20-month-old Austin boy among victims of Kerr County flooding

A 20-month-old Austin boy died in the Kerr County flash flood after his family’s home was engulfed by water from the Guadalupe River, a family member confirmed to the American-Statesman on Tuesday.

Seven relatives of attorney Clint Parsley had gathered at their riverfront home near Ingram to celebrate the Fourth of July when the river rose to historic levels early Friday.

Clay Parisher, the son of Lance Parisher and Alissa Parsley, died, according to Aaron Parsley, the boy’s uncle and a senior editor at Texas Monthly. The family declined further comment.

Five days after devastating floods struck Central Texas, the Austin-area death toll had reached 14 as of Tuesday morning. Authorities have been slow to release the identities of victims, but schools, friends, and family members have publicly shared news of their losses.

In Travis County, seven deaths have been confirmed, and 10 people remain missing. The Big Sandy Creek area was particularly hard hit, with some residents expressing frustration over the lack of aid.

"I cannot overstate my heartbreak and condolences for the families of those who lost their lives in the northwestern Travis County floods," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a statement to the Statesman on Monday.

The statewide death toll exceeded 100 on Monday, with most fatalities confirmed in Kerr County. Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday afternoon that 161 people remain missing in Kerr County, the state’s hardest-hit area.

The number of fatalities in Kerr County has increased to 95, according to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha, who spoke at a news conference Wednesday morning. This total includes 59 adults and 36 children.

Two 8-year-old girls were the first from Austin to be publicly identified as victims of the Camp Mystic flood.

Linnie McCown was a student at Casis Elementary in West Austin, her father, Michael, told the American-Statesman on Sunday.

In an emotional social media post, he wrote: "She filled our hearts with so much joy we cannot begin to explain. We are going to miss her so very much but know she's up there shining bright."

Mary Stevens, who attended Highland Park Elementary School in north-central Austin, also was among the victims, a family spokesman said.

The spokesman shared a social media post written by her mother, Stacy, saying "you have left the most positive impact on everyone who knew you. I'm the luckiest that I got to be your mom and I will never stop loving you and trying to live life as you did. Fearless. Enthusiastic. Compassionate. And full of joy."

"Our world is shattered but I have peace getting your letters and knowing you were having the time of your life at camp and had a dance party with all of your friends before the Lord decided to take you from us. He has bigger plans for you," Stacy Stevens wrote.