Camp Mystic Criminal Investigation
Texas Rangers investigate Camp Mystic flood deaths for potential manslaughter and criminal negligence.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
One warrant seeks access to executive director Willetta “Tweety” Eastland’s Apple iCloud account, including communications, location data, photographs and backups from July 3-4, 2025, to determine what camp leaders knew and how they responded.
2
Fourteen search-warrant affidavits were filed against members of the Eastland family and camp staff, and a Kerr County state district judge approved the warrants on Thursday. The Rangers said the alleged offenses involved both deceased and surviving child campers.
3
Investigators said their inquiry began in March, after hundreds of complaints about the camp had become public. More than a dozen families are separately suing Camp Mystic and its leaders over alleged negligence before and during the flood.
4
Texas Ranger Brant Johnston said several Eastland family members and the camp’s night security guard, Glenn Juenke, refused investigators’ attempts to conduct interviews; warrants were subsequently obtained for their Apple devices.
5
The Eastlands have said the Guadalupe River had flooded previously but never approached the levels reached in July 2025. The New York Times reported that Richard Eastland, his father Dick and security guard Glenn Juenke tried to evacuate cabins as the water rose.
Texas Rangers are investigating Camp Mystic for manslaughter and other criminal charges tied to a July 2025 flood that killed 25 campers and two teenage counselors, according to Texas Standard. Investigators obtained 14 search warrants to access phone records, emails and location data from camp executives and staff, seeking to determine what leaders knew about the flood threat and why they did not evacuate children sooner. The Guardian reported that the camp lacked adequate emergency plans, training drills and adult supervision.
The probe targets camp owner Richard Eastland and his family members, including executive director Willetta "Tweety" Eastland. KTSA noted that investigators allege the camp failed to move children from low-lying cabins despite monitoring flood warnings. Camp Mystic did not reopen after the disaster, and its owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Warrants Target Camp Leadership Communications
A Kerr County judge approved the search warrants on Thursday. One warrant seeks access to executive director Eastland's Apple iCloud account, including emails, texts, location data and photographs from July 3-4, 2025, according to Audacy. Investigators want to know what camp leaders knew about the flood threat and how they responded to it.
Texas Standard reported that several Eastland family members and camp night security guard Glenn Juenke refused to cooperate with investigators. When they would not be interviewed, Rangers obtained warrants to access their personal Apple devices without permission.
Allegations of Neglect and Poor Planning
Search warrant affidavits allege that Camp Mystic lacked proper emergency plans, failed to conduct evacuation drills and did not have enough trained staff supervising children. KTSA reported that investigators say the camp failed to move children from low-lying cabins despite receiving and monitoring flood warnings before the water rose.
Potential criminal charges include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, child abandonment, child endangerment and deadly conduct. No charges have been filed yet. The investigation began in March 2025 after hundreds of public complaints about the camp emerged.
Conflicting Accounts of Evacuation Response
The Eastland family has said the Guadalupe River had flooded before but never reached July 2025 levels. The New York Times reported that camp owner Richard Eastland, his father Dick and security guard Glenn Juenke tried to evacuate cabins as water rose. Investigators, however, allege evacuation efforts were delayed and inadequate.
More than a dozen families are suing Camp Mystic and its leaders separately, alleging negligence before and during the flood. The Guardian reported that the disaster killed 27 girls and counselors at the Christian all-girls camp in the Texas Hill Country.
Bankruptcy and Camp Closure
Camp Mystic did not reopen after the July 2025 flood. The camp's owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which allows them to reorganize while dealing with mounting legal liability from families of victims and survivors.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
20
Articles
76
Reach
96
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
