By Claire Hastings | U.S. Crime Wire | July 16, 2025
In a jaw-dropping development that is shaking investigators and parents across the nation, Texas police have confirmed that a mother of one of the missing girls at Camp Mystic received a mysterious phone call and a series of encrypted images at the exact minute the floodwaters struck.
The call, placed from an untraceable number, came in at 2:14 a.m. on July 3rd — the precise time authorities say the dam breach sent a violent surge through the campgrounds, triggering the disappearance of 27 girls.
The mother, whose identity is being withheld for her protection, said the voice on the line was distorted and lasted only three seconds:
“They’re not lost. Watch closely.”
Immediately after the call ended, she received a secure digital file transfer via SMS — containing 27 photographs, each marked with the name and cabin number of a missing girl.
🖼️ The Photos:
According to investigators who reviewed the set, the images show:
-
The girls moments before the flood, some holding hands, others crouched under structures
-
At least three images appear to be taken from elevated angles, as if from trees or mounted cameras
-
Several of the girls are looking directly into the lens, their expressions calm — and in one case, smiling
-
One girl is pointing at something in the distance; another appears to be mid-sentence, possibly speaking to someone unseen
Perhaps most chilling: a final 28th photo, blurry and darker than the rest, shows what appears to be a door carved into the side of a hill, with a faint caption scrawled in the corner:
“This wasn’t the storm.”
Law enforcement agencies — including the FBI Cyber Division and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children — are now working to determine:
-
Where the photos were taken
-
Who took them
-
And why they were sent only to this one mother
Police have confirmed that no other families received such contact.
“This opens up a different layer of the case entirely,” said Lt. Reese Callahan. “We’re no longer just investigating a flood. We’re looking at deliberate tracking — maybe even staging.”
Digital forensics experts say the file’s metadata indicates it was captured with a high-end surveillance device, not a camp-issued camera or smartphone. The photos are now being compared to drone footage and satellite imaging.
The mother, whose daughter is still missing, is said to be cooperating fully and has turned over her phone and records to investigators.
Public reaction has been swift, with national outcry demanding answers:
“Who was watching those girls — and why did only one parent get a warning?”
This story is developing rapidly. Select photos are expected to be released by authorities following confirmation of authenticity and family permission.