Byline: Bastrop County, Texas — July 2025
In a heartbreaking new development from the Texas flood tragedy, search crews have recovered a mud-covered cell phone belonging to one of the 27 missing girls from Camp Wrenwood. What they discovered inside has left even the most seasoned rescue workers in tears.
The device, found nearly half a mile from the main search perimeter, contained a 12-second voice message — a farewell unlike anything officials expected to find.
📱 The Discovery
Rescue worker Jacob Ellison, a volunteer firefighter from Dallas, spotted the phone while sifting through flood debris tangled near a collapsed footbridge. It was caked in layers of clay and roots, wrapped in what appeared to be a child’s hoodie.
“It didn’t look like it could still work. But when we plugged it in at base camp and it lit up — everyone went silent,” Ellison said.
🎙️ The Final Message: “Daddy, Don’t Forget My Song”
The voice message, timestamped 11:49 p.m., was sent just 17 minutes before the flood overtook the last known location of the girls. The voice — soft, calm, and trembling — belonged to 10-year-old Ella Monroe.
In the message, Ella says:
“Daddy… it’s raining a lot. We’re under the bridge. If you can’t find me tomorrow, don’t forget my song, okay? I love you.”
😭 Father’s Reaction
Ella’s father, Bryce Monroe, collapsed when rescue officials handed him a printed transcript and allowed him to hear the message privately.
“She’s brave. She didn’t cry. She knew something was wrong. And she was thinking about me,” he said through tears. “I won’t just remember the song, I’ll finish it for her.”
Family members say Ella had been writing a lullaby with her father for weeks before camp — a song they planned to record together when she returned.
🚨 Search Efforts Intensify in “Bridge Sector”
The location of the phone suggests that Ella and a group of girls may have sought refuge beneath a bridge structure before being separated or swept away.
Authorities have now expanded excavation efforts in what’s being called “Bridge Sector Echo”, with engineers stabilizing creek walls and drone units scanning under submerged overhangs.
“This phone gave us more than a message. It gave us a new lead,” said FEMA coordinator Carla Rojas.
🇺🇸 A Nation Reacts
The message has sparked an emotional wave across social media:
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“Don’t forget my song — I’ll never forget hers.”
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“This is the sound of courage in 12 seconds.”
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#EllaStrong and #TexasVoice are now trending nationally.
Artists, musicians, and writers are beginning to compose tributes based on her words, with one Nashville songwriter announcing plans to finish “Ella’s Song” for charity.
🔚 Final Word
A child’s voice.
A father’s tears.
And a nation listening.
As hope flickers and search teams press on, one little girl’s words will echo long after the storm.