Houston Area Casualties in Devastating Texas Floods

HOUSTON — Following the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country, the search for victims is ongoing, and more names are surfacing of those from the Houston area who have died.

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office and Kerrville Police Department reported that at least 120 people have been confirmed dead, and over 170 remain missing as of Friday.

Many of the victims were from the Houston area. 

This list features names that family members have confirmed or were identified in public posts. KHOU 11 News will keep honoring the victims as more information is released.

Here are the individuals from the Houston area who have been confirmed as victims of the flood.

Kellyanne Lytal was at Camp Mystic when the devastating flood moved through Friday morning, according to her father, Wade Lytal. He shared a sweet, yet heartbreaking video of Kellyanne singing a solo at her school Christmas pageant. 

Lytal, a former football player at Memorial High School, is currently the offensive coordinator at Trinity University in San Antonio. Several players from the team joined him in the search for Kellyanne.

On Friday, her family confirmed that she had been found and said they had set up a memorial foundation in her name.

“Kellyanne was a shining light in this world,” they said in a statement. “She was kind, fearless, silly, compassionate and a loving friend to everyone.”

Mary Kate Jacobe was eight years old. She was at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp, when the area was hit by catastrophic flooding in the early-morning hours of July 4. 

“Our precious angel baby has entered the gates of Heaven. Mary Kate Jacobe was the light of our lives. She was tiny but mighty, full of love and joy, with a smile that melted your heart. Mary Kate, our Sissy, was the baby of our large family and was most certainly our angel on earth. We are utterly shattered and forever changed by the loss of our girl,” the Jacobe family said in a statement.

Chloe Childress was a Camp Mystic counselor. Her family released a statement: “Chloe Childress lived a beautiful life… Our family was shocked to hear of the horrific flooding in the Hill Country, and we were devastated to learn that our precious Chloe was among the victims… We desire to grieve privately during this time.”

John and Julia Burgess were in their RV with two young sons, Jack and James, at a campsite in Ingram when the Guadalupe River rapidly rose early Friday while most people were sleeping.

According to relatives, John was later found dead. They said Julia’s body was recovered on Monday, but their boys remained missing.

Their daughter was at nearby Camp Longhorn and wasn’t impacted by the flooding.

Under a somber sky on Wednesday morning, coworkers and friends held a subdued ceremony and balloon release in memory of Melissa Kamin and her husband, Rob. The Atascocita couple died in the Texas Hill Country floods on July 4.

Reese Menchaca of Conroe was camping with Ella Cahill, Joyce Badon, and Aiden Heartfield of Beaumont. On Wednesday, July 9, Reese was returned home to Conroe with a police escort made up of deputies from five Montgomery County constable precincts.

She was a 2022 graduate of Caney Creek High School, where teachers remember her as a self-confident and fun young woman who lit up every room she walked into.

Mary Grace Baker was a third grader at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. 

Blakely McCrory, 8, was a student at Memorial Lutheran and a camper at Camp Mystic. Floodwaters swept through the Guadalupe River area where she was attending camp. 

Molly Dewitt was a camper at Camp Mystic. Her obituary describes a little girl with a deep unwavering faith, one that shaped how she moved through the world.

Lucy Dillon was a rising third grader at Memorial Drive Elementary, according to her online obituary; a bright and enthusiastic student. She was able to make friends wherever she went. 

Megan and Jake Moeller lost their lives in the flooding. Their daughter, Harley, remains missing. The family lived in Canyon Lake but they have ties to the Houston and Mont Belvieu areas.

Brad Perry was camping with his wife, Tina, when their RV was swept away. Tina was rescued from a tree and taken to an area hospital with a broken rib and punctured lung. Brad didn’t survive. 

According to a social media post by her husband, Randy Schaffer, they were at a law school reunion on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. They were both woken up by a hotel manager at 3 a.m. to evacuate because the river was going out of its banks. Randy Schaffer details in a public Facebook post how they tried to drive to safety, but they were swept away by the floodwater.

Camp Mystic camper Renee Smajstrla died in the floods. Renee’s uncle told KHOU 11 she will forever “be living her best life” at Camp Mystic. Her family said this photo was taken on July 3, the day before the catastrophic flooding hit the region.

Greta Toranzo, 10, was a camper at Camp Mystic when the Guadalupe River quickly rose in the morning hours of July 4.

“It’s with unimaginable sadness we share that Greta’s family has confirmed she lost her life in the Kerr County floods,” read a post from the Sinclair Elementary Parent Teacher Organization. “As a community please continue to send your love and support to the entire Toranzo family. We do ask that you grant the Toranzo family privacy and room to grieve.”

Jeff and Amber Wilson, along with their son, Shiloh, lost their lives in the flooding. Shiloh was found later, family members confirmed on Friday, July 11. According to a fundraising page set up by the family, Jeff, Amber, and Shiloh were in the Kerville area for a rodeo with Shiloh, who was described as a “young, spirited competitor.” Jeff Wilson was a teacher in the Humble ISD.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said their deputies and Humble ISD police officers will escort Shiloh home from Kerrville to Kingwood on Saturday, July 12, where he will be reunited with his parents. 

Here are the people from the Houston area who are still missing in the flood:

Jack and James Burgess are still missing in the flood. John and Julia Burgess, their parents, have been confirmed dead. 

Camp Mystic counselor Katherine Ferruzzo of Houston is among the missing. Her family released a statement, sharing that Katherine has a “fierce and loving spirit” and they know she worked to save other lives.

Gary and DeeAnn Knetsch were camping directly next to the Guadalupe River with their son, Jake Moeller, his wife, Megan and their five-year-old daughter, Harley.  Gary, DeeAnn, Jake and Megan all lost their lives. Harley is still among the missing. 

Both families lived in Canyon Lake but have ties to the Houston and Mont Belvieu areas.

Harley Moeller was with her parents when they were overcome by the flood. Her parents have been confirmed dead. Harley remains missing.  

Aiden Heartfield of Beaumont was with Reese Menchaca of Conroe and Joyce Badon and Ella Cahill of Beaumont. Reese, Joyce, and Mary lost their lives in the flooding. Aiden remains missing.  

On Wednesday, July 9, Reese was returned home to Conroe. Deputies from five Montgomery County constable precincts drove to Kerrville to escort her body. Other first responders, neighbors and friends lined the streets of Conroe as they passed by.  

Ellen is a missing Camp Mystic camper, according to her family. (No photo available)

If you have confirmed information about someone missing or deceased from the Houston area, please contact KHOU 11 or submit verified information from local officials or family sources. We are committed to reporting responsibly and with compassion.