A young boy's life was tragically cut short when a massive branch from a decaying oak tree snapped and fell on him at a summer camp in Los Angeles, as his horrified parents looked on.
A Preventable Tragedy Unfolds
According to legal filings, eight-year-old Lamar McGlothurn died on July 9 while playing at Camp Wildcraft, located in the Santa Monica Mountains. The incident occurred as his parents, Madeline Eaton and Kevin Shrestha, were arriving to collect him from the Calabasas camp, forcing them to witness their son's death.
The family's attorney, Robert Glassman, stated starkly: 'A deadly, decaying branch hung over children's heads, and no one acted. Lamar had to pay the ultimate price because of their indifference and inaction.'
Prior Warnings Ignored
Government claims allege that both the camp's owners and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), which operates the King Gillette Ranch where the camp is situated, were aware of the danger posed by the tree. Text messages and emails cited in legal documents reveal that ranch staff had acknowledged the tree's decay.
On July 2, the MRCA reportedly requested the urgent removal of a different branch that had snapped, describing it as 'large' and 'suspended by other branches'. The following day, an official identified only as the MRCA's division chief responded, 'Wow. That was a massive branch. Thank god that no one was seriously hurt or killed,' adding, 'I would not have been able to sleep at night knowing that branch was just waiting to fall.'
Tragically, less than a week later, another branch from the same tree fell, this time striking and killing Lamar as he played underneath it. The legal claim asserts that 'Camp Wildcraft and MRCA inexplicably directed groups of young children to play, paint and rest directly under the tree.'
Aftermath and Legal Action
The tree failure caused injuries to four other individuals:
- A five-year-old boy with head cuts and a laceration.
- An 11-year-old girl who suffered a broken leg.
- A 22-year-old man with head abrasions and arm bruising.
- A 73-year-old man who sustained a concussion.
Lamar's parents have now filed government claims—a necessary precursor to a lawsuit—for the wrongful death of their son and the severe emotional distress they endured. Their legal team argues the incident was entirely 'preventable' and not a spontaneous accident, claiming proper safety measures like blocking off the hazardous area would have averted the tragedy.
The MRCA confirmed it is reviewing the claims and cooperating with the investigation, stating it is 'committed to a full, thorough, and transparent inquiry.' The family's attorneys have indicated they will proceed with a wrongful death lawsuit if the MRCA does not respond within the mandated 45-day period.
