Camp Mystic victim’s family asks a Texas judge to prevent the facility from reopening
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas judge is hearing evidence Wednesday on whether Camp Mystic, the all-girls youth camp where 25 girls and two counselors were murdered, was killed. last year’s flood disasterIt should remain closed while a lawsuit filed by one of the girls’ families continues.
The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who was swept away in the flood and whose body has still not been found, asked the Travis County judge to prevent the camp owners from reopening the facility while the case continues and to stop all construction. The requests for interim measures argue that any changes to the camp could destroy evidence needed for the case.
“It is now up to this Court to protect the public, plaintiffs’ search for answers, and the evidence at the Camp Mystic site,” the attorneys wrote.
campers and counselors killed Before dawn on July 4, rapidly rising floodwaters roared through a low-lying area of the summer camp. In total, devastating floods killed at least 136 people. ask questions It’s about how things got so bad.
The camp, established in 1926, was not evacuated and was hit hard when the river rose from 4.2 meters to 9 meters in 60 minutes.
“The worst thing you could do is put a bunch of 8-year-olds on a bus and try to get them out of there. They would all drown,” said Mikal Watts, an attorney for Camp Mystic and the family of its owners.
In a packed courtroom Wednesday, family members of the dead girls wore buttons showing their images as attorneys for Camp Mystic displayed images of trees planted in their memory and architectural renderings of plans to rebuild parts of the camp outside the 1,000-year flood zone.
Lawyers for Camp Mystic expressed sympathy for the girls’ families but argued there was little they could do during the devastating flood that quickly overwhelmed the camp. Pictures of rising floodwaters were shown in court on Wednesday.
“No one has ever seen a flood like what we’re seeing in 2025,” Watts said.
Edward Eastland, the son of camp owner Richard Eastland, who died in the flood, said in his statement on Wednesday that his mother, wife, children and another staff member were at the camp house when “the double doors of the house were broken” due to flood waters. They had to break a separate window to get out and onto higher ground. They all survived.
Eastland said there were security cameras around the campus, but no one watched the live feed as the water rose in the middle of the night. When he tried to lift it around 03:00 at night, he failed.
The decision to partially open the camp last year and build a monument in this area aroused anger Families of many girls grieving for their loved ones said they had not been consulted about the plans.
“We urge Camp Mystic to cease all discussion of reopening and memorial services,” CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials after the camp’s decision was announced.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked Texas regulators not renewing license For Camp Mystic, the deaths are being investigated and legal investigations are expected to begin in the spring.
Families of some of the dead girls filed a lawsuit against the camp’s operatorsHe argued that camp officials did not take the necessary steps to protect campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.
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Murphy reported from Oklahoma City.
