By Daniel Knox | U.S. Emergency News Network | July 16, 2025 | Camp Mystic, TX
Just hours ago, members of a federal search-and-rescue team uncovered a 5-meter deep vertical shaft hidden behind a cluster of fallen trees near the southwest boundary of Camp Mystic — a site that has become the epicenter of one of the most haunting missing persons cases in recent U.S. memory.
Initial reports suggest the hole was naturally camouflaged by flood debris and branches, making it nearly impossible to detect during aerial sweeps or satellite scans.
Once the opening was stabilized, rescuers descended into the darkness using tactical gear and high-powered lamps. What they found immediately triggered a secondary emergency alert and drew forensic units to the scene.
“It wasn’t just a sinkhole,” said one rescue leader.
“It was a space. And it had been used.”
🧭 What Was Found Inside:
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Four different colored camp wristbands, each matching the cabin group IDs of four specific missing girls
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A waterproof flashlight engraved with the name “L. Garrison,” one of the girls listed as missing since Day 1
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Traces of fabric and food wrappers, suggesting someone had been sheltering or hiding there
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And, perhaps most chillingly: a series of hand-drawn markings along the rock wall, including a child's name and a tally count etched into the stone — four marks, then a slash
Authorities have not confirmed if any human remains were discovered in the shaft, but it is now classified as an active subterranean crime scene. The space is believed to be part of a larger underground network previously undetected by sonar due to flood interference.
“We believe the girls may have been in this hole — either hiding or placed there,” said Lt. Dana Chen of the Texas Rangers. “It raises deeply disturbing questions about who else knew about this site.”
Families of the four girls whose cabin codes matched the wristbands were notified late this afternoon and are being provided trauma support.
🚨 Why This Matters:
This discovery marks the first time physical evidence has been directly tied to a specific group of missing girls in a single, concealed location. And it reignites speculation that the case involves deliberate concealment — not just natural disaster.
Investigators are now re-scanning the entire camp perimeter for additional sinkholes or manmade entrances.
This story is developing. Federal units are on site. Updates expected within the hour.