Texas Parents Sue Summer Camp Over Daughter’s Disappearance During Flood

The parents of an 8-year-old girl from Texas, Cecilia “Cile” Steward, who disappeared last summer during flash floods in the Hill Country, have initiated legal action against Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp she was attending. Will and CiCi Steward allege that the operators of the camp, run by the Eastland family for many years, failed to safeguard Cile, who is now “presumed to be deceased.”

According to the lawsuit, Cile’s parents had left her at Camp Mystic on June 29, 2025, for a month-long stay. It was her first experience at a sleepaway camp, a tradition in her family, as her mother, aunt, grandmother, and several cousins had also attended. Tragically, their farewell turned out to be their last moment with Cile.

The Stewards are pursuing over $1 million in both actual and punitive damages, as noted in the lawsuit filed in Travis County. In a disastrous event, 27 children and camp counselors were amongst 130 individuals who lost their lives after thunderstorms hit Kerr County, causing the Guadalupe River to flood on July 4, transforming a national holiday into a fateful day in Texas. The casualties included Richard “Dick” Eastland, the camp’s owner.

“We believe Dick was trying to save a few of the campers,” shared Lauren Garcia, a former camper, with reporters. “I believe he passed while trying to save them from the flooding.”

Nevertheless, the lawsuit claims that the Eastlands, Richard and his son Edward, delayed for more than an hour before evacuating the campers, despite the camp’s location in a flood-prone area with a history of such events. The lawsuit also suggests they paid scant attention to the National Weather Service’s alerts.

When the waters started to rise, the Eastlands prioritized relocating certain assets, like horses and canoes, to higher spots but failed to move the children. Edward Eastland allegedly instructed the campers to remain calm and stay on the top bunks as water entered the cabins. He was heard praying for the rain to stop, a desperate plea that went unanswered as the floodwaters surged.

The lawsuit names the camp, affiliated businesses, members of the Eastland family, and William Neely Bonner III, as defendants. Bonner heads Natural Fountain Properties Inc., which owns the land where Camp Mystic is situated. The Eastlands’ attorney, Mikal Watts, expressed their deep sorrow over the fatalities while maintaining the flood’s unpredictability and unprecedented severity.

“We disagree with the misinformation in the legal filings regarding the actions of Camp Mystic and Dick Eastland, who lost his life as well,” emphasized Watts. He assured that a detailed response to the accusations would follow.

Earlier legal complaints from 13 camper families and two counselors against the camp also cited “gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety.” Late last year, Camp Mystic disclosed plans to resume operations at a new location, touting independence from the sites affected by the tragedy.

The lawsuit from the Stewards provides a harrowing account of how Cile and her companions attempted to escape the rising water on an inflatable mattress, only for Cile to be swept away by the strong current as she neared potential refuge.

In their legal complaint, the parents strongly criticized the Eastland family, who allegedly attributed the disaster to an “unprecedented flood.” However, the Stewards argue that the danger was foreseeable and evidenced by past floods in the camp’s history.

“The Eastlands now blame God for what happened,” the lawsuit asserts. “The truth is that this flood was precedented.” Drawing a comparison to the biblical story of Noah, the lawsuit contends, “But even if it were, both Noah and the Eastlands were warned a flood was coming. The only difference is, Noah prepared. The Eastlands did not.”

Corky Siemaszko contributed reporting for NBC News Digital.