Local News
Names and Photos of Missing Individuals, Including Children, Swept Away from Camp Mystic During Central Texas Flash Flooding
HUNT, TEXAS — As catastrophic flash flooding continues to impact the Texas Hill Country, search and rescue efforts remain underway for multiple missing individuals swept away from Camp Mystic, a well-known all-girls Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County.
Family-confirmed reports have identified numerous missing persons, including campers and staff, following the sudden overnight surge of the Guadalupe River, which rose more than 22 feet in just 30 minutes.
The floodwaters tore through cabins and facilities early Friday morning, July 4, leading to a mass casualty response.
Among the missing are:
- Lila Bonner
- Eloise Peck
- Hadley Hanna (confirmed missing by family)
- Kellyanne Lytal
- Lainey Landry
- Janie Hunt
- Renee Smajstrla
- Cile Steward
- Virginia Hollis
- Margaret Sheedy
- Molly DeWitt
- Anna Margaret Bellows
- Blakely McCrory
- Mary Grace Baker
- Linnie McCown
- Greta Toranzo
- Sarah Marsh
- Wynne Naylor
- Katherine Ferruzzo (camp counselor)
- Bella Kate (camp counselor)
- John and Julia Burgess, along with their two sons
According to officials, some of those reported missing have since been located and rescued, but many remain unaccounted for. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick confirmed in a press conference Friday afternoon that approximately 23 children are still missing.
Camp Mystic, which hosts around 750 girls ages 7 to 17, has been severely impacted by the unprecedented flooding.
“This is a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. At least 13 fatalities have been confirmed, with officials warning that number could rise.
Search and rescue teams—consisting of 400 to 500 personnel and 18 helicopters—are actively combing the area by land and air. Some victims have already been rescued from treetops and submerged vehicles, while others are feared to have been swept miles downstream.
The camp confirmed in a message to families that those whose daughters are unaccounted for have already been notified. The surrounding area remains without power, water, or internet, and flooding has washed away key access roads, further complicating rescue efforts.
“The reports that all campers are accounted for are false,” said a family member close to one of the missing girls. “The search is very much ongoing. Please continue to pray.”
Lt. Gov. Patrick added that President Donald Trump has been briefed and committed federal resources including the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, which are now assisting in the operation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also confirmed active coordination at the federal level.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted a message of support on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic. I’ve spoken with state and national leadership. Rescue operations are ongoing.”
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly echoed these concerns in a separate briefing, stating: “We know there are still people missing. We’ve identified some of their locations, but not all. The exact number is still being confirmed.”
Camp Mystic, which was set to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, is now at the center of a heartbreaking and historic emergency. Families of the missing continue to wait for news as rescue crews work around the clock.
Anyone in the area with information about the missing individuals is urged to contact local authorities immediately.
Please keep the victims, their families, and all first responders in your thoughts and prayers.
Local News
Suspended Dearborn Ford worker Thomas Sabula received more than $320K after Trump flips him off
DEARBORN, Mich. — A suspended Ford Motor Company employee has become the focus of national attention after a confrontation with former President Donald Trump during a visit to a Dearborn assembly plant, prompting an outpouring of public support that has raised more than $324,000 for his family through an online fundraiser.
The worker, Thomas “TJ” Sabula, a 40-year-old United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 member, was placed on suspension pending an internal investigation following an exchange that occurred while Trump was touring the facility.
According to video later obtained and published by TMZ, an off-camera voice can be heard shouting “pedophile protector” at the former president, an apparent reference to the administration’s handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In the footage, Trump appears to mouth an expletive and make a hand gesture before walking away.
The Washington Post subsequently identified Sabula as the individual who made the remark.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sabula confirmed that he was suspended after the incident and said he believes the action amounts to political retaliation.
“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” Sabula told The Post. “But I am concerned about my job. I believe I’ve been targeted for political retribution for embarrassing him in front of his friends.”
Sabula, who describes himself as politically independent, said he has never voted for Trump, though he has supported Republican candidates in the past.
In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist Sabula and his family during his suspension.
The campaign states that Sabula is “a father of two young children, a husband, and a proud UAW Local 600 line worker,” and that the funds will be used to help cover household and living expenses “during this time of uncertainty.” Donations quickly surged past $100,000, with notable contributions reportedly made by the rock band Dropkick Murphys.
Supporters have characterized Sabula’s actions as a form of protest and free expression, while others have questioned whether his conduct violated workplace policies.
Ford Motor Company and union representatives have not publicly released details regarding the status of the internal investigation or whether disciplinary action beyond the suspension is being considered.
Following his visit to the Dearborn plant, Trump went on to deliver remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, where he had last spoken in October 2024.
The incident continues to draw attention amid broader political debate, as questions remain about workplace discipline, free speech, and the role of political expression in employment settings.