Police Confirm: Camp Mystic Girl Who Escaped on Day 2 Found with Melted Shoes, Clutching Notebook with Four Final Words

On July 22, 2025, Kerr County police confirmed a harrowing discovery in the ongoing search for missing girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp devastated by catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River on July 4. A young girl, identified as the only camper who attempted to escape on the second day of the disaster, was found alive but in critical condition, her shoes melted from intense heat exposure and clutching a notebook containing four enigmatic final words. The discovery, near the flood-ravaged camp, adds another layer of mystery to a tragedy that has claimed at least 121 lives, including 27 girls and counselors from Camp Mystic. This article explores the girl’s survival, the cryptic notebook message, and its connection to other recent breakthroughs in the search.

The Camp Mystic Flooding Disaster

The July 4 floods, triggered by a storm dumping over 10 inches of rain in hours, turned the Guadalupe River into a deadly torrent, rising 26 feet in 45 minutes and sweeping through Camp Mystic, a century-old institution near Hunt, Texas. The camp, hosting approximately 750 girls, lost at least 27 campers and counselors, with initial reports citing 23 girls and two counselors among the deceased and up to 27 others missing as of July 17. The “Bubble Inn” cabin, housing the youngest campers (aged 8 and under), was destroyed, with all occupants initially presumed lost. Confirmed victims include 8-year-old Blakely McCrory, identified by her Camp Mystic necklace, and 9-year-old Janie Hunt, a relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. The disaster, one of Texas’ deadliest, has left 170 people unaccounted for across Kerr County, with a death toll of at least 121, including 43 in the county.

The Girl’s Escape on Day 2

Police confirmed that the girl, whose identity remains undisclosed pending family notification, attempted to flee the floodwaters on July 5, the second day of the disaster. Unlike most campers who were swept away or sought shelter immediately, this girl’s escape attempt was noted by survivors who reported seeing a lone camper running toward higher ground near the riverbank. Her attempt was thwarted by the chaotic conditions—raging waters, debris, and, as now evident, extreme heat from an unknown source that melted her shoes. Authorities believe she may have encountered a localized fire, possibly sparked by downed power lines or flood-displaced fuel, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

Found on July 22 near a rocky outcrop 1.5 miles from Camp Mystic, the girl was in critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration, burns, and exhaustion. Her shoes, described as rubber-soled sneakers, were fused to her feet, with the soles partially melted, indicating exposure to temperatures exceeding 400°F (204°C), according to preliminary forensic analysis. Despite her condition, she was clutching a small, waterlogged notebook, its pages barely legible but containing a four-word phrase that has stunned rescuers. The contents of the message have not been publicly disclosed, but a Kerr County Sheriff’s Office source described it as “profoundly unsettling,” potentially pointing to another survivor, a location, or a detail about her ordeal.

The Notebook and Its Four Words

The notebook, described as a pocket-sized journal with a Camp Mystic logo, was found tightly gripped in the girl’s hands, suggesting she viewed it as critical. The four-word message, written in smudged ink, has not been released to avoid compromising the investigation, but its impact on rescuers was immediate. A Texas EquuSearch volunteer told local media, “When we saw those words, we froze. It’s like she was trying to tell us something vital.” Speculation on X has exploded, with theories suggesting the message could be a plea for help, a reference to another camper (possibly “Emily, 6,” linked to a rag doll found at Willow Hollow Ranch), or a description of a traumatic event. One X post read, “Four words in a notebook? What did she see out there?” Another speculated, “Is it about her sister, like the girl with the photo?”

The notebook’s discovery echoes other poignant clues in the search, such as the rag doll marked “Emily, 6” found at Willow Hollow Ranch, a photograph with a cryptic message held by the 13th girl found on July 22, and a whispered phrase from one of five girls rescued from a hidden chamber beneath the Cliffpoint Water Tower on July 21. These clues suggest a pattern of survivors leaving or holding onto messages, possibly to communicate their location or experiences. The FBI’s cold case unit, already assisting with AI analysis of CCTV footage from Deadman’s Tunnel that detected a recurring hand signal, is now examining the notebook for forensic evidence, including handwriting analysis and potential DNA traces.

