Heart-wrenching stories of the missing are pouring in, each more desperate than the last full story below

A heartbroken father’s desperate search for his missing daughter in flood-ravaged Texas has taken a tragic turn, after he unintentionally discovered the lifeless body of a small child amidst the devastation.

Ty Badon, a grieving and increasingly desperate parent, is among many who are still holding onto hope in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods that swept through central Texas during the July 4th weekend. His daughter, 21-year-old Joyce Badon, remains missing—one of dozens still unaccounted for after unprecedented storms dumped over 15 inches of rain in a matter of hours, causing the Guadalupe River to rise a staggering 26 feet in just 45 minutes.

In the chaos that followed, emergency personnel launched massive search and rescue efforts, managing to save over 850 people from the fast-moving floodwaters. Despite these efforts, officials have confirmed that at least 82 Texans have lost their lives, and 41 individuals are still believed to be missing.

Among the missing are ten children and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a well-known Christian summer camp for girls located on the banks of the Guadalupe River. The camp, once a place of joy, laughter, and summer tradition, has become ground zero for a tragedy that continues to unfold. Search and rescue teams have been working around-the-clock to find any signs of the missing children, combing through debris and floodwaters with helicopters, search dogs, and divers.

Ty Badon, unable to wait idly for news, decided to take matters into his own hands. Accompanied by his son, he traveled from his home to the town of Hunt, Texas—near the flooded camp—in a desperate attempt to locate his missing daughter. Joyce, a college student with a bright future ahead, had not been heard from since the floodwaters began to rise.

What Ty encountered during his search was a parent’s worst nightmare.

While searching the devastated areas on foot and by vehicle, he came across the body of a small child—one of the many young victims of the floods. Though the child was not Joyce, the discovery was deeply traumatic, serving as a harrowing reminder of the scale of the disaster and the pain so many families are now enduring.

Speaking to local reporters, Ty said, “No parent should ever have to search like this. And no parent should ever have to find what I did. We just want to know where our daughter is. That’s all we want—to bring her home.”

The emotional toll on the Badon family, like so many others affected, is immeasurable. As days pass with no sign of Joyce, the sense of urgency and sorrow grows heavier. Yet, through exhaustion and grief, Ty continues to search, determined not to give up on his daughter.

Authorities and volunteers have continued their efforts tirelessly, and while the odds grow more difficult with each passing day, families like the Badons remain hopeful. For them, hope is all they have left.

The floods have left a trail of destruction—of shattered homes, broken communities, and unimaginable heartbreak. But they’ve also revealed stories of resilience, courage, and undying love. Ty Badon’s journey is one of those stories—a father who will go to the ends of the earth for his daughter, no matter the cost.