Byline: Bastrop County, Texas — July 2025
In the most haunting twist yet in the disappearance of 27 girls from Camp Wrenwood, Texas authorities have confirmed the discovery of a shared note, believed to be the final message from the children before they vanished during the catastrophic flash flood last week.
Recovered from the water-damaged interior of a stuffed animal backpack found 400 meters from the camp, the note was written in hurried, childlike handwriting and signed by multiple names.
Its contents are now sparking shock — and urgent questions — across the country.
📝 THE MESSAGE: “It wasn’t the water that swept us away…”
The note, partially torn but largely legible, begins:
“Mom, Dad — we are together, we are scared, but we are helping each other.”
“It wasn’t the water that swept us away…”
“…it was something else. We heard it before the flood came. We saw lights underground. Zoe screamed first.”
The letter then abruptly stops. The back of the page contains faint outlines of what appears to be a tunnel entrance, crudely drawn with arrows pointing north.
Forensic teams have confirmed the ink came from a waterproof pen used in the camp’s emergency kits — further validating its authenticity.
🚨 Authorities Confirm Tunnel-Like Cavern Nearby
Within hours of the message being made public, search teams redirected resources to a natural depression in the earth near the north trail — an area not previously included in the flood model. A ground-penetrating radar scan revealed an underground void, possibly a drainage system or forgotten tunnel network.
“We now believe a group of children may have entered the system moments before or during the initial flooding event,” said Sheriff Wayne Pollard. “Whether by instinct or panic, they moved — and they left us a message.”
👨👩👧 Reactions From Parents: “This Changes Everything”
The families of the missing children were shown the note privately in a briefing held Sunday morning. Many broke down in tears, with one mother whispering:
“She wanted us to know it wasn’t nature’s fault. They saw something coming.”
Others are now demanding a deeper investigation into pre-flood reports of construction sounds, underground vibrations, and even camp maintenance tunnels that were allegedly sealed years ago.
🇺🇸 Nationwide Outcry and #ItWasn’tTheWater
Across the country, the note has ignited outrage and heartbreak. The hashtag #ItWasntTheWater has gone viral, with public figures, trauma experts, and rescue professionals joining calls for transparency and urgency.
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“Those girls knew something. They tried to tell us.”
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“This is no longer just about a flood. This is a warning.”
🔚 Final Word
A handwritten note.
A sketch of something buried.
And a sentence that America will never forget:
“It wasn’t the water that swept us away…”
As the search intensifies, one thing is clear:
These girls left behind more than a mystery.
They left behind a voice.