Tragic Texas Flood Takes the Life of 21-Year-Old Joyce Catherine Badon

Tragedy Strikes Texas: Communities Grieve the Loss of Young Lives Amid Flash Floods

The sudden flash floods that ravaged Central Texas on July 4, 2025, have left families shattered and communities in mourning. What began as a festive holiday weekend turned into a devastating catastrophe, claiming the lives of college students, children, and innocent victims caught in the deadly path of the rising waters.


Joyce Catherine Badon’s Body Found After Days of Searching

Joyce Catherine Badon, a vibrant 21-year-old, was swept away during a flash flood in Hunt, Texas, over the holiday weekend. Her family, after days of agonizing uncertainty, confirmed her tragic death.

In an emotional statement, her father, Ty Badon, shared with NBC News that rescue teams had recovered her body. Her mother, Kelleye Badon, expressed her sorrow and gratitude for the outpouring of support, while still holding onto hope that Joyce’s friends — Ella Cahill, Reese Manchaca, and Aidan Heartfield — would be found.


A Night of Horror: Trapped by the Rising Waters

The chilling details of that fateful night were shared by Kelleye, who described the terror her daughter and her friends experienced. Joyce and her companions had traveled to Hunt to celebrate Independence Day. The group was staying in a house near the river when, at around 4 a.m., flash floods suddenly overwhelmed the area, destroying vehicles and trapping them inside.

Aidan, the son of the property owner, made a frantic call to his father as the floodwaters began to surge. Just moments later, Joyce, Ella, Reese, and Aidan were swept away. Thad Heartfield’s final conversation with Joyce ended with her haunting words: “They just got washed away.”


Desperate Search and Heartbreaking Pleas for Help

As rescue teams scoured the area, Ella’s sister, Mackenzie Hodulik, turned to social media, desperately appealing for help. She shared photos, hoping someone in the area would have seen the group near State Highway 39, where they were last spotted.

In a heart-wrenching recollection, Ty Badon revealed that Joyce was still on the phone with Thad when the water overwhelmed them. Aidan’s last words were just as tragic: “I’ve gotta go. I gotta help Ella and Reese.”


A Devastating Outcome: Two Lives Lost, Two Still Missing

As days passed, hope began to fade. The group had been last seen trying to reach higher ground near 1739 State Highway 39. Mackenzie later confirmed the heartbreaking news: Joyce and Reese had been found dead. Ella and Aidan remain missing.

In a tribute to her sister, Mackenzie remembered Ella as “beautiful, intelligent, and loving.” Amidst her grief, she found some comfort in knowing her sister no longer suffered. Kelleye Badon, in her own words, found spiritual solace, believing her daughter was watching over them from heaven.


Two Young Lives Lost at Camp Mystic

The flood’s impact extended beyond the Badon family. In Kerr County, Camp Mystic, a summer camp for girls, was also swept away by the floodwaters. Among the victims were 9-year-old Lila Bonner and 8-year-old Eloise Peck, best friends from Dallas, who were tragically killed while attending camp.

Both girls had been cabinmates, and their disappearance was confirmed just days after the flood. Lila’s family confirmed her death on July 5, and Eloise’s family followed soon after, requesting privacy as they grieved the loss of their beloved daughter.


The Pain of a Grieving Community

Kaitlyn Ross, a reporter covering the tragedy, shared a moving statement from Eloise’s mother. She described her daughter as a “beautiful soul” who had a heart full of love for animals, especially dogs, and had been known for her infectious energy. “She passed away alongside her best friend, Lila… happy, thriving, and surrounded by the joy of summer camp,” Ross wrote, adding, “Rest in peace, sweet girls.”


Search Efforts Continue: A Community Holds Its Breath

As of July 4, OKCM Search and Rescue had been combing through the flood zones, focusing on the 18 girls still missing from Camp Mystic. By July 6, the number of missing individuals was updated to 12, including one counselor.

Online communities rallied together, offering prayers, hope, and messages of support. Though the search continues, the community remains united, hoping for a miracle.


The Deep Impact of Shared Loss

From a young college student lost in the flood to two innocent girls caught in a summer camp disaster, the stories emerging from this tragedy reveal the profound grief left in the wake of the Texas floods. These young lives, taken too soon, have left a void in their families, but also in the hearts of strangers who followed their stories with sadness and sorrow.

As the communities of Hunt, Kerr County, and beyond mourn, they find strength in remembering the bright futures these lives could have had — futures now cut short but forever etched in the memories of those who loved them.