Overview

• On July 7, The Kerr County Lead retracted its July 6 report that two girls swept away by Central Texas floods were found clinging to a tree.
• Sheriff Larry Leitha declared the rescue narrative “100% inaccurate” and urged residents to rely on official updates.
• A social media post claiming the rescue amassed over 3.7 million views before expert fact-checkers refuted the account.
• Volunteer rescuer Cord Shiflet apologized after sharing unverified testimony that DPS and local fire officials had confirmed the tree rescue.
• Search and recovery operations continue along the Guadalupe River while authorities emphasize rigorous sourcing to combat misinformation.