‘You Will Never Be Forgotten’: 2 North Texas Best Friends Died Together in Floods — Details
The aftermath of the Central Texas floods revealed a tragic loss as two young Dallas girls were confirmed among the victims, leaving two families in mourning and a community reeling.
In the wake of the devastating flash floods that swept through Texas the night of Friday, July 4, 2025, two young girls from Dallas were confirmed dead on Sunday, July 6.
Search and rescue personnel conduct a search near the grounds of Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
9-year-old Lila Bonner and 8-year-old Eloise Peck were best friends and cabinmates in Camp Mystic, a summer camp located in Kerr County, Texas. They reportedly lost their lives together.
Bonner and Peck were two of three girls from Dallas who went missing from Camp Mystic, along with several other unaccounted campers after the flood, and became a focus for the public and rescue efforts. The third girl, Hadley Hanna, was still missing as of July 6, 2025.
View of flood damage at Camp Mystic, in Kerr County, Texas on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Bonner’s family first confirmed her death on Saturday, July 5. The next day, Peck’s family posted a sign outside their home that said that “she lost her life in the tragic flooding,” while also requesting privacy to mourn the loss of their daughter.
View of the flood damage inside a cabin for children at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
On Facebook, Alive11 Reporter Kaitlyn Ross shared a statement from Peck’s mother. “Eloise was literally friends with everyone,” she reportedly said. “She loved spaghetti, but not more than she loved dogs and animals.” She continued:
“She had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years we were blessed to have her. Especially her Mommy.”
View of a damaged building at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Ross revealed that her family confirmed Eloise’s death. “She passed away alongside her best friend and cabinmate, Lila Bonner, who also lost her life,” wrote Ross, adding:
“This photo shows Eloise and Lila together: happy, thriving, and surrounded by summer camp joy. Rest in peace, sweet girls. You will never be forgotten 💔💔”
On July 4, the day of the floods, OKCM Search and Rescue shared a post on Facebook to give visibility to the children missing from Camp Mystic.
“Sharing for our friends & neighbors to the south. Our hearts go out to all the families and first responders on the ground in the midst of such a tragedy,” they wrote, along with the pictures of all the missing girls from Camp Mystic — 18 in total.
On Sunday, July 6, OKCM Search and Rescue updated their post. “11 Campers & 1 counselor still unaccounted for from Camp Mystic. Please keep praying. Search operations continue.”
Many local communities have been deeply affected by the traumatic ordeal. After the Camp Mystic girls were reported missing, many rallied online to amplify the message, sharing pictures and hopeful words.
Michelle Meals, a marketing & social media guru, wrote on Saturday, July 5, “One of my sweet clients – her daughter is best friends with Eloise Peck. Still missing in the Texas floods.”
“Very close to home. Praying Eloise is found so she and Hunter can have more play dates. Praying each little girl is found. 💔,” she added. Less than a day later, Peck was confirmed dead by her family.
Flood damage around Heart O’ the Hills summer camp in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
More than 50 people have lost their lives in the floods as of Sunday, July 6, 2025. Death tolls continue to rise as search and rescue efforts clear more debris and survey the damage.
