Parents of Missing Child Sue Camp Mystic After Deadly Flood

Lawsuit alleges camp owners ignored warnings and failed to protect campers from foreseeable flood risk.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The parents of Cile Steward, an 8-year-old girl who went missing during a deadly flash flood at Camp Mystic in Texas, have filed a lawsuit against the camp and its owners. The lawsuit alleges that the Eastland family, who own and operate the camp, ignored warnings about the flood risk and failed to implement proper safety measures to protect the campers. Cile Steward is the only victim whose body has not been found after the flood swept away 27 young campers and counselors.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing legal battle between the parents of flood victims and the owners of Camp Mystic, who the parents allege prioritized profits over camper safety. The case raises questions about accountability and oversight in the private camp industry, as well as the need for stronger regulations to protect children in these settings.

The details

The lawsuit filed by Cile Steward's parents, Will and CiCi Steward, accuses the Eastland family of negligence, gross negligence, premises liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It claims the camp had a long history of flooding issues but the owners refused to take adequate safety precautions, such as installing flood warning systems or developing proper evacuation plans. The lawsuit also alleges the Eastlands engaged in a public relations campaign to "sanitize the reality" of the tragedy and convince the public it was an "unavoidable act of God."

  • On July 2 and July 3, the National Weather Service and state officials began issuing public alerts about the flooding threat.
  • At 1:14 a.m. on July 4, the National Weather Service sent a flash flood warning, noting life-threatening conditions existed and that anyone in the area should move to higher ground immediately.
  • Around 3 a.m. on July 4, Dick Eastland and his son Edward began evacuating some cabins closest to the river, but the lawsuit claims there was no clear plan and they were "improvising."

The players

Cile Steward

An 8-year-old girl who went missing during the deadly flash flood at Camp Mystic. She is the only victim whose body has not been found.

Will and CiCi Steward

The parents of Cile Steward, who have filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic and its owners.

Dick Eastland

The 70-year-old majority owner of Camp Mystic who died while trying to rescue campers during the flood.

Edward Eastland

The son of Dick Eastland and a director of the specific area of Camp Mystic where the deaths occurred.

Camp Mystic

A Christian girls camp located in a remote area on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River in Texas.

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What they’re saying

“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 unforeseeable, and that no adequate early warning flood systems existed in the area.”

— Mikal Watts, Attorney representing Camp Mystic (expressnews.com)

“Cile was killed not because of an unavoidable act of nature, but because of preventable failures and broken promises.”

— Will and CiCi Steward, Parents of Cile Steward (expressnews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed and if the camp can reopen this summer as planned.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for stronger regulations and oversight in the private camp industry to ensure the safety of children. It also raises questions about the responsibility of camp owners to heed warnings and implement proper emergency protocols to protect campers from foreseeable risks.