Unrecovered: The Tragic Story Of The Camp Mystic Texas Missing Girls And The July 2025 Flood
The search for "Camp Mystic Texas missing girls" does not lead to a typical cold case or criminal disappearance, but rather to a devastating and recent natural disaster that shook the entire state of Texas. As of late December 2025, the tragedy remains a raw wound, with the families of the deceased and the one unrecovered camper still fighting for answers and accountability following the catastrophic flash flood that swept through the Kerr County area on the July 4th weekend of 2025. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date look at the victims, the aftermath, and the ongoing legal battles against the camp’s owners.
The event, which occurred at the private, all-girls Christian camp situated on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, resulted in an unthinkable loss of life. In total, 27 members of the Camp Mystic community—including 25 young campers and two teenage counselors—were confirmed to have died after the rapidly rising floodwaters overwhelmed the low-lying facility. The sheer scale of the tragedy and the young age of the victims have placed immense scrutiny on the camp’s flood safety protocols and the decisions made in the critical hours before the disaster.
The Victims: A List of the Camp Mystic Flood Fatalities
The catastrophic flash flood that struck Camp Mystic claimed the lives of 25 campers and two counselors, with the total number of fatalities reaching 27. The search and recovery efforts were extensive and heartbreaking, with many young girls initially listed as missing before their bodies were recovered and identified. The following list includes the names of the victims that have been publicly identified by family members and authorities in the wake of the July 4, 2025, disaster, highlighting the profound and widespread impact of the tragedy across Texas and beyond.
- Cile Steward, 8: From Austin, Texas. The final and only camper who remains officially unrecovered/missing after the floods. Her family has been vocal in demanding accountability from Camp Mystic.
- Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal, 8: Confirmed deceased. Daughter of former Trinity University football coach Wade Lytal.
- Lila Bonner, 9: From Dallas, Texas. Confirmed deceased.
- Eloise Peck: From Dallas, Texas. Confirmed deceased.
- Linnie McCown, 8: From Austin, Texas. Confirmed deceased.
- Abby Pohl, 8: From Austin, Texas. Confirmed deceased.
- Mary Stevens, 8: From Austin, Texas. Confirmed deceased.
- Sarah Marsh, 8: From Mountain Brook, Alabama. Confirmed deceased.
- Two Unidentified Counselors: Two teenage counselors were also among the 27 confirmed fatalities.
The search for eight-year-old Cile Steward, the daughter of Cici Williams Steward and Will Steward, became the final focus of recovery efforts. Her family’s anguish was compounded by the fact that her body was never recovered, leaving her status as the "last missing girl" a permanent, painful reminder of the flood’s power.
The Catastrophic Night of July 4, 2025: What Went Wrong?
The disaster was not a sudden, unheralded event. Camp Mystic is located in the Texas Hill Country, a region known for its flash flood potential, and sits on a low-lying stretch of the Guadalupe River near the confluence of Cypress Creek. The camp itself had experienced a major flood in 1932 and was near the site of another deadly flood in 1987.
On the night of the tragedy, heavy rainfall upstream caused the Guadalupe River to swell to dangerous levels. Reports indicate that water levels had begun to rise hours before the flood hit the camp. Despite these clear warnings and the camp's history with flooding, multiple lawsuits allege that Camp Mystic officials ignored mounting warnings and delayed evacuation until it was too late.
The camp, which was hosting approximately 750 campers at the time, was overwhelmed by a wall of water. The sheer speed and force of the floodwaters, coupled with the alleged lack of a timely and effective evacuation plan, turned the beloved summer camp into a scene of unimaginable chaos and devastation. Buildings were destroyed, and children were swept away, leading to the high number of confirmed fatalities.
The Legal and Ethical Fallout: Lawsuits and Calls for Accountability
In the months following the July 2025 flood, the focus shifted from search and rescue to legal accountability. Multiple wrongful death lawsuits were filed against Camp Mystic by the families of the deceased campers. These lawsuits, including one filed by the Lanier Law Firm, allege gross negligence on the part of the camp’s leadership.
Allegations of Negligence and Delayed Action
The core of the legal action revolves around the accusation that camp leaders had ample warning of the rising flood risks but failed to act decisively. The families' attorneys, including seasoned commercial litigation attorney Paul Yetter, argue that a proper flood risk assessment and a timely evacuation could have prevented the deaths of the 25 campers and two counselors.
The lawsuits seek over $1 million in damages and aim to hold the camp responsible for what they describe as a profound lack of planning. The plaintiffs maintain that the camp’s failure to evacuate in the face of known and mounting threats was a direct cause of the children's deaths.
The Controversy Over Reopening
A major point of contention and emotional distress for the grieving families was Camp Mystic's announcement of plans to reopen just a few months after the tragedy. The parents of the final missing camper, Cile Steward, publicly condemned the decision. Her mother, Cici Williams Steward, spoke with visible emotion, stating that the camp had failed to acknowledge Cile's unrecovered status or even say her name in their public statements regarding the reopening.
The Steward family, along with others, urged Camp Mystic to postpone its reopening, calling the decision "unthinkable" while the memory of the disaster was still fresh and the search for their daughter remained a painful, unresolved issue. This public outcry highlighted the deep rift between the camp’s desire to move forward and the families' need for closure and justice.
Lessons Learned and Future Flood Safety
The Camp Mystic tragedy has reignited a critical discussion about flood safety standards for summer camps and other facilities located in high-risk areas, particularly along the volatile Guadalupe River. Experts have pointed out that strategic river sensors and better FEMA flood risk data could have provided more timely and accurate warnings, potentially saving lives.
The devastating loss of life in Kerr County serves as a solemn reminder of the power of nature and the responsibility of organizations operating in flood-prone regions. As the lawsuits proceed, the outcome is expected to set new precedents for safety regulations, emergency planning, and accountability for summer camps across the state of Texas and the nation. The memory of the Camp Mystic missing girls—those recovered and the one still unrecovered—will forever be tied to the tragic July 2025 flood, ensuring that their story drives change for future generations of campers.
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