STILL MISSING: 27 Families Wait as Search Teams Uncover Chapel Locked from Inside at Texas Camp – Small Handprints on the Door

In a haunting twist in the search for 27 missing girls from Camp Mystic in Central Texas, search teams uncovered a small chapel on the campgrounds, locked from the inside, with small handprints smudged on the door’s interior. Discovered on July 14, 2025, amid the wreckage of the July 8 flood that devastated the camp, the chapel’s locked state and eerie handprints have raised chilling questions about whether the girls sought refuge there—and why they couldn’t escape. Combined with earlier clues—a waterproof notebook, a GPS-equipped stuffed toy, a cell phone voice note, and a bracelet—this find has deepened the mystery gripping Pinewood Valley.

The Discovery

The chapel, a modest wooden structure used for camp services, was found by a search and rescue team combing the camp’s less-damaged areas. The door, secured with a heavy internal bolt, was locked from the inside, suggesting someone barred it during or after the flood. Small, muddy handprints, consistent with those of young children, were found on the door’s interior, along with scratches indicating an attempt to open it. Inside, the chapel was untouched by floodwaters but contained scattered hymnals and a single candle, still burning, on the altar.

“It was like stepping into a frozen moment,” said rescuer Tom Rivera. “Those handprints—they’re small, like the girls’. It’s hard to shake the feeling they were here.” The chapel’s locked state has baffled investigators, as no one was found inside, and the only exit was the bolted door.

Context: A Growing Mystery

Camp Mystic’s flooding claimed 32 lives, including three campers, and left 27 girls missing. Clues like the notebook’s “Don’t forget Campfire Song,” the GPS toy, the cell phone’s plea to “find us,” and the bracelet tied to a tree suggest the girls may have tried to leave a trail. The chapel, located on higher ground, aligns with the theory that they sought safety from the flood. The handprints and locked door, however, raise troubling questions about their fate.

Theories and Speculation

The chapel’s discovery has sparked several theories:

1. A Last Refuge

The most plausible theory is that some girls reached the chapel during the flood, locking the door to protect themselves from rising waters. The handprints suggest they tried to leave but couldn’t, possibly due to panic or a jammed bolt. The burning candle hints at recent activity, though its presence is puzzling given the time elapsed.

2. A Tragic Trap

A darker possibility is that the girls locked themselves in but were unable to escape, perhaps due to injury or exhaustion. The absence of bodies inside the chapel suggests they may have left through an unknown exit, but no such exit has been found. Some on X speculate, “Did someone lock them in? Those handprints feel like a cry for help.”

3. A Spiritual Connection

Local legends about the “Campfire Song” and a 1970s disappearance have led some to view the chapel as a spiritual focal point. The candle and handprints have fueled posts on X claiming, “The girls were praying in there. Maybe the song is a prayer.” While unverified, these theories reflect the community’s emotional turmoil.

Official Response

Sheriff Laura Bennett spoke on July 14, 2025: “The chapel is a significant find. We’re analyzing the handprints and investigating how the door was locked. We’re not ruling anything out.” Forensic teams are testing the handprints for DNA, and engineers are examining the chapel for hidden exits or structural clues.

Community Reaction

The chapel’s handprints have shaken the community. “Those are my daughter’s hands—I know it,” said Clara Evans, mother of a missing camper. On X, #CampMysticChapel is trending, with users posting, “Those girls were in that chapel. We need to know what happened.” Volunteers continue to support search efforts, driven by the latest clue.

What’s Next?

The locked chapel, with its small handprints and burning candle, is the most haunting clue yet in the Camp Mystic mystery. As investigators piece together its connection to the notebook, GPS toy, phone, and bracelet, the search for the 27 girls continues. The handprints on the door remain a stark reminder of the lives at stake—and the answers still out of reach.