Camp Director Breaks Down in Court Over Missing Girl After Deadly Flood
Edward Eastland, the director of Camp Mystic, broke down in court on Monday as he admitted he does not know what happened to eight-year-old camper Cecilia "Cile" Steward during flash floods that killed 27 children and counselors last July. His emotional testimony came at a hearing connected to a lawsuit brought by Cecilia's parents, who are still searching for their missing daughter.
Heart-Wrenching Testimony Recounts Chaotic Evacuation
In his testimony, Edward recounted the chaotic morning of July 4, 2025, when the Guadalupe River began to rise rapidly. He described desperately entering cabins to rescue campers, with most victims having been asleep in two riverside cabins built less than 250 feet from the river. "There were girls going out of the front door," he said, according to the Washington Post. "I grabbed two girls and there was a third one I didn't grab."
Edward noted that another girl then "jumped on my back - I don't know who it was - before we got washed out." He added, "The water was over my head very quickly. The water was churning... That part of the whole night has been a big blur for me." Under cross-examination, he admitted, "I don't know if she was on my back," referring to Cecilia, while weeping as he recounted the night that also claimed his father's life.
Lack of Evacuation Plan and Delayed Response Revealed
Edward acknowledged under questioning that the camp had no detailed written flood evacuation plan. He further conceded that more campers might have survived if he, his father Richard Eastland (camp co-owner), and the camp safety director had made quicker decisions to evacuate. Instead, Edward revealed he slept through a CodeRED text alert sent on July 3 warning of dangerous flash floods expected to last several hours.
He finally woke when his father called via walkie-talkie shortly before 2 a.m., warning of heavy rain and the need to move canoes and water equipment. Yet, they still did not evacuate the cabins at that point. "It was not reasonable to do that at the time," Edward explained. "The water wasn't out of the Guadalupe River. It was pouring down rain and lightning, and the cabins were safe at the time." However, the river surged from 14 feet to 29.5 feet in just one hour soon after.
Legal Battle Over Camp Preservation and Reopening Plans
The hearing occurred as camp officials seek to appeal a judge's order mandating the preservation of damaged cabins and other parts of the campus—a move opposed by Cecilia's parents. The Steward family argued that destroying these areas could eliminate evidence needed for their lawsuit, leading Judge Maya Guerra Gamble to halt construction on the Guadalupe River campus last month.
Camp lawyers contend the ruling is "deeply flawed" and that the camp would suffer harm if destroyed cabins remain. They noted the Stewards' legal team has made multiple visits to Camp Mystic since the tragedy, with ample time for evidence collection as Texas Rangers continue searching for Cecilia. However, Brad Beckworth, the Stewards' attorney, argued that camp officials filed for a state license indicating plans to use all camp areas, including activities like snorkeling in the river, which he called a "complete disregard" for the injunction.
Edward admitted this was a mistake, explaining the camp submitted outdated material with inaccurate activity lists. Meanwhile, camp officials hope to reopen the all-girls camp on higher ground in less than two months, with nearly 900 girls already registered. The application targets the Cypress Lake campus, unaffected by the flood, with Britt Eastland, who runs that campus, stating, "We've decided that this was a campus that did not have any flood damage, so we would try to make a very positive and healthy experience and safe experience."
Safety Concerns and Political Opposition to Reopening
Following the hearing, Cecilia's mother, Cici Steward, argued state officials should not allow the camp to reopen. "It's so clear they are incapable of keeping children safe," she told reporters. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick echoed this sentiment in a February letter urging the Department of State Health Services not to renew Camp Mystic's license for the 2026 season until legislative investigations are complete and corrective actions taken.
"Twenty-eight lives were taken, and until these deaths are investigated and any necessary corrective actions are taken to ensure this never happens again, a camp license should not be issued to Camp Mystic," Patrick wrote. The license renewal process will now take several weeks, involving application review, emergency plan assessment, and a pre-licensure inspection. Camp officials have stated they have added a new flood warning system, sensors, and sirens near campgrounds to prevent future tragedies.
