Heartbroken Father Searching for Missing Daughter Finds Young Boy’s Body Amid Texas Flood Tragedy
Heartbroken Father Searching for Missing Daughter Finds Young Boy’s Body Amid Texas Flood Tragedy
A Texas father, desperately searching for his missing daughter in the aftermath of devastating flash floods, made a heartbreaking discovery — the body of a young boy, lost to the disaster.
Ty Badon’s daughter, 21-year-old Joyce Badon, is among dozens of people still unaccounted for after severe flooding swept through the state over the July 4th weekend. As water levels surged rapidly, Badon and his son set out on their own search — one that led them to an unthinkable scene.
A Sudden Disaster
Officials say that in just 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River surged over 26 feet following an unexpected downpour that dropped 15 inches of rain. Emergency crews have pulled more than 850 people from floodwaters across Texas, but the toll is staggering — 82 people have lost their lives, and at least 41 remain missing.
Among the missing are ten children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls situated along the river. Crews have been searching nonstop, but the outcome remains uncertain.
A Family’s Agonizing Search
With no word from Joyce in days, Ty Badon and his son drove to Hunt, Texas, in hopes of finding answers. Instead, they found heartbreak.
“We were walking through the area, calling out her name,” Badon told CNN. “Then we saw something. At first, I thought it was just a mannequin. But it wasn’t. It was a little boy — maybe 8 or 10 — and he was gone.”
The child had apparently been swept away by the floodwaters. His identity has not been released.
Still clinging to hope, Badon urged the public to pray for all the families waiting for answers. “We’re just trying to find our kids,” he said. “Hopefully we can still bring them home alive.”
A Father’s Tribute
Ty described his daughter Joyce as a “beautiful, wonderful girl,” saying she was everything a father could hope for. She and three close friends — Ella Cahill, Aidan Heartfield, and Reese Manchaca — had been living in a riverside home when the floods hit. That home, according to reports, has been completely swept away.
The family had been anxiously waiting at Ingram Elementary School, where many of the rescued are taken for identification. But Joyce’s name was never called.
“They’re doing amazing work despite the conditions,” Badon said of the school and first responders. “But when we didn’t hear her name, we knew we had to go out and look ourselves.”
Officials Continue Massive Search Efforts
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed on July 5 that hundreds of personnel are still involved in rescue operations by land, air, and water.
“This is one of the largest emergency responses we’ve ever seen,” he said.
However, questions have arisen over whether earlier warnings could have prevented some of the tragedy. Some Texas leaders have criticized the National Weather Service for reportedly lacking adequate staff due to recent federal budget cuts.
According to reports, several key meteorological positions in San Angelo and San Antonio — including a warning coordination role — remain vacant after early retirement incentives were offered through a federal efficiency initiative.