Texas investigators seek evidence of manslaughter, other crimes in 27 flood deaths at Camp Mystic

Texas Rangers are seeking evidence of potential manslaughter, negligent homicide, and child abandonment in connection with a catastrophic flash flood on July 4, 2025, that claimed the lives of 27 people at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River in Texas.

The criminal investigation centers on camp owners and leadership, including camp director Edward Eastland and the late owner Richard Eastland. State investigators executed search warrants targeting electronic communications to determine whether management consciously disregarded severe weather warnings and failed to provide adequate supervision and emergency evacuation plans for the young girls in their care.

Incident Overview

Before dawn on July 4, 2025, devastating floodwaters surged beyond the banks of the Guadalupe River, inundating Camp Mystic, a long-established Christian sleepaway camp for young girls located in Texas. The rapidly rising waters engulfed low-lying cabins where campers were asleep, leading to the deaths of 25 young campers and two teenage counselors. Camp owner Richard Eastland was also killed in the flood. Across a several-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River, the destructive flooding ultimately claimed at least 136 lives.

According to an affidavit filed by Texas Rangers investigator Brant Johnston, the camp maintained inadequate emergency plans, failed to execute required emergency drills or staff training, and lacked sufficient adult counselors in several cabins. Despite late-night flood warnings issued ahead of the river surge, camp management neglected to take preemptive precautions, such as relocating campers from vulnerable, low-lying structures to higher ground before the dangerous surge occurred.

Timeline of Events

1. Late-Night Hours, Pre-July 4, 2025: Severe flood warnings are issued for the Guadalupe River area; camp leadership monitors warnings but does not relocate children from low-lying cabins.
2. Before Dawn, July 4, 2025: The Guadalupe River surges past its banks, sweeping through low-lying areas of Camp Mystic and killing 27 people at the facility.
3. Post-Flood Months: Camp Mystic closes permanently, refrains from reopening for the subsequent season, and files for bankruptcy reorganization. Camp director Edward Eastland and other officials testify before courtrooms and the Texas Legislature.
4. Search Warrant Execution: Texas Rangers execute search warrant applications seeking electronic communications from camp owners and leadership regarding potential manslaughter, negligent homicide, and child abandonment.

Suspect Information

Investigative filings target the leadership and corporate entity of Camp Mystic, LLC, including camp director Edward Eastland and former owner Richard Eastland. Richard Eastland passed away during the flood event on July 4, 2025. Search warrant applications focus on electronic communications belonging to the owners and key decision-makers to evaluate whether their actions or omissions meet the legal thresholds for criminal negligence or reckless endangerment. No formal criminal indictments or arrests have been announced against surviving leadership at this stage of the ongoing inquiry.

Victim Information

The disaster claimed the lives of 27 individuals at Camp Mystic, comprising 25 child campers and two teenage counselors. Among the victims was camper Cile Steward, whose family is represented by attorneys Christina Yarnell and Brad Beckworth. For decades, the Christian sleepaway camp served as a long-standing summer institution where generations of families sent young girls to participate in horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, and Bible studies.

Police Response

Emergency responders and state law enforcement agencies deployed to the Guadalupe River basin during and immediately following the catastrophic July 4, 2025 flooding. Tactical teams, rescue units, and state investigators initiated search and recovery operations across the affected river corridor, where floodwaters caused widespread destruction and claimed at least 136 lives overall across several miles of riverfront area.

Investigation

The Texas Rangers are leading the ongoing criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths at Camp Mystic. Investigator Brant Johnston reported making multiple visits to the camp property and conducting extensive interviews with witnesses, flood survivors, and individuals affiliated with the facility. However, court filings indicate that several key figures, including members of the Eastland family and senior camp executives, refused formal interviews with state law enforcement investigators, prompting law enforcement to seek search warrants for electronic records.

Evidence Collected

• Applications for search warrants executed to secure electronic communications of Camp Mystic owners and leadership.
• On-site physical examinations and structural assessments conducted by Texas Rangers across multiple visits to Camp Mystic grounds.
• Witness testimony, interview records, and accounts gathered from flood survivors, staff, and associated personnel.
• Transcripts and recordings of testimony delivered by camp leadership before courtrooms and the Texas State Legislature.

Arrest Details

No formal arrests have been made and no criminal charges have been filed in court as of the latest law enforcement disclosures. The investigation remains active under the direction of the Texas Rangers, with prosecutors evaluating digital evidence obtained through recent search warrants to determine whether criminal filings are warranted.

Charges Filed

While formal charges have not yet been presented in court, Texas Rangers search warrant applications specify three primary criminal offenses under review regarding the management of Camp Mystic:

• Manslaughter: Under Texas law, manslaughter involves recklessly causing the death of an individual. A person acts recklessly when consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk. The risk must constitute a gross deviation from standard care. It is a felony offense carrying potential statutory imprisonment terms.
• Negligent Homicide: Criminally negligent homicide occurs when a person causes death through criminal negligence, failing to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk. This offense is typically charged as a state jail felony under state statutes, punishable by state jail confinement and fines.
• Child Abandonment / Endangerment: Child abandonment or endangerment involves conduct placing a child under 15 years of age in imminent danger of death or bodily injury. Depending on intent and circumstances, penalties range from state jail felonies to second-degree felony counts carrying significant prison terms.

Court Information

Specific court case and docket numbers for criminal proceedings have not been released because no formal indictments or criminal complaints have been filed. However, civil and corporate proceedings associated with the incident are underway, as Camp Mystic, LLC has filed for bankruptcy reorganization following its decision not to reopen for the summer season. Additionally, camp leadership has provided sworn testimony in separate judicial hearings and legislative committee sessions convened by the Texas Legislature.

Statements from Authorities

In a sworn search warrant affidavit, Texas Rangers investigator Brant Johnston stated that Camp Mystic possessed inadequate emergency plans and failed to execute emergency training or drills. Johnston wrote: "Young campers cannot reasonably be expected to independently recognize a rapidly developing, life-threatening hazard or to organize and execute an evacuation absent direction from an adequate number of adult supervisors." Johnston further concluded: "Camp Mystic, LLC was aware of and consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death to the campers in their care."

In addition, Christina Yarnell and Brad Beckworth, attorneys representing the family of victim Cile Steward, issued a written statement regarding the investigation: "For more than a year, families of the 27 angels killed at Camp Mystic have fought, begged, and pleaded with the Eastland family for accountability and answers. Instead, the Eastlands have held hostage the information and answers owed to parents who deserve, more than anyone, to know the details surrounding their daughters' final moments."

Public Safety Information

Members of the public seeking guidance on emergency preparedness, severe weather evacuation planning, or reporting child safety concerns can contact local emergency management offices or call 911 in immediate emergencies. For general safety information, victim advocacy, or child protective inquiries, resources are available through local law enforcement agencies and state emergency services offices.

What Happens Next

Following the execution of search warrants, digital forensics examiners with state law enforcement will analyze electronic communications retrieved from camp leadership. Prosecutors and state investigators will evaluate the evidence to decide whether to present findings to a county grand jury for potential indictment. If a grand jury returns indictments, formal criminal charges will be lodged, triggering arraignments and preliminary court proceedings. Meanwhile, Camp Mystic's bankruptcy filings and related civil legal matters continue to proceed through the court system.