Families of Camp Mystic Tragedy File Lawsuit

The families of seven girls and a camp counselor who lost their lives in the Camp Mystic flood during July 4th in Hunt, Texas, have initiated a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit. They are accusing the camp’s owners of prioritizing profits over safety, effectively neglecting flood risks and state safety regulations.

The lawsuit was lodged on November 10 in Travis County District Court by attorney R. Paul Yetter from the Yetter Coleman law firm. It represents the families of Anna Margaret Bellows, Lila Bonner, Chloe Childress, Molly DeWitt, Catherine Ferruzzo, Laney Landry, and Blakely McCrory, all of whom tragically drowned in the aftermath of the floods.

In the 75-page document, the petition states that Camp Mystic and its proprietors “chose profits over safety,” alleging they kept young girls in flood-prone cabins to cut costs instead of relocating them to safer areas.

Furthermore, the camp is accused of lacking an adequate evacuation plan, which is a requirement according to state regulations.

“A tragedy befell our nation on July 4, 2025,” the complaint asserts. “When 25 campers and two counselors were needlessly killed during a flood at Camp Mystic.”

Camp Mystic spans 725 acres along the Guadalupe River, a locale notoriously prone to rapid flash floods. The lawsuit references a 1990 comment from then-Superintendent Richard Eastland, who stated in an interview that “there will be other drownings” as people often ignore warnings.

According to the complaint, the camp disregarded weather alerts, staff warnings, and even past experiences with flooding.

Counselors urged the girls to leave the low-lying areas but were reportedly told, “that’s the plan, stay there.”

Summary of events:

• 1:14 a.m. — National Weather Service issues a “life-threatening flash flood” warning.
• 1:45 a.m. to 2:13 a.m. — Camp leaders allegedly moved equipment without starting an evacuation.
• 2:20 a.m. — A counselor reported water entering a cabin but was instructed to stay put.
• 2:30-3:30 a.m. — Some cabins were evacuated, while others like Nat Hut, Chatter Box, and Wiggle Inn were left behind.
• 3:35-3:51 a.m. — Richard Eastland’s SUV was swept away during a rescue attempt, leading to the drowning of 13 campers and two counselors in one cabin.
• 3:35-4:09 a.m. — Eleven campers perished in Twins Cabin after being told to remain inside.

The petition contends the girls could have escaped to safety within a minute if not for the order to stay in their cabins.

The families are accusing Camp Mystic of grave negligence, institutional liability, and intentional emotional distress. They also point to a camp policy stating that “in the event of flooding, campers at Senior Hill must remain in their cabins because they are in a safe elevated location.”

The suit mentions that the camp misled families after the incident by suggesting the girls were just “missing” hours after the flood receded. Additionally, the camp’s announcement to reopen next summer—despite one camper, Cyle Steward, still unaccounted for—has intensified anger among the families.

They are seeking over $1 million in damages, including punitive and wrongful death damages, and are asking for a jury trial.