BREAKING: 1 of 27 Girls May Have Left a Message – Cell Phone Found at Texas Camp Contains Heartbreaking Last Voice Note
In a heart-wrenching development in the search for 27 missing girls from Camp Mystic in Central Texas, a water-damaged cell phone was discovered on July 14, 2025, near the flood-ravaged campgrounds. Found 0.8 miles from the site where a waterproof notebook with the cryptic message “Don’t forget Campfire Song” was recovered, the phone contains a single, haunting voice note believed to be from one of the missing campers. As search efforts intensify following the catastrophic flooding of July 8, 2025, this new clue offers both hope and heartbreak for the families awaiting answers.
The Discovery
The cell phone, a battered iPhone with a cracked screen, was found by a volunteer with the Lost Stuffy Project, a nonprofit aiding in the recovery of sentimental items from the flooded Camp Mystic. The phone was partially buried in mud near a trail leading to Willow Creek, close to where a stuffed toy with a hidden GPS device was found days earlier. Despite water damage, the phone powered on, revealing a 23-second voice note recorded on July 8, the day of the flood. The voice, trembling and faint, belongs to a young girl who says, “We’re trying to get higher… please find us.” The message cuts off abruptly, leaving investigators grappling with its implications.
“We didn’t expect to find anything like this,” said volunteer Mark Thompson. “Hearing that voice—it’s like she’s still out there, waiting. It’s devastating but gives us something to hold onto.” The phone is now with the Pinewood County Sheriff’s Department, undergoing forensic analysis to identify the speaker and recover additional data.
Context: The Camp Mystic Tragedy
Camp Mystic, a historic summer camp near the Guadalupe River, was devastated by flooding that dumped 12 inches of rain in 48 hours, killing 32 people across the region, including three confirmed campers: Renee Smajstrla, 8; Sarah Marsh, 8; and Janie Hunt, 9. Twenty-seven other girls remain missing, their whereabouts unknown since the floodwaters swept through the camp, leaving cabins in ruins and personal items scattered. Previous clues—a waterproof notebook and a stuffed toy with a GPS device—have deepened the mystery, with the “Campfire Song” message and logged coordinates suggesting someone may have tried to leave a trail.
The voice note adds a new layer of urgency. Its reference to “getting higher” suggests the girls may have sought higher ground as the floodwaters rose, possibly climbing hills or trees near the camp. The phone’s location near Willow Creek aligns with earlier finds, hinting at a pattern of clues left in the flood’s aftermath.
Theories and Speculation
The voice note has sparked several theories about the girls’ fate:
1. A Cry for Help
The most immediate interpretation is that the voice note is a desperate plea from one of the missing girls, recorded as the flood overtook the camp. The mention of “getting higher” could indicate an attempt to escape rising waters, possibly in the hills surrounding Camp Mystic. Search teams are now focusing on elevated areas, using the phone’s location and the GPS data from the stuffed toy to guide efforts.
2. A Lost Connection
Another possibility is that the phone was dropped during a chaotic evacuation attempt, with the voice note meant for a parent or rescuer. The abrupt end suggests the battery died or the phone was submerged, raising fears that the girl and her companions may not have reached safety. Investigators are working to trace the phone’s owner through its SIM card, though water damage has complicated efforts.
3. A Supernatural Echo
Local folklore about Camp Mystic, including tales of a haunting “Campfire Song” tied to a 1970s disappearance, has fueled speculation that the voice note is more than it seems. Some on X have suggested the message could be a paranormal sign, with posts claiming, “That voice sounds too clear for a flooded phone. What if it’s not from now?” While dismissed by authorities, these theories reflect the community’s desperation for answers.
Official Response
Sheriff Laura Bennett addressed the media on July 14, 2025, confirming the voice note’s discovery. “This is a significant find, and we’re doing everything to identify the speaker and follow any leads it provides,” she said. “We ask the public to refrain from spreading unverified theories and to share any information about the camp or the girls.” Forensic teams are analyzing the phone for fingerprints, DNA, and additional data, while search teams scour the hills referenced in the note.
Community Reaction
The voice note has left the Central Texas community in anguish. “Hearing a child’s voice like that—it breaks you,” said Maria Lopez, a former Camp Mystic counselor. On X, the hashtag #CampMysticVoice is trending, with users sharing messages of hope and fear. One post read, “She said ‘find us.’ They’re still out there. Keep searching!” The find has also renewed calls for volunteers to join search efforts, with families of the missing clinging to the possibility of survivors.
What’s Next?
The cell phone’s voice note is the most direct clue yet in the search for the 27 missing girls. As investigators analyze the device and cross-reference its location with the notebook and GPS toy, hope persists that the girls may be found. The haunting words—“please find us”—echo through Pinewood Valley, a plea that drives the ongoing search for answers in this tragic mystery.