After sending a heartbreaking final text saying “we’re being washed away,” 21-year-old Joyce Catherine Badon was found dead following the catastrophic Texas floods that collapsed the riverside home where she stayed with friends, leaving her family devastated and three young people still missing as search efforts continue.

The heartbreaking story of 21-year-old Joyce Catherine Badon has become a symbol of the devastating Texas flood disaster, which has already claimed more than 90 lives.

Joyce, a college student who was staying with friends in Hunt, Texas, vanished during the torrential flooding that struck on Friday, July 4.

Now, her family is left grieving after confirming that her body has been found — days after receiving one final, chilling text message from her that read, “we’re being washed away.”

Joyce was staying in a riverside house along the Guadalupe River with three of her college friends when the flash floods overwhelmed the area in the early morning hours.

According to Louis Deppe, the leader of a volunteer search group, the house collapsed around 4 a.m. as the rising water engulfed it.

The last known communication from Joyce came through her phone just before it went dead — a haunting message that underscored the panic and helplessness of the moment.

Joyce’s father, Ty Badon, had been vocal throughout the search, speaking to media outlets and urging for continued prayers.

He told CNN that the group was staying at a home owned by one of the parents of her friends, and that all four were caught off guard by the rapidly rising floodwaters.

According to him, Aidan Heartfield, one of the young people in the house, was on the phone with his father as the situation escalated.

“Aidan said, ‘Hey, I’ve got to go, I’ve got to help Ella and Reese … they just got washed away,’ and then a few seconds later the phone just went dead, and that’s all we know,” Ty recalled.

On Monday, July 7, Joyce’s body was officially recovered. Her mother, Kellye Badon, shared the devastating news through a heartfelt Facebook post.

“God showed us the way we should go this morning! We found our lovely daughter who blessed us for 21 years! We pray to be able to find her three friends soon. Thanks to EVERYONE for the prayers and support. God is good!”

The three friends still missing — Ella Cahill, Aidan Heartfield, and Reese Manchaca — were also staying at the house, and search teams continue to look for them. Their families remain hopeful but acknowledge the grim circumstances.

The community surrounding Hunt, Texas, as well as volunteers from across the region, have joined forces to aid in the search and recovery efforts.

Among those helping in the search was Tina Hambly, the 55-year-old mother of Joyce’s best friend and roommate.

Using a kayak paddle to navigate the debris along the river, Tina and others combed through branches and wreckage in a desperate attempt to locate any of the missing. “We’re doing a seven-mile stretch, and there’s seven teams and we’re doing a mile apiece,” she explained.

“So just kind of dividing and conquering, trying to find any four of them or anyone.” She added that friends, families, and even strangers had shown up to assist, united by tragedy and hope.

The scale of the disaster has left much of Central Texas reeling. More than 90 people are confirmed dead, with dozens still missing as the region grapples with the aftermath of the flooding.

Infrastructure in some areas has been badly damaged, and emergency responders continue working around the clock to rescue those stranded, recover the deceased, and assess the damage.

Joyce Catherine Badon’s story has resonated deeply with the public, not only because of her youth and the abruptness of her loss, but because of the haunting detail of her final text — a simple, terrifying message that captured the sudden violence of the natural disaster.

In the face of such devastation, her family has shown remarkable grace, publicly thanking the many volunteers and agencies involved in the search.

As the community mourns and prays for the missing, the memory of Joyce continues to inspire an outpouring of love and support.

Vigils have been held in her honor, and the hashtag #RememberJoyce has begun circulating online as friends, classmates, and strangers alike share messages of condolence and solidarity.

With the search for Ella, Aidan, and Reese still ongoing, families cling to hope, drawing strength from one another and from the volunteers who refuse to give up.

For now, Joyce’s story stands as a painful reminder of the unpredictability of nature — and the extraordinary courage, love, and unity that can emerge in its wake.