The quiet mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, is in mourning after devastating flash floods claimed the lives of three people — including two young siblings, Sebastian (7) and Charlotte Trotter (4). The town, still reeling from last year’s wildfires, was unprepared for the storm that turned a peaceful creek into a deadly torrent on July 8. The Rio Ruidoso, once small enough to leap across, crested at a record 20.24 feet, swallowing homes, roads, and lives in seconds.
Charlotte and Sebastian were on a family vacation when their RV campground was overtaken by rising waters. Their parents, Sebastian Sr. — a soldier stationed at Fort Bliss — and Stephanie, a nursing student, were critically injured trying to save them. Though they fought with everything they had, the speed and force of the water proved impossible to overcome. Tragically, the two children were swept away.
Their loss struck a deep chord far beyond the village. Sebastian, a bright boy who adored soccer and Pokémon, had dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Charlotte, full of spunk and silliness, loved music and dressing up. Their aunt, Tiffanie Wyatt, described them as “full of life and laughter” — children who “knew nothing but love.”
As rescuers combed the area days later, they stumbled upon something that left even seasoned emergency workers in stunned silence. At the edge of the flood zone, a child’s toy piano sat upright — untouched — and next to it, a music box was softly playing a tune. No one knew how it got there or why it had started, but every person present stood still. One rescuer reportedly whispered, “It felt like they were saying goodbye.”
The village has since come together in support of the Trotter family. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover their mounting medical bills and the funeral costs for their children. The family also lost two of their three beloved dogs in the flood, making their grief even heavier. Yet through the pain, the community has responded with compassion and strength.
Mayor Lynn Crawford called the flooding “the worst Ruidoso has ever seen” and pledged continued support for all affected. Counseling services have been made available for survivors, and shelters have opened to assist displaced residents. The town’s official pages now post daily updates and ways people across the nation can help.
Charlotte and Sebastian may not have made it home — but their spirits left a mark that won’t be forgotten. Their laughter, their songs, their dreams still echo through the mountains they once explored. And in the silence left behind, Ruidoso stands — broken, but not alone.
