EXCLUSIVE TEXAS UPDATE: Helicopter Team Spots Flickering Light in Forest at 2:14AM — It Came From a Mirror Held by One of the 6 Girls Still Missing

Kerr County, Texas — July 19, 2025
In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing search for survivors of the catastrophic flash floods that devastated Central Texas on July 4, 2025, a helicopter rescue team reported a breakthrough in the early hours of this morning. At approximately 2:14 AM, a search-and-rescue crew patrolling the dense forests near the Guadalupe River in Kerr County spotted a faint, flickering light emanating from the wilderness. The source? A small mirror, reflecting the helicopter’s spotlight, held by one of the six girls still missing from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls that was ravaged by the floods. This discovery has reignited hope for the families and rescue teams who have been tirelessly scouring the region for nearly two weeks, as the death toll from the disaster has climbed to at least 120, with dozens still unaccounted for.

A Beacon of Hope in the Darkness

The sighting occurred during a routine nighttime patrol, utilizing thermal imaging and powerful spotlights to comb the rugged terrain along the Guadalupe River. The helicopter, part of a multi-agency effort involving the Texas National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and local first responders, was navigating a particularly dense section of forest when the crew noticed the intermittent flash. Initially, they suspected it could be a natural reflection or debris, but upon closer inspection, they confirmed it was a deliberate signal—a mirror reflecting their light back toward them.

“It was like a needle in a haystack,” said Major General Thomas M. Suelzer, commander of the Texas National Guard, in a press briefing this morning. “Our team zeroed in on that flicker, and when we realized it was a mirror, we knew someone was out there, trying to get our attention.” The helicopter crew immediately relayed the coordinates to ground teams, who are now converging on the area to locate the source. While the identity of the girl holding the mirror remains unknown, authorities believe she is one of the six campers still missing from Camp Mystic.

The use of a mirror to signal for help suggests a level of resourcefulness and resilience, as the girls, aged between 7 and 17, have been stranded in the wilderness for over two weeks. The floods, triggered by a torrential downpour of up to 10 inches of rain in just a few hours, swept through the camp, destroying cabins and scattering campers and staff. The Guadalupe River rose an astonishing 26 feet in 45 minutes, catching residents, campers, and officials off guard.

The Ongoing Search for the Missing

The six missing girls—whose names have been partially released as Eloise Peck, Lainey Landry, Greta Toranzo, Lila Bonner, Molly DeWitt, and Virginia Hollis—are among the dozens still unaccounted for in Kerr County, the hardest-hit area of the disaster. Camp Mystic, located near Hunt, Texas, was home to approximately 750 girls at the time of the flooding. While over 230 people have been rescued, including 167 by helicopter, the fate of these six remains uncertain. The confirmed death toll includes at least 87 victims in Kerr County alone, with 30 children among them, underscoring the tragedy’s devastating impact on the camp.

Rescue operations have been relentless, with over 1,700 emergency responders, volunteers, and bystanders deploying helicopters, drones, boats, and ground teams to search for survivors. The U.S. Coast Guard has contributed three fixed-wing aircraft with thermal cameras and two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, while the Texas National Guard has conducted 237 rescues and evacuations. Despite these efforts, challenges such as downed power lines, flooded roads, and spotty cellphone service have complicated the mission. Additionally, private drones operating in restricted airspace have interfered with rescue operations, with one incident forcing a helicopter to make an emergency landing after a collision.

The discovery of the mirror’s signal has galvanized the search teams, who are now focusing their efforts on a 10-square-mile radius in the forested area where the light was spotted. “This is a game-changer,” said Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha. “We’ve got teams on the ground, dogs, and drones moving in. We’re not stopping until we find her and anyone else who might be out there.” The terrain, however, is treacherous, with debris from the floods—uprooted trees, wrecked vehicles, and scattered belongings—making navigation difficult.

Stories of Survival and Loss

The flooding at Camp Mystic has produced both harrowing tales of survival and heartbreaking losses. Elinor Lester, a 13-year-old camper, recounted her evacuation by helicopter after floodwaters surged through the camp around 1:30 AM on July 4. “The camp was completely destroyed,” she told the Associated Press. “It was really scary.” Lester and her cabinmates, who were on elevated ground, were among the fortunate ones airlifted to safety. Younger campers, housed in cabins along the riverbank, faced greater peril as the waters rose rapidly.

Among the confirmed victims are 8-year-old Linnie McCown of Austin and 18-year-old counselor Chloe Childress from Houston, both of whom perished in the floodwaters. Stories of heroism have also emerged, such as that of Coast Guard swimmer Scott Ruskan, who helped rescue 165 people from Camp Mystic. “The real heroes were the kids on the ground,” Ruskan told The New York Times, describing campers in pajamas, some with only one shoe, enduring cold and wet conditions as they awaited rescue.

For the families of the missing, the wait has been agonizing. Parents have taken to social media, sharing photos and pleas for information about their daughters. Wynne Kennedy, whose daughter Lucy was airlifted to safety, described the hours of uncertainty as “the longest of my life.” Lucy witnessed a friend being swept away by the current, a trauma that continues to affect her. “She’s strong, but she has her moments,” Kennedy said, noting that her daughter is receiving counseling at the Hunt School.

A Community in Mourning, Yet Hopeful

The Central Texas community, particularly in Kerr County, is grappling with the scale of the disaster. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, whose own property was devastated, described the scene as one of “total devastation.” “It’s going to be a long time before we’re ever able to clean it up, much less rebuild it,” he said after surveying the damage by helicopter. The flooding has not only claimed lives but also destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure, leaving residents like restaurant owner Lorena Gullen to contend with the loss of vehicles and livelihoods.

Despite the grief, the flickering light spotted at 2:14 AM offers a glimmer of hope. The girl wielding the mirror, whose identity remains unknown, has reminded the community of the resilience of those still out there. “This is a testament to the strength of these young girls,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has been vocal in reassuring families that every effort is being made to find the missing. “We’re doing everything humanly possible—looking at every tree, overturning every rock.”

Challenges and the Path Forward

The search is far from over, and meteorologists warn that slow-moving thunderstorms could pose further risks, though the National Weather Service indicates a slight reprieve in the Hill Country. Questions linger about the adequacy of emergency notifications, with some residents reporting they received no warnings before the river surged. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice has promised a “full review” of the events and systems in place to strengthen future preparedness.

For now, the focus remains on the six missing girls and the faint light that has given rescuers a new lead. As ground teams move deeper into the forest, equipped with scent-detection dogs and thermal imaging, the nation watches and waits. The mirror’s reflection, a small but powerful signal, has become a symbol of hope in a tragedy that has already claimed too many lives.

“We won’t stop until we find them,” Sheriff Leitha vowed. “That light was a message, and we’re going to follow it.”