The devastating flash flood that swept through Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian all-girls sleepaway camp along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, on July 4, 2025, has cast a long shadow over the Hill Country and beyond. In the aftermath of a disaster that claimed the lives of 25 campers, two counselors, and the camp’s director, grieving families have taken their first step toward accountability: filing lawsuits that allege gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety by the camp and its owners.
The tragedy unfolded in the predawn hours as more than 12 inches of rain pummeled the region in less than six hours, causing the Guadalupe River to rise an astonishing 20 feet per hour. According to ABC News, the river surged from about three feet to nearly 30 feet in just 45 minutes, inundating the camp and trapping many of the youngest girls in their riverside cabins. The disaster was part of a wider catastrophe that left at least 138 dead across the Hill Country, with 117 fatalities in Kerr County alone.
On November 10, 2025, the families of five campers—Anna Margaret Bellows (8), Lila Bonner (9), Molly DeWitt (9), Lainey Landry (9), and Blakely McCrory (8)—and two counselors, Chloe Childress (18) and Katherine Ferruzzo (19), filed one of three lawsuits in Travis County District Court. The suits, filed with the help of attorneys Paul Yetter, Justin Tschoepe, Reid Simpson, and Shannon Smith, accuse Camp Mystic and its owners, the Eastland family, of prioritizing profits over safety and failing to implement required evacuation plans, despite the camp’s location in the notoriously flood-prone area known as "Flash Flood Alley."
"Today, campers Margaret, Lila, Molly, Lainey, and Blakely should be third graders, and counselors Chloe and Katherine should be freshmen at the University of Texas. They all are gone," the petition states. The lawsuit goes on to allege that the camp’s actions since the tragedy have only deepened the pain for the families, citing Camp Mystic’s recent announcement that it will partially reopen a sister site next summer while continuing to evaluate whether to rebuild the Guadalupe River location.
The families’ legal filings are unsparing in their criticism. The lawsuits allege that camp officials made "catastrophic decisions concerning the cabin locations," failed to heed repeated weather warnings, and maintained unsafe flood policies, including an alleged "never evacuate" order. In one particularly damning claim, the suits state that the camp ordered campers to remain in their cabins as floodwaters rose, delaying evacuation efforts to prioritize salvaging equipment rather than saving lives. "The Camp chose not to evacuate its campers and counselors, even as floodwater reached the cabins, until counselors demanded it," the lawsuit asserts. The rescue effort, the families contend, was "hopeless" and came too late for many victims.
Ryan DeWitt, father of 9-year-old Molly, captured the grief and determination of the families in a statement to CNN: "We carry the memory of our daughter in everything we do. This legal step is one of honoring her, and we believe that truth and justice are essential to finding peace—not only for our family, but for every family affected."
The second lawsuit was filed by the parents of Eloise "Lulu" Peck, an 8-year-old who also perished in the flood. Their attorney, Randy Howry, emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy: "This was not an unforeseeable act of nature. What happened at Camp Mystic was preventable, and no parent should ever endure the pain of sending their child to a place of safety only to face tragedy." The Peck family’s suit alleges that the camp’s directors and owners knew the facilities were in a flood zone, were aware of the history of flash flooding in the area, and had received warnings from family members about the risk—but failed to act.
A third lawsuit, filed by the father of 9-year-old Ellen Getten, names additional defendants and echoes similar accusations. It claims the camp’s directors should have been on "high alert" after an emergency response activation in the area and had ample time to evacuate all campers. The lawsuit alleges that a plan to evacuate came more than 12 hours after a flash flood warning and was "wholly inadequate," leaving some of the youngest children stranded without instruction or adult assistance.
Each lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages, with the families pursuing actual and exemplary damages to hold Camp Mystic accountable and push for stronger safety standards at Texas youth camps. Paul Yetter, attorney for the families, summarized their intent: "Our clients have filed this lawsuit to seek accountability and truth. Camp Mystic failed at its primary job to keep its campers and counselors safe, and young girls died as a result. This action is about transparency, responsibility and ensuring no other family experiences what these parents will now suffer the rest of their lives."
Camp Mystic, for its part, has expressed sympathy while disputing the allegations. In a statement provided to ABC News, the camp said, "We continue to pray for the grieving families and ask for God’s healing and comfort." Jeff Ray, legal counsel for Camp Mystic, added, "We intend to demonstrate and prove that this sudden surge of floodwaters far exceeded any previous flood in the area by several magnitudes, that it was unexpected and that no adequate warning systems existed in the area. We disagree with several accusations and misinformation in the legal filings regarding the actions of Camp Mystic and Dick Eastland, who lost his life as well. We will thoroughly respond to these accusations in due course."
Richard "Dick" Eastland, co-owner of the camp, died during his efforts to save campers. According to CNN, Eastland and his son Edward began mobilizing the ground crew shortly after the first warning at 1:14 a.m., but cell phone coverage in the remote area was limited. Camp Mystic attorney Mikal Watts described an "orderly evacuation process of 10 different camps or cabins" before 3 a.m., and he challenged the idea that evacuating children during flash flooding is always the safest option: "You shelter in place. That’s first and foremost what you ought to do. Do not take 9-year-old girls who weigh 63 pounds on average into raging floodwaters. They’re going to get washed away."
The disaster has sparked broader questions about summer camp safety in Texas. As ABC News reported, the catastrophe prompted the state to pass legislation enhancing safety measures at camps and creating a grant program for early-warning sirens in flood-prone areas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed tougher camp safety laws in September, requiring local governments to install outdoor sirens and warning systems where needed.
Despite the tragedy, Camp Mystic announced plans in September to partially reopen for its 100th anniversary in summer 2026. The section of the camp near the Guadalupe River will remain closed due to the extensive damage, but the newer Cypress Lake site, located uphill and undamaged, will welcome campers again. "The heart of Camp Mystic has never stopped beating, because you are Mystic," camp officials said. "We are not only rebuilding cabins and trails, but also a place where laughter, friendship and spiritual growth will continue to flourish."
For the families who lost loved ones, the lawsuits are about more than compensation—they are a quest for answers, accountability, and the hope that no other family will have to endure such a loss. As the legal process unfolds, the story of Camp Mystic stands as a somber reminder of the stakes when safety is at risk and the price of lessons learned too late.
