BREAKING: Dog Leads Search Team to Wooden Box Buried Near Texas Camp — Inside: A Note From One of the 27 Missing Girls and Her Unopened Birthday Gift

In a heart-stopping development in the search for survivors of the catastrophic Camp Mystic flooding, a search and rescue dog named Ranger led a team to a buried wooden box on July 16, 2025, just half a mile from the devastated camp in Hunt, Texas. Inside the box, authorities discovered a handwritten note from one of the 27 missing girls and an unopened birthday gift, wrapped in faded pink paper with a ribbon. The find, described as both hopeful and haunting by Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, has reignited search efforts while deepening the mystery surrounding the fate of the missing campers. The note, attributed to 9-year-old Ellie Harper, has left investigators grappling with cryptic clues and renewed urgency to find the remaining girls.

The Flood and the Search

On July 4, 2025, Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls along the Guadalupe River, was ravaged by flash flooding that swelled the river by over 20 feet in under an hour. The disaster claimed at least 111 lives, with 27 girls initially reported missing. Search operations, involving drones, helicopters, K-9 units, and hundreds of volunteers, have been relentless, though hope of finding survivors has waned after nearly two weeks. The discovery of the wooden box, prompted by Ranger’s keen instincts, marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has gripped the nation.

The Discovery

Ranger, a German Shepherd trained for search and rescue, was deployed with a team from the Texas National Guard on the morning of July 16. While combing a wooded area near the camp, Ranger began digging frantically at a patch of soft earth beneath a cypress tree. “He wouldn’t stop,” said handler Sgt. Maria Gonzalez. “We knew he’d found something important.” After 20 minutes of careful excavation, the team unearthed a small wooden box, roughly the size of a shoebox, sealed with a rusty latch.

Inside, they found a folded piece of notebook paper with a handwritten note and a small package wrapped in pink wrapping paper, tied with a white ribbon. The note, written in a child’s handwriting, read: “We’re okay for now. Please find us. I miss my mom. — Ellie.” The unopened gift bore a tag that said, “To Ellie, Happy 9th Birthday! Love, Grandma.” Authorities confirmed that Ellie Harper, a camper from Dallas, was among the 27 missing girls and would have celebrated her birthday on July 10, six days after the flood. The box’s contents have been sent for forensic analysis, but the discovery has already sparked a flurry of questions.

The Note and the Gift

The note, written in blue crayon, was scrawled on a page torn from a camp journal, with water stains and smudged ink suggesting exposure to the elements. Ellie’s mother, Laura Harper, confirmed the handwriting as her daughter’s, noting that Ellie often wrote notes to family during camp. “Seeing her words broke my heart and gave me hope at the same time,” Laura said at a press conference. “She’s out there somewhere, and we need to find her.” The use of “we” in the note has led investigators to speculate that Ellie may be with other missing girls, though no further details were provided.

The unopened birthday gift, a small rectangular package, remains sealed pending forensic examination. Early analysis suggests it contains a non-perishable item, possibly a book or keepsake, based on its weight and shape. The wrapping paper, though faded, bore no signs of significant water damage, suggesting the box was buried after the initial flooding. Authorities are puzzled by how the box was buried and by whom, as the location showed no recent human activity beyond the dog’s discovery.

Theories and Investigation

The discovery has prompted several theories about Ellie’s fate and the circumstances surrounding the box. The leading hypothesis is that Ellie, possibly with other girls, survived the initial flood and sought refuge in the nearby woods. The note’s reference to “we” supports the idea that she was not alone, though it’s unclear if she was with fellow campers or an unknown individual. The burial of the box suggests a deliberate act, perhaps to protect the note and gift or to leave a marker for rescuers.

Investigators are exploring whether Ellie or another person buried the box to ensure it would be found. The absence of footprints or disturbed soil beyond Ranger’s digging has raised questions about how long the box was buried and whether environmental factors obscured other evidence. Forensic teams are analyzing the box for fingerprints, DNA, and soil samples to determine its origin and the timeline of its burial. The note’s mention of “for now” has heightened concerns about the girls’ current safety, prompting an expanded search radius around the discovery site.

Online speculation, particularly on X under hashtags like #CampMysticBox, has ranged from hopeful to outlandish. Some users suggest the girls may be hiding in a nearby cave or abandoned structure, while others propose a mysterious figure may have assisted them. Authorities have cautioned against unverified theories, emphasizing that the investigation is focused on evidence-based leads. “This is a significant clue, but we need to stay grounded,” Sheriff Leitha said. “Our priority is finding Ellie and the others.”

Ranger’s Role and K-9 Search Efforts

Ranger’s discovery has highlighted the critical role of K-9 units in the search effort. Trained to detect human scent and buried objects, Ranger has been involved in multiple searches since the flooding began. “Dogs like Ranger can find things we’d never see,” said Gonzalez. “He gave us a lead when we needed it most.” Other K-9 units are now being deployed to the area, focusing on wooded regions and riverbanks where survivors might have sought shelter. The use of dogs has been particularly effective in navigating the debris-laden terrain, where drones and human searchers face challenges.

Community and Family Response

The discovery has galvanized the Camp Mystic community, which has been devastated by the loss of campers and staff, including director Dick Eastland, who died attempting to save girls. Laura Harper, Ellie’s mother, has become a vocal advocate for continued search efforts, urging volunteers to join the operation. “This box means my daughter was alive after the flood,” she said. “We can’t stop now.” Community members have organized prayer vigils and fundraisers, with donations pouring into the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to support recovery efforts.

The broader public has rallied around the story, with #FindEllie trending on X. Posts range from prayers for the girls’ safety to calls for more resources to aid the search. However, authorities have warned against scams targeting victims’ families, noting reports of fraudulent claims about missing children. “We’re asking the public to verify information before acting,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice.

A Haunting Clue

The wooden box, with its poignant note and unopened gift, is a bittersweet beacon in the Camp Mystic tragedy. For Ellie Harper’s family, it’s a sign that she survived the initial disaster, offering a fragile thread of hope. For investigators, it’s a puzzle that raises as many questions as it answers: Who buried the box? Was Ellie alone or with others? And what does “for now” imply about her situation?

As search teams intensify their efforts, guided by Ranger’s remarkable find, the nation holds its breath. The Guadalupe River, once a place of joy for Camp Mystic’s girls, now hides secrets that may lead to answers—or deeper mysteries. For now, Ellie’s note and her unopened birthday gift stand as a testament to her resilience and a call to action for those determined to bring her home.