Camp Mystic wrongful death lawsuits to resume Nov. 9

A federal bankruptcy judge ruled Friday that a pause on wrongful death lawsuits involving Camp Mystic will end November 9, clearing the way for families to pursue legal action following the July 4, 2025 deadly flooding in Kerr County.  Judge Christopher Lopez issued the ruling during a bankruptcy hearing Friday.

Two families seeking to file lawsuits will be eligible to pursue their claims in state court once the pause is lifted.  The judge did not determine when or where those lawsuits will proceed.  The hearing also addressed who should oversee Camp Mystic’s bankruptcy proceedings.  The debtors are seeking the appointment of an independent fiduciary, while creditors want a U.S. trustee appointed through the government.  Lopez did not rule Friday on whether a trustee or independent fiduciary will be appointed.

Twenty-seven campers and counselors and Dick Eastland, the owner of Camp Mystic, died while attending the camp during the catastrophic floods.

Karen Nicolaou, the chief financial officer involved in the bankruptcy case, testified for nearly five hours about the camp’s finances and said the camp owes approximately $1.25 million in refunds for deposits and tuition.  Nicolaou said the camp’s bank accounts contain roughly $4.5 million and testified that some members of the Eastland family have been living in homes on camp property without paying rent or utilities and have used vehicles associated with the camp.  The Eastland family owns and operates the camp.

Nicolaou testified that either an independent fiduciary or trustee would need to be in place before proceeding with a potential sale of the camp.  The bankruptcy proceedings remain ongoing.

Additionally, as part of a criminal investigation, the Texas Rangers have seized electronic devices belonging to Camp Mystic leaders, according to search warrants.  The warrants accused Camp Mystic LLC of committing manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, abandoning or endangering a child, injury to a child, and deadly conduct.  Texas Rangers executed the warrant October 2.

Court records show the Texas Rangers seized eight iPhones and two Apple watches belonging to several members of the Eastland family from a storage facility in Denton County.  The latest warrant follows 14 search warrants issued last month targeting electronic records belonging to Camp Mystic leaders and employees.

In the warrant, Texas Ranger Investigator Brant Johnson said he believes the devices have “data demonstrating the conscious disregard of recognized hazards, real-time communications, culpable mental states regarding the disaster, and the coordination – or lack thereof – among camp leadership.”

Earlier this month, attorneys representing the Eastlands filed motions to stop Texas Rangers from reviewing digital evidence.  Texas Rangers have not looked through the seized devices yet because of “the potential presence of attorney-client privileged information,” court records state.

Lucy Wilke, the district attorney representing Kerr County, filed a motion last week recusing herself from the criminal investigation of Camp Mystic, citing her ties to the Hunt area and a past working relationship with a member of the Eastland family.