Following the tragedy at Camp Mystic that killed 27 campers during deadly flooding, the Texas Rangers have been called on to help with the investigation. State lawmakers also are conducting a separate investigation of the flood.
The Texas Rangers will be assisting the Texas Department of State Health Services, which oversees youth camp licensing, to review the hundreds of complaints filed since February concerning camp operations as a judge prepares to hear evidence in a case that may determine if the camp can reopen. A judge granted a temporary injunction in March preventing the camp from altering or destroying cabins, which is being appealed by camp leaders.
The upcoming evidentiary hearing is expected to include testimony and new details about the flood and aftermath, with members of the Eastland family who won and operate the camp set to testify.
There are currently multiple laws files against the camp and the state of Texas from families of victims alleging gross negligence and saying the victims could have been saved. Lawsuits against the state allege the camp was operating without proper evacuation plans.
The camp has sought to reopen a newer portion of its property this summer that is on higher ground and had no fatalities during the flood, called Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, adding that it is complying with new safety rules and an upgraded flood warning system.
Attorney Mikal Watts, representing Camp Mystic and the Eastland family, said, “We are pleased the Texas Rangers are getting involved. They are an independent, honorable investigatory body that we were hoping, like past mass disasters including Uvalde, would get involved and do an in-depth report not merely on 27 deaths but 119 deaths that happened that day.”
The camp said it has been cooperating with a joint committee of legislators from the state House and Senate that has been tasked with investigating issues surrounding the flood, and that it looked forward to working with the Rangers.