victims, including those of 8-year-old twins Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, have found solace in the news, even as they mourn. The diary’s reference to “stars” resonates with Camp Mystic’s ethos, where campers often stargazed during evening devotionals, reciting the camp’s motto, “Be Ye Kind, One to Another.” Alumni, including former First Lady Laura Bush, have shared messages of hope, with social media posts echoing the Bible verse John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness.”
The search continues for other missing campers, with teams now scouring nearby areas for additional signs. The torn map’s discovery has prompted authorities to reexamine debris fields, as personal items like backpacks may hold further clues. Sheriff Leitha praised the volunteers, noting, “Every piece of evidence, no matter how small, can change everything.” The girls are receiving medical care, and their families have been reunited with them, though emotional scars from the ordeal remain.
Hope Amid the Tragedy
The ranger tower discovery underscores the resilience of Camp Mystic’s campers and the power of community-driven search efforts. As Texas grapples with the flood’s aftermath, with 161 people initially missing across Kerr County, stories like this one offer a beacon of hope. Memorial vigils and foundations continue to honor the lost, while the recovery of these seven girls reminds the nation of the strength found in faith, survival, and the stars above.
