The Texas Rangers are pursuing a criminal investigation into the leadership of Camp Mystic, accusing the Hill Country retreat of committing manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and other offenses following a flash flood that killed 25 children and two counselors. According to public records, investigator Brant C. Johnston filed affidavits for 14 search warrants to retrieve digital data from the camp’s owners and staff to determine what was known and done before, during, and after the disaster.
Criminal Allegations and Investigation
In the affidavits, Johnston stated his belief that Camp Mystic LLC committed several crimes, including injury to a child, abandoning or endangering a child, and deadly conduct. These offenses were allegedly committed against both surviving campers and deceased victims.
The Texas Rangers’ investigation highlights several systemic failures at the Christian all-girls camp:
- Inadequate emergency plans and a lack of state-required written evacuation measures.
- A failure to conduct emergency drills or training.
- Insufficient adult counselor staffing in some cabins.
- Negligence in relocating children from low-lying cabins despite monitoring late-night flood warnings.
Johnston concluded that the camp consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death
to the children in its care, noting that young campers cannot be expected to independently recognize life-threatening hazards or organize evacuations without adequate adult supervision.
Timeline of the July 4 Disaster
The flash flood struck the Guadalupe River campus on July 4, 2025. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the area nearly two hours before the situation reached a crisis point around 3 a.m. The deluge eventually killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, including 119 deaths in Kerr County.
The disaster claimed the life of one of the camp’s owners and executive directors, 70-year-old Richard “Dick” Eastland. Court records indicate Eastland was submerged in more than 20 feet of water just before 4 a.m. while attempting to evacuate children in his Chevrolet Tahoe.
Bankruptcy and Legal Battles
Following the flood, numerous parents filed five lawsuits against Camp Mystic and members of the Eastland family, seeking millions of dollars in damages. A state-led probe and testimony in a Texas district court revealed that the Eastlands lacked written evacuation plans and ignored warnings of approaching bad weather.
The camp initially sought to reopen its newer Cypress Lake campus, which sits on higher ground and did not flood. However, after withdrawing its license application in April, Camp Mystic and three related business entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 24. During a virtual hearing in a Houston federal bankruptcy court, attorneys for the families expressed concern that the bankruptcy process might be used to hide information about the deaths.
Karen Nicolaou, managing director of Harney Partners and the court-appointed chief restructuring officer, stated she is unaware of any current plans for the camp to apply for a license to reopen.
Search Warrant Targets
The 14 search warrants, approved by a Kerr County state district judge, target Apple accounts and electronic communications.
| Name | Role/Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Willetta “Tweety” Eastland | Owner and Executive Director |
| Richard “Dick” Eastland | Owner and Executive Director (Deceased) |
| Edward Eastland | Director / Son of Dick and Tweety |
| Britt Eastland | Attorney / Son of Dick and Tweety |
| Richard Eastland Jr. | Son of Dick and Tweety |
| Mary Liz Eastland | Director / Wife of Edward |
| Cathryn “Catie” Eastland | Staff / Wife of Britt |
| Glenn Juenke | Night Watchman |
| Rachel Farhoudi | Senior Counselor |
| Lauren Bass | Photographer |
| Jane Charpentier | Office Assistant |
| Katarzyna Kruk | Seasonal Worker |
| Kalina Krol | Seasonal Worker |
| Joanna Schwarz | Seasonal Worker |
While some camp leaders have testified before the state Legislature and in court—including a tearful apology from Edward Eastland—investigator Johnston noted that several members of the Eastland family and top officials refused interviews with the Texas Rangers. No criminal charges have been brought as of the latest reports.
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