The family of an 8-year-old girl who went missing after being swept away by flooding in Hill Country last summer has initiated legal action against the owners of Camp Mystic, demanding a court order to prevent the camp’s reopening.
This lawsuit, spanning 100 pages, has been filed by Catherine and Will Steward, the parents of Cecilia “Cile” Steward. It is the fifth legal action taken by relatives of the 25 campers and two counselors who lost their lives during the devastating flood on July 4. Collectively referred to as “Heaven’s 27,” these young girls were part of over 130 fatalities attributed to the disaster. Each of the five lawsuits, including the Stewards’, seeks damages exceeding $1 million.
The legal complaints name both Camp Mystic and the Eastland family, who manage the camp, as defendants. Richard “Dick” Eastland, the camp’s operator during the flood, also perished in the tragedy. The Stewards’ lawsuit criticizes the camp, asserting that its Christian values concealed a gross negligence regarding the safety of the children entrusted to it.
The suit further claims that the camp’s emergency protocols were not compliant with Texas administrative standards, lacked a proper evacuation plan, and mandated that campers remain in their cabins during the flooding. Following the disaster, state legislators enacted new laws aimed at enhancing safety regulations for camps situated in flood-prone areas.
In a statement, the Stewards expressed their sorrow, noting, “Cile was taken from us 7 months ago, and while we recognize this lawsuit will not bring her back, we feel compelled to ensure the truth of Camp Mystic’s failures are exposed.”
Additionally, the Stewards are requesting a temporary restraining order to halt the camp’s reopening until the lawsuit reaches a resolution. Camp Mystic had announced plans to reopen one of its sites two months after the flood, a move that was met with strong opposition from the families of the deceased girls. The Stewards labeled the Eastlands’ decision to resume operations as “tone deaf,” arguing that it caused intentional emotional distress.
Although Cile is still officially categorized as a missing person, the lawsuit states that she is “presumed to be deceased.”
The legal action also draws parallels between the July 4 flood and previous flooding incidents in Camp Mystic’s history, notably a significant event in 1932. The lawsuit contends that the 2025 disaster was a repeat of earlier flooding that should have prompted the camp to implement additional safety measures.
In response, Camp Mystic’s attorney, Mikal Watts, stated that camp officials dispute the “misinformation” regarding their actions and those of the Eastland family. They plan to demonstrate in court that the flooding was both unexpected and unforeseeable.
“In the meantime, we remain proud of the legacy of Camp Mystic and its role in forging strong, young Christian women across Texas,” Watts remarked, “and will endeavor to continue that role in the future while focused entirely on implementing a litany of new procedures and new technologies to make Camp Mystic and the community around us safe for all who come in the future.”
