One year after devastating floodwaters swept through Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, killing 25 campers and two teen counselors, the parents of a young victim are sharing a heartfelt message as the anniversary approaches.
Will and Cici Steward, whose eight-year-old daughter Cile died in the July 4, 2025, flood, stated they are still searching for answers and their daughter's remains. The floodwaters from the Guadalupe River inundated cabins where the children were sleeping, leading to the bankruptcy of the camp.
"We still do not know how we will face that morning. But we know we will not face it alone," the Stewards said in a message shared with KVUE Austin. Their statement did not directly mention the Eastland family, which owned Camp Mystic, but the Stewards and other parents are pursuing legal action against them.
Parents allege the camp owners were unprepared for the disaster and, in some instances, failed to protect the children. In April, Camp director Edward Eastland expressed remorse in a Travis County courtroom. However, a judge denied the family's request to reopen the camp for the summer, despite significant interest from prospective campers.
Liz Eastland, the camp's head nurse, lost her state nursing license after admitting in court that she had abandoned children during the emergency. The Texas health board subsequently refused to grant the camp an operating permit, prompting the Eastlands to abandon reopening plans and file for bankruptcy.
For some families, these actions are not enough. Matthew Childress, whose 18-year-old daughter Chloe died while serving as a counselor at Camp Mystic, told CBS that the fight for accountability continues. Childress is a board member for the Safe Summers Foundation, an organization established after the disaster to advocate for improved camp safety standards.
Following the Camp Mystic tragedy, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama have enacted new laws mandating stricter disaster preparedness and staff training protocols. Alabama's law is named in memory of Sarah Marsh, 8, who was among 15 victims in a cabin housing the youngest campers. Her father, Patrick Marsh, recounted the horrific experience of identifying his daughter's body on July 4, 2025.
The Stewards, meanwhile, are focused on the future, vowing to champion justice and reform. "On this Fourth of July, you are living proof of what our country stands for, and of what it means to be a Texan," they wrote, expressing deep gratitude and love for their daughter Cile.