The parents of 8‑year‑old Cecilia 'Cile' Steward have sued Camp Mystic and Eastland family members after she vanished during July flooding along the Guadalupe River and is presumed deceased. The complaint alleges delayed evacuation, ignored National Weather Service warnings, and a minimal emergency plan; the family seeks more than $1 million in damages. Camp representatives say the flood was unprecedented and unforeseeable and will contest the claims. The suit follows other wrongful death filings tied to the same tragedy.
Parents Sue Camp Mystic After 8‑Year‑Old Vanishes in Deadly Texas Flood
A search-and-rescue team looks near a damaged building at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, on July 7. (Ronaldo Shemidt / AFP - Getty Images)(Ronaldo Shemidt)
The parents of 8‑year‑old Cecilia 'Cile' Steward have filed a lawsuit against Camp Mystic and members of the Eastland family after Cile disappeared during catastrophic July flooding along the Guadalupe River in Texas. The Stewards say their daughter is presumed dead and accuse camp operators of failing to protect campers despite known flood risk and weather warnings.
Cile's parents, Cici and Will Steward. (Ilana Panich-Linsman for NBC News)(Ilana Panich-Linsman for NBC News)
Details of the Lawsuit
Will and CiCi Steward filed the complaint Wednesday in Travis County, seeking in excess of $1 million in actual and punitive damages. The lawsuit names Camp Mystic, affiliated companies, several Eastland family members including Edward Eastland, and William Neely Bonner III, president of Natural Fountain Properties Inc., which owns the land where the camp operated.
An officer prays with a family as they pick up items at Camp Mystic on July 9. (Ashley Landis / AP)(Ashley Landis)
Allegations
The suit alleges that Camp Mystic had only a minimal evacuation plan, repeatedly ignored National Weather Service advisories, and delayed moving campers even while moving property such as horses and canoes to higher ground. According to the complaint, the camp waited more than an hour to evacuate riverside cabins and at one point instructed children to climb to top bunks as water rose.
Law enforcement works to retrieve a deceased person near Camp Mystic on July 7. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)(Brandon Bell)
The filing says Cile and two other campers escaped on an inflatable mattress but Cile fell off, attempted to swim toward a tree where survivors had gathered, and was swept away by a strong current. The Stewards write that she was 'so close to survival' but the current was too strong.
Context and Responses
Slow‑moving thunderstorms in Kerr County on July 4 caused the Guadalupe River to surge. State officials reported 130 people died in the statewide storms, including 27 children and camp counselors at sites in the Hill Country. Richard 'Dick' Eastland, the owner of Camp Mystic, was among the victims.
Debris is piled up at the entrance to Camp Mystic on July 7. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images file)(Brandon Bell)
Attorney Mikal Watts, representing the Eastlands, expressed sorrow for the victims and said the family will show the flood was an unprecedented, unforeseeable surge that exceeded historical records and local early‑warning capacities. Watts also disputed details in the plaintiffs' filings and said the family will respond in court.
The Stewards' lawsuit follows an earlier November complaint from families of 13 campers and two counselors who died, which alleged gross negligence and reckless disregard for safety. In December, Camp Mystic announced plans to reopen at a separate Cypress Lake location this summer; the camp’s website says this new site is independent from the older Guadalupe River property.
What the Plaintiffs Say Now
The Stewards accuse the Eastlands of downplaying risks by calling the flood a '1,000‑year' event and deflecting responsibility. The complaint stresses that prior flooding in the area should have prompted stronger planning and evacuation procedures. The plaintiffs say they will pursue accountability for what they describe as preventable failures that cost their daughter her life.
As the legal process unfolds, both sides are preparing for litigation. The Stewards seek damages for their loss and to hold camp operators responsible, while the defendants plan to contest liability and the foreseeability of the flood.
Help us improve.
