Maine — In a shocking new turn in the Camp Mystic case, a group of hikers exploring a restricted section of forest near the shuttered summer camp has stumbled upon a decomposing body hidden deep inside a secret underground tunnel system that authorities say was previously undocumented.
According to early reports, the discovery was made late Friday afternoon when two campers noticed an uneven patch of ground and what appeared to be a collapsed wooden hatch covered in moss and debris. Upon opening it, they were met with a wave of strong odor and visible human remains.
The area was immediately cordoned off as law enforcement and forensic teams rushed to the scene. Officials now believe the remains may belong to 16-year-old Cile Steward, the last missing girl from Camp Mystic — a case that has captivated the nation since her disappearance weeks ago.
“It wasn’t on any of our maps,” said a local deputy familiar with the site. “No one — not even the original camp staff — knew this tunnel system existed.”
Investigators described the underground structure as a narrow network of connected corridors, some leading directly beneath the old camp cabins and dining hall. The tunnels appeared to have been built decades ago, possibly as maintenance or escape routes, though their exact purpose remains unclear.
“What’s strange is how intact it all was,” one investigator told reporters. “This wasn’t a random hole in the ground. Someone built it — and someone used it recently.”
Forensic experts are currently working to identify the remains through DNA and dental analysis, while crime scene units recover personal items reportedly found near the body, including a bracelet matching one worn by Cile Steward.
The discovery has reignited public speculation about what really happened at Camp Mystic — and whether the disappearances were part of something far larger than an isolated tragedy.
Authorities have not ruled out foul play. As one official put it:
“You don’t end up in a hidden tunnel like that by accident.”