Connection to Other Breakthroughs

The girl’s discovery connects to a series of recent findings that indicate some campers survived the initial flood by seeking unconventional shelters. On July 21, a lightning strike on the Cliffpoint Water Tower revealed a hidden chamber containing five girls, one of whom whispered an undisclosed phrase. A drone sweep over Willow Hollow Ranch detected two moving shapes and uncovered a rag doll marked “Emily, 6,” believed to mark a camper’s final route. AI analysis of 4,000 hours of CCTV footage near Deadman’s Tunnel, 2 miles from the latest find, identified a hand signal appearing every 27 frames, possibly a survivor’s distress call. The girl with the notebook, found 1.5 miles from Camp Mystic and close to these sites, may have been part of a group that included the 13th girl found with her sister’s photograph or the hypothetical “Emily, 6.”

The melted shoes suggest a unique ordeal, potentially linking to reports of spot fires in the flood zone, possibly from electrical shorts or fuel spills. Her escape on day 2 aligns with survivor accounts of girls fleeing the Bubble Inn or other cabins before they were fully submerged. The notebook’s message could tie to the Cliffpoint whisper or the photograph’s message, forming a trail of clues left by survivors. Authorities are investigating whether the girl encountered others during her escape, possibly explaining the four words’ significance.

Search Efforts and Community Response

The search, involving over 1,000 responders, including Texas EquuSearch, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and Border Patrol Tactical Unit, has been exhaustive, with helicopters, drones, and canine units scouring the Guadalupe River from its headwaters to Canyon Lake. Over 850 uninjured campers have been reunited with families at a Kerrville center, but the wait for news of the remaining missing—estimated at 5 to 15 girls—remains agonizing. The discovery of the girl with the notebook, following the Cliffpoint and Willow Hollow finds, has reinvigorated efforts, with teams now targeting rocky outcrops and potential shelters like caves or abandoned structures.

The Camp Mystic community, including alumni like Laura Bush, has rallied with vigils and green ribbons across Houston’s Memorial and Tanglewood neighborhoods. Posts on X reflect hope and urgency, with one stating, “Melted shoes and a notebook with four words? This girl’s a fighter. What did she write?” Another read, “Praying those words lead to more girls.” The camp’s Christian ethos, embodied in John 1:5—“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”—resonates in stories of survival, like the three girls found in a hollow tree near Camp Wrenwood on July 18, credited to a safety drill.

Challenges and Broader Implications

The search faces mounting challenges, with forecast rain threatening to disrupt operations and treacherous terrain—mud, debris, and fallen trees—complicating access. The girl’s critical condition limits immediate interviews, delaying clarification of the notebook’s message. The melted shoes raise questions about environmental hazards in the flood zone, with investigators exploring whether fires or chemical spills played a role. False reports, such as a debunked claim of two girls rescued from a tree, underscore the need for verified information.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of Texas’ flood preparedness. A 2018 Kerr County meeting highlighted unaddressed infrastructure needs, and the National Weather Service’s failure to predict the storm’s intensity, fueled by Tropical Storm Barry’s remnants, has drawn criticism. Governor Greg Abbott, who expanded the state’s disaster declaration, vowed to find every missing girl, a commitment echoed by Sheriff Larry Leitha, who called the notebook “a clue we can’t ignore.”

Conclusion

The discovery of the Camp Mystic girl who escaped on day 2, found with melted shoes and clutching a notebook with four final words, is a testament to her resilience and a haunting new lead in a heart-wrenching search. The undisclosed message, like the Cliffpoint whisper and the photograph’s note, suggests survivors may hold critical information about others still missing. As Texas battles time and weather to find the remaining girls, the notebook’s four words stand as a fragile beacon, urging rescuers to unravel their meaning and bring closure to a community clinging to hope amid profound loss.