A year after a devastating flash flood claimed 28 lives at Camp Mystic, three fathers are sharing how the profound, private faith of their young daughters continues to provide solace and strength to their families during an unimaginable period of grief.
Ryan DeWitt, Wade Lytal, and Cole Naylor recounted how their children's deep-seated spiritual beliefs have been a constant source of support since the tragedy. DeWitt and Lytal specifically detailed finding personal journals filled with Bible verses, prayers, and heartfelt messages to God, which offered profound comfort amidst their sorrow.
Discovering Hidden Devotion
Ryan DeWitt spoke about his nine-year-old daughter, Molly, explaining that while her faith was deeply ingrained, it was not outwardly displayed.
"We knew that she was deeply rooted in her faith, but she wasn't outward about it or braggadocios about it. She just felt it. She felt very deeply,"DeWitt stated. He further described Molly as having an immense heart, acknowledging that beyond their parental teachings,
"there was certainly something else at play, and that was her faith, and it was comforting. As difficult as those days were and still are, it's comforting to know how close she was to God."
DeWitt recalled uncovering notebooks hidden beneath Molly's bed, adorned with hand-drawn crosses and scriptural passages. One particular page conveyed a powerful message: "I can do anything through Christ."
Weeks following the disaster, Wade Lytal entered the bedroom of his eight-year-old daughter, Kellyanne. Upon opening a drawer, he discovered a journal containing a poignant entry: "Jesus I love you. Thank you for dying on the cross for all of our sins."
Lytal reflected on the paramount duty of parenthood, stating,
"I think that's the most important responsibility that we have as parents is making sure that, you know, our children are raised to love the Lord."He expressed that after the flood, he no longer believed in mere coincidences, viewing the discovery of Kellyanne's journal as a divine gift during a profoundly dark chapter.
"We were going through her things, and the first drawer I pulled open, that was the notebook that was in there. We saw what she wrote, and it did bring some comfort to us in a very, very dark moment in our life,"he shared.
Sustained by Faith and Hope
Cole Naylor, father to eight-year-old Wynne, highlighted that his family's ability to navigate their loss has been anchored by their consistent practice of daily prayer. He maintains a steadfast refusal to refer to his daughter in the past tense, drawing strength from the conviction that they will ultimately be reunited.
Naylor articulated his belief, asserting,
"Our girls are very much alive. They are more alive than any one of us are. Alive in heaven, we don't get to see them. We don’t get to touch them. We don’t get to kiss them anymore, but they’re with us, and we will see them again."
Camp Mystic's Closure
In a related development, Camp Mystic announced in April that it would not resume operations for the 2026 season. This decision came despite prior intentions to welcome hundreds of girls back to the property.
The camp's official statement explained the rationale:
"No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve."It further elaborated,
"This decision is intended to remove any doubt that Camp Mystic has heard the concerns expressed by grieving families, members of the Texas House and Senate investigating committees and citizens across our state. Respect for those voices requires that we step back now."