Three members of a Bay Area family — including the brother of a former San Francisco Giants pitcher — remain missing after a powerful flash flood swept through Hunt, Texas, during the Fourth of July weekend.
Mark Walker, his wife Sara, and their 14-year-old son Johnny vanished after torrential rains triggered a deadly flood that engulfed the neighborhood around their second home in the Texas Hill Country. The family was visiting while their 16-year-old daughter, Ellie, attended a nearby summer camp that was fortunately spared from the devastation.
Mark is the brother of Tyler Walker, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants from 2004 to 2008, briefly serving as the team’s closer in 2005. Tyler and his wife flew in from California to care for Ellie in the aftermath of the tragedy.
According to Kathy Walker, Mark’s mother, the family’s home was completely washed away by the rising floodwaters. The storm dumped nearly an inch of rain within hours, causing the Guadalupe River to surge an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, according to local officials. So far, the disaster has claimed at least 89 lives, with dozens still unaccounted for.
Back in Kentfield, California, the Walkers’ hometown, the community is grieving and holding onto hope. On Sunday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil at Bacich Elementary School to pray for the family’s safe return. Johnny had been preparing to start high school at Marin Catholic this fall, which is also planning a prayer service in his honor on Tuesday.
“In heartbreaking times like this, we turn to God and prayer for the Walker family and all the victims of the devastating floods in Texas,” the school shared in a statement.
“We are still praying for a miracle — that Ellie will be reunited with her mom, dad, and brother.”
Longtime Kentfield resident Pete Johnson told KTVU, “It’s just really, really tragic. My kids went to school with theirs. Everyone’s in shock. I know they’re still searching, but it’s just hard to take.”
As recovery efforts continue in Texas, the outpouring of support is growing. The NFL, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Texans recently pledged $1.5 million in aid for flood victims.
