Heartbreaking Discovery at Camp Mystic: Search Dog Uncovers Necklace of Missing Girl Amid Chapel Ruins

On July 4, 2025, a catastrophic flash flood ravaged Camp Mystic, a historic Christian summer camp for girls in Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River. The disaster, triggered by over 10 inches of rain in just hours, caused the river to surge 26 feet, claiming at least 27 lives and leaving 27 girls missing. On July 9, the sixth day of an exhaustive search, a search dog’s relentless barking outside the camp’s chapel ruins led to a poignant discovery: a necklace belonging to one of the 27 missing girls. Found beneath the rubble, this clue has deepened the mystery and anguish surrounding the tragedy. This article explores the flood’s devastation, the necklace’s significance, the ongoing search efforts, and the broader impact on a grieving community as of July 16, 2025.

The Catastrophe at Camp Mystic

Founded in 1926, Camp Mystic has been a summer haven for girls aged 7 to 17, offering activities like horseback riding, archery, and canoeing across its scenic 700-acre campus in the Texas Hill Country. This summer, 750 girls attended, drawn to its Christian values and idyllic setting. But in the early hours of July 4, a torrential downpour—exacerbated by drought-hardened soil unable to absorb water—unleashed a flash flood that overwhelmed the camp. Riverside cabins, where younger campers slept, were inundated, leaving behind mud-soaked bunk beds, scattered personal items, and collapsed structures. At least 27 campers and counselors perished, and 27 girls, many under 12, remain unaccounted for.

The flood’s suddenness overwhelmed local preparedness. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch predicting 3 to 6 inches of rain, but the actual deluge far exceeded forecasts. Power outages and severed communication lines hampered initial rescue efforts. Over 850 people were evacuated, including 240 from Camp Mystic, but the focus quickly turned to finding the missing girls. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, after touring the site, described the scene as “heartbreaking beyond words” and pledged unrelenting search efforts.

The Footprints: A Haunting Early Clue

On July 6, rescuers discovered footprints stretching 1.3 miles from Camp Mystic to a steep cliff above the Guadalupe River. The cliff’s sheer height made it implausible for any of the missing girls, aged 8 to 17, to have reached it alone, raising questions about whether the prints belonged to a camper, a counselor, or someone else caught in the flood. The trail’s abrupt end at the cliff suggested grim possibilities: a fall, a sweep by receding waters, or an undiscovered alternate path. While the footprints initially sparked hope, no survivors have been linked to them, and the search has increasingly shifted toward recovery.

Day 6: The Search Dog’s Discovery

On July 9, a breakthrough came when a search dog, part of the canine units assisting in the rescue operation, began barking persistently outside the ruins of Camp Mystic’s chapel. The chapel, a cherished gathering place for campers, had been reduced to a pile of debris by the flood’s force. Guided by the dog’s insistence, rescuers carefully excavated the rubble and found a small silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, later identified as belonging to 9-year-old Lila Bonner, a Dallas native known for her love of animals and her dream of starting an animal rescue.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha called the discovery “both a lead and a heartbreak.” The necklace confirmed that Lila, one of the 27 missing girls, was likely in or near the chapel during the flood, possibly seeking refuge as waters rose. The chapel’s collapse suggested that others may also have been trapped there. Search teams intensified efforts around the site, using drones, heavy machinery, and additional canine units to clear debris, but no further remains or survivors were found as of July 16. The necklace has become a poignant symbol of the tragedy, galvanizing rescuers while deepening the anguish of families waiting for news.

Police Update: Rising Death Toll and Challenges

As of July 16, 2025, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office reports a death toll of 95 in Kerr County, including 36 children, with 27 girls from Camp Mystic still missing. Across Central Texas, at least 120 people have died, and 161 remain unaccounted for, though the total number of missing is uncertain due to out-of-town visitors during the July 4 holiday. Renewed flooding on July 13, with up to 2 inches of rain falling per hour, forced a temporary halt to ground searches, complicating efforts. Sheriff Leitha noted that the necklace discovery has shifted focus to the chapel ruins, but unstable terrain and ongoing rain pose significant obstacles.

The sheriff’s office also addressed challenges from misinformation and external interference. False reports, such as a viral claim of two girls rescued from a tree, have caused confusion, while “sightseers” driving through the area have slowed rescue operations. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the region, emphasizing that “every moment counts” in the search for the missing.

Victims and Acts of Heroism

The tragedy has claimed young lives and left a trail of heartbreak. Confirmed victims include 8-year-old Sarah Marsh from Alabama, 8-year-old Anna Margaret Bellows, whose mother praised counselors’ bravery, and 9-year-old Janie Hunt, a great-granddaughter of oil baron William Herbert Hunt. Lila Bonner and her best friend, 9-year-old Eloise Peck, shared a love for animals, with Peck donating dog-walking earnings to rescues. Other losses include 8-year-old twins Hannah and Rebecca Lawrence, 8-year-old Linnie McCown, and 18-year-old counselor Chloe Childress, who was preparing to attend the University of Texas.

Stories of heroism have emerged amid the grief. Camp owner Dick Eastland died attempting to save campers, earning praise as a “selfless hero.” Night security guard Glenn Juenke saved girls by using mattresses to keep them above rising waters in the Wiggle Inn cabin. At nearby Camp La Junta, a counselor helped boys climb to rafters to escape the flood. One 8-year-old camper, found alive six miles downriver, offered a rare glimmer of hope, though such stories remain scarce.

Scrutiny and Climate Concerns

The disaster has prompted questions about preparedness in the Guadalupe River basin, known as “Flash Flood Alley” for its history of deadly floods, including a 1987 tragedy that killed 10 campers at another camp. Critics have asked why Camp Mystic’s cabins were built so close to the river and whether evacuation plans, approved days before the flood, were adequate. The National Weather Service’s underestimated rainfall predictions and staffing shortages have also drawn criticism. Climate change, intensifying droughts and rainfall, is seen as a key factor, with hardened soil and slow-moving thunderstorms creating ideal conditions for flash flooding.

A Community’s Grief and Resilience

The necklace discovery has left families and rescuers grappling with renewed grief. Memorials have been established, including “Lila’s Light” to honor Lila Bonner’s dream of animal rescue and “Lulu’s Puppy Hut” for Eloise Peck. Pope Leo XIV offered prayers from the Vatican, while President Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration to support recovery. At reunification centers, families like that of 13-year-old Elinor Lester, who survived by wading to a bridge, express solidarity with those still waiting. “We’re praying for those 27 girls,” said Elinor’s mother, Rachel Lester.

The necklace, a small token of a vibrant life, underscores the human cost of the flood. As rescuers continue to comb the chapel ruins, riverbanks, and beyond, the nation mourns the loss of a cherished summer tradition and the young lives caught in a merciless disaster. The search for the 27 missing girls persists, driven by a commitment to bring closure to families and honor the memory of those lost.