Kerrville, Texas, July 16, 2025 — The tight-knit community of Camp Mystic, a historic summer camp for girls in Texas’ Hill Country, is reeling from the tragic loss of 13-year-old Mary Kate Jacobe, described by peers as “the most beautiful girl at camp,” both in spirit and appearance. Her body was discovered on July 8, 2025, 500 meters from the camp in a debris-filled drainage culvert, following catastrophic flash flooding that swept through the Guadalupe River over the July Fourth weekend. When authorities recovered her body and turned her over, they found her face had been disfigured by the violent floodwaters, a heartbreaking detail that has left her family and community devastated.
The flooding, triggered by torrential rains that dumped over 10 inches of water in less than 24 hours, transformed the serene Guadalupe River into a raging torrent. Mary Kate, a Houston native attending the century-old Christian camp, was among a group of campers and counselors caught off-guard when the river surged without warning. Posts on X from July 9 indicate that another camper, Blakely McCrory, was also found deceased, while one counselor remains missing, underscoring the scale of the tragedy.
According to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, Mary Kate was last seen near the riverbank during a supervised activity on July 4. The sudden deluge overwhelmed the camp’s safety protocols, sweeping her and others downstream. Search efforts, involving local police, Texas Rangers, and volunteer teams, spanned days in treacherous conditions. Her body was eventually located in a black drainage culvert, entangled in branches and sediment, approximately 500 meters from Camp Mystic’s main grounds. “The force of the water was unimaginable,” said Sheriff Larry Leitha. “The debris and currents caused severe trauma. It’s a miracle we found her at all.”
The discovery has shattered the camp community, where Mary Kate was remembered for her radiant smile and kind heart. “She lit up every room,” said a fellow camper in a statement shared by camp officials. “She was beautiful inside and out, always helping others feel included.” Camp Mystic, founded in 1926, issued a statement expressing profound grief: “Mary Kate was a blessing to us all. We are heartbroken and are supporting her family and our campers through this unimaginable loss.”
The flooding has been described as one of the worst natural disasters to hit Kerr County in decades. Local reports, echoed by posts on X from outlets like News4SA and ABCNews4, confirm the recovery of Mary Kate’s body on July 8, with officials noting the rising death toll from the floods. The National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings, but the speed and intensity of the rainfall caught many by surprise, leading to widespread criticism of regional preparedness.
Mary Kate’s family, who have requested privacy, described her as a vibrant young girl who loved horseback riding and singing at camp. Her funeral, held in Houston on July 12, drew hundreds of mourners, including Camp Mystic staff and campers. A family spokesperson shared, “Mary Kate’s light will never fade. We ask for prayers as we navigate this pain.”
The tragedy has sparked calls for improved safety measures at summer camps in flood-prone areas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pledged support for an investigation into the incident, with preliminary findings suggesting that aging infrastructure, including the drainage system where Mary Kate was found, may have exacerbated the disaster. “We will get answers,” Abbott said in a press conference on July 10.
As the Hill Country begins to recover, the loss of Mary Kate Jacobe remains a poignant reminder of nature’s unpredictability. Tributes continue to pour in, with a memorial fund established in her name to support Camp Mystic’s rebuilding efforts. The camp has canceled its remaining summer sessions, and grief counselors have been brought in to support the young campers. The image of Mary Kate, once a beacon of joy, now lingers as a somber call for change in the wake of an unforgiving flood.