In a shocking turn of events, camp leaders at Camp Mystic are facing serious accusations related to a tragic flood incident that resulted in the loss of life and endangered many campers. The charges include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and injury to a child, highlighting a severe breach of the duty of care owed to the children in their supervision.
Texas Ranger investigator Brant Johnston detailed in court documents that these offenses were committed against child campers, which includes both those who tragically lost their lives and those who survived the flood event. The investigation seeks to uncover what camp leaders knew and did during this critical time.
To aid in their inquiry, authorities have secured 14 warrants that will allow them to search electronic records related to the camp. This step is crucial for piecing together the timeline of events leading up to, during, and after the devastating flood.
The New York Times was the first to report on these warrants, which were signed last week. Initially, Camp Mystic had plans to reopen for the 2026 summer camp season, but those plans were later canceled due to the ongoing investigation.
According to affidavits from the investigation, several members of the Eastland family, who own the camp, chose not to speak with investigators. The flood also claimed the life of camp owner Dick Eastland, whose watch data indicated he was submerged in over twenty feet of water shortly before 4 a.m. on July 4, 2025.
On that fateful morning, Dick Eastland’s son, Richard Eastland Jr., awoke to troubling news about flooding at their rental home. Despite receiving a warning about dangerous flash flooding on his phone, he reportedly did not feel concerned, a detail that raises questions about the awareness and response of the camp leaders during the crisis.
As of now, no one has been formally charged with a crime, but the investigation is ongoing. Our team is meticulously reviewing over 600 pages of court records to provide further insights into this tragic incident. More updates will follow as we learn more about what happened at Camp Mystic.
