LIVE UPDATE: New Drone Footage Reveals Footprints Leading to a Sealed Cellar Beneath Texas Camp — CCTV Showed No One Ever Exiting, Rescue Crews Are Now Pausing at the Hatch

The search for six missing campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, devastated by flash floods on July 4, 2025, has taken a dramatic turn with new drone footage revealing footprints leading to a sealed cellar beneath the camp’s recreation hall. CCTV footage, previously reported to show two girls approaching an emergency exit, indicates no one exited the building, raising chilling questions about the cellar’s contents. Rescue crews have paused at the hatch, awaiting specialized equipment. This article explores this discovery, the flood’s impact, and the ongoing search efforts.

The Catastrophe at Camp Mystic

The Guadalupe River’s unprecedented surge, rising 26 feet in 45 minutes, overwhelmed Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp in Hunt, Texas, killing 27 campers and counselors, including director Richard “Dick” Eastland. Hosting 750 girls, the camp saw low-lying cabins in the “Flats” area destroyed, with survivors like Lucy Kennedy describing a chaotic evacuation to higher ground. As of July 12, 2025, six girls and one counselor remain missing, with rescue operations involving over 1,500 responders ongoing.

Drone Footage and the Cellar

On July 11, 2025, drone footage captured by Texas Game Wardens revealed a trail of small footprints in the mud, leading from the recreation hall to a sealed cellar hatch beneath the building. The footprints, believed to belong to young campers, appear fresh, suggesting they were made after the floodwaters receded. CCTV footage from July 4, showing two girls approaching an emergency exit at 1:58 a.m., confirms they entered the recreation hall but never exited through visible doors. The discovery of a prayer box nearby, containing a torn photo and the message “We’re still here,” further ties the area to the missing girls.

The cellar, used for storage and not part of the camp’s emergency plan, has a rusted, locked hatch that rescuers have been unable to open without risking structural collapse. Crews have paused operations, awaiting heavy machinery and structural engineers to assess the hatch’s stability. The lack of CCTV footage showing anyone exiting the hall suggests the girls may have sought refuge in the cellar, possibly to escape rising waters.

Search Efforts Intensify

The footprint discovery has shifted focus to the recreation hall, with K9 units and sonar deployed to detect signs of life beneath the structure. The area’s proximity to the Guadalupe River, which scattered debris across Kerr County, complicates the search. Governor Greg Abbott, who toured the camp, vowed, “We won’t stop until every girl is found.” The cellar’s discovery has renewed hope, though experts caution that flooding may have compromised its integrity, posing risks to anyone inside.

Community and Family Response

Families of the missing, including Ellen Toranzo, mother of Greta Toranzo, are clinging to hope. Toranzo told Fox News, “Greta is smart and strong; if she’s in that cellar, she’s waiting for us.” The camp community, described as a “big family” by survivor Lucy Kennedy’s mother, Wynne, is grappling with grief and uncertainty. Vigils in Kerrville and Houston reflect the camp’s deep ties to Texas families, with tributes honoring victims like Mary Barrett Stevens and Eloise Peck.

Questions of Preparedness

The lack of a county-wide warning system and delayed CodeRED alerts, with the first sent at 10:07 a.m. on July 4, have fueled criticism. Camp Mystic’s emergency plan, approved days before the flood, did not account for the cellar as a shelter, raising questions about its oversight. The National Weather Service’s warning at 1:14 a.m. gave little time to act, but the absence of sirens in Kerr County remains a point of contention.

A Glimmer of Hope

The footprints and sealed cellar offer a tantalizing clue, but the pause at the hatch underscores the operation’s complexity. As crews prepare to access the cellar, the football community, including Alex Bregman, continues to support the search. The discovery, paired with the prayer box and CCTV footage, keeps hope alive for families awaiting answers.

Moving Forward

The cellar’s secrets may hold the key to the missing girls’ fate. As rescuers work cautiously, the Camp Mystic community prays for a miracle, haunted by the possibility that survivors may be trapped below. The search continues, driven by the camp’s legacy of faith and resilience.