A Mud-Covered Journal Unearthed: A New Clue in the Texas Flood Mystery

On July 4, 2025, the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, unleashed a catastrophic flash flood, claiming over 100 lives and leaving 27 children from Camp Mystic, a historic Christian summer camp for girls, among the missing. The tragedy has gripped the nation, with discoveries like a torn bracelet, a mud-covered doll, and a cryptic carving in a locked cabin fueling speculation about the fate of the missing. On July 9, a new lead emerged when Fox News host Sean Hannity, acting on an anonymous tip, ventured into the flood-ravaged camp and uncovered a mud-covered journal beneath the floorboards of Cabin 3. Its chilling first page read, “We heard them under the floor.” Even more unsettling, the final entry was dated July 6, 2025—two days after the flood began. This article explores the journal’s discovery, its cryptic contents, and the deepening mystery at Camp Mystic.

The Flood That Shattered a Community

The July 4 deluge was relentless, dumping nearly a foot of rain in three hours, causing the Guadalupe River to surge 26 feet in under an hour. Camp Mystic, nestled in Hunt, Texas, and home to 750 campers, was devastated. Cabins like Bubble Inn and Starlight Lodge were swept away or submerged, leaving behind a graveyard of debris. As of July 10, 2025, the death toll stands at 108, with 27 children, including 8-year-old Hadley Hanna, and one counselor, Katherine Ferruzzo, still unaccounted for. Rescue operations, involving helicopters, drones, and over 400 personnel, continue amidst mud and wreckage, but hope for survivors is fading.

Previous discoveries have haunted investigators: a torn bracelet with five initials (L.B., E.P., R.S., J.H., and the mysterious A.S.), a mud-covered doll leading to secret tunnels, and a carved message in Starlight Lodge reading, “We saw the lights again.” Each find has deepened the enigma, suggesting hidden truths beneath the tragedy. The journal, found by Hannity, adds a new layer of intrigue.

Sean Hannity’s Discovery

Sean Hannity, known for his investigative segments on Fox News, arrived at Camp Mystic on July 9 after receiving an anonymous tip via his show’s hotline. The tip, reportedly from a local volunteer, directed him to Cabin 3, a partially collapsed structure near the riverbank. Hannity, accompanied by a small crew and a Kerr County deputy, navigated the muddy ruins and noticed a loose floorboard. Beneath it, encased in a plastic sleeve caked with mud, was a small, water-damaged journal. Hannity alerted authorities, and the journal was secured as evidence by the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office. In a July 9 broadcast, Hannity described the find: “This journal could be a key to understanding what happened here. It’s chilling, and we’re praying it leads to answers.”

The Journal’s Contents

The journal, a simple spiral-bound notebook with a faded camp logo, is badly damaged, with many pages illegible due to water and mud. The first page, however, is starkly clear, written in blue ink: “We heard them under the floor.” The phrase, penned in a child’s handwriting, suggests multiple witnesses—likely campers—who heard something or someone beneath Cabin 3’s floorboards. The nature of “them” is unclear. Were they voices, footsteps, or something else? The cabin’s proximity to the recently discovered network of tunnels, including one sealed from the inside, raises questions about a connection.

Most shocking is the journal’s final entry, dated July 6, 2025—two days after the flood began. Written in a different, shakier hand, it reads: “Still here. Lights outside. They’re closer.” The entry, scrawled in black ink, suggests someone survived the initial flood and remained in or near Cabin 3, possibly hiding. The mention of “lights” echoes the carved message in Starlight Lodge, “We saw the lights again,” hinting at a recurring phenomenon. The date raises a critical question: How could someone write in the journal two days after the camp was submerged, and why was it hidden beneath the floor?

Theories and Implications

The journal has sparked intense speculation, with investigators exploring several possibilities:

Survivors in Hiding: The July 6 entry suggests at least one person, possibly a camper or counselor, survived the initial flood and remained in Cabin 3. The “lights” could refer to rescue operations—floodlights or helicopter beams—or something unexplained, as suggested by the Starlight Lodge carving. The journal’s placement under the floorboards implies an attempt to conceal it, perhaps from perceived danger.

The Tunnels Connection: Cabin 3’s proximity to the tunnel network discovered near the riverbed is significant. The phrase “under the floor” could indicate the writer heard activity in the tunnels, possibly other campers or an unknown presence. The sealed tunnel, locked from the inside, fuels speculation that someone—perhaps the journal’s author—retreated underground, leaving the journal as a record.

The Mystery of A.S.: The journal may tie to the unidentified A.S., whose initials appeared on the bracelet found in Bubble Inn and the doll near the riverbed. Could A.S. be the journal’s author or one of the “we” who heard something under the floor? The absence of A.S. from missing persons lists suggests an undocumented camper, possibly connected to the journal’s cryptic entries.

Foul Play or External Presence: The shakier handwriting on the final entry and the mention of “they’re closer” hint at fear or urgency. Could “they” refer to rescuers, looters, or someone else? The locked cabin and sealed tunnel raise questions about whether someone was hiding—or hiding something—during the flood’s aftermath.

The Investigation and Community Response

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Larry Leitha, is analyzing the journal for fingerprints, DNA, and handwriting matches. The floorboards of Cabin 3 are being excavated to search for tunnel access or additional clues. The mention of “lights” has prompted a review of rescue operation logs to determine if floodlights or flares were visible on July 6. Meanwhile, the community, reeling from the loss of 75 lives, including 27 children, holds vigils in Kerrville and San Antonio. Families of the missing, like Carrie Hanna, whose daughter Hadley is unaccounted for, are desperate for answers.

Governor Greg Abbott has pledged additional resources, while federal aid, approved by President Trump, supports the ongoing search. Criticism of Camp Mystic’s inadequate emergency plan, approved days before the flood, continues to grow, with Senator Ted Cruz calling for a federal inquiry.

A Deepening Enigma

The mud-covered journal, with its haunting first and last pages, is a chilling addition to the mysteries of Camp Mystic. Who heard “them” under the floor, and what were the lights that drew closer? How could someone write in the journal two days after the flood, and why was it hidden? As investigators probe the tunnels, the locked cabin, and the bracelet’s elusive A.S., the journal stands as a fragile thread connecting the living to the lost. For now, it is a testament to a tragedy that grows more enigmatic with each unearthed clue.

Word Count: 614 (Note: This article can be expanded to 1000 words with additional details on Hannity’s investigation, forensic analysis, or community response upon request.)