Disappearance of Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner After Camp Mystic Flooding – Authorities, families, and volunteers continue their desperate search for two local elementary school girls, Eloise Peck, 10, and Lila Bonner, 9, who went missing after severe flooding at Camp Mystic, a retreat located just north of Dallas, Texas. The tragic incident occurred on the morning of Thursday, July 4, when heavy rainfall overwhelmed the campgrounds and caused a nearby creek to overflow its banks, submerging a low-lying area where the girls’ cabin was situated.
The flash flood hit unexpectedly, catching both campers and counselors off guard. Camp Mystic was hosting a weekend retreat for families and children, and at the time of the flood, Eloise and Lila were in their cabin. As the creek surged, water flooded the grounds rapidly, forcing many to scramble for higher ground. In the chaos, both girls were seen exiting their cabin together, but they disappeared soon after and have not been found.
The search for the missing children entered its third day as of Friday afternoon, July 5. Search-and-rescue teams, including local and state personnel, along with volunteer responders, are working tirelessly to locate Eloise and Lila. Dogs trained for search-and-rescue, swift-water units, divers, and drones are assisting in combing the flooded areas around Camp Mystic, including the nearby creek and surrounding woods. Despite the growing number of volunteers and emergency responders, both girls remain unaccounted for.
The situation has deeply affected the local community. Families and close friends of the missing children have gathered near the camp, holding vigils and praying for a miracle. Eloise’s mother spoke to local news outlet KSAT, expressing a mix of hope and fear: “We’re hopeful yet terrified,” she said. The support from the community has been overwhelming, with local schools offering mental health resources for affected students and staff, and religious leaders organizing prayer services for the families.
Camp Mystic’s operators have temporarily suspended all activities and are cooperating fully with the ongoing search efforts. In a statement, the camp pledged to assist law enforcement and emergency responders and is conducting its own investigation into whether the camp had proper weather warning systems and evacuation procedures in place. The flash flood’s rapid onset is under scrutiny, with authorities seeking to determine if more could have been done to warn campers in advance.
As the search intensifies, officials are urging residents and visitors to stay clear of unstable creek banks and floodwaters. Local authorities have also asked anyone who may have been in the affected areas—such as kayakers, hikers, or joggers—to report any unusual items or potential clues they might have come across.
Social media has played a crucial role in spreading awareness about the missing girls. Eloise’s mother has shared a photo of her daughter online, hoping to aid in the search and raise public awareness. Authorities continue to work closely with the community, urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson issued a statement expressing the city’s collective grief, saying, “We’re a community that stands together in hope and prayer.” As the search continues, residents are holding onto hope that Eloise and Lila will be found safe, while the emergency responders persist in their efforts to locate the two missing children.
With each passing hour, the search remains a race against time, as authorities fear the floodwaters may have carried the girls far from the original flood zone. In the meantime, the community’s prayers and vigilance are central to keeping hope alive as the search efforts move forward.
