(The Center Square) – The Texas Rangers have opened a criminal investigation into Camp Mystic, the all-girls Christian camp located in Hunt, Texas, where 25 campers and two counselors were killed during the historic July 4, 2025, flood.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed by parents who lost their daughters at the camp alleging gross negligence and other claims. In February, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged the Texas Department of State Health Services to not issue a license for the camp to operate until state investigations are concluded. Since then, two more investigations have been opened.
Patrick again contacted DSHS urging the agency to not issue a license to the camp. He publicized a letter he sent DSHS stating the state Senate and House investigating committees were still gathering facts about the deaths that occurred at Camp Mystic.
He also said the Texas Department of Public Safety announced the Texas Rangers, which are part of DPS, have launched a criminal investigation into Camp Mystic. The Texas Rangers are assisting DSHS with an investigation the agency has launched in response to more than 600 complaints it has received about the camp. The complaints allege negligence and also call on DSHS to not renew the camp’s license.
“In light of all this new information, the ongoing legislative investigation, your DSHS investigation, and now the criminal investigation of Camp Mystic by the Texas Rangers, I reiterate, you should not renew or approve a camp license for Camp Mystic, or any other camp the same operators intend to run, until your investigation, and all criminal and legislative investigations are complete and necessary corrective actions are taken,” Patrick said. He also said Texans deserve to have transparency and clear answers and this cannot happen until the investigations are complete.
Texas Rangers search and recovery operations for missing flood victims in Kerr County remain ongoing, including for missing Camp Mystic camper Cile Steward.
In February, parents of Camp Mystic daughters who died at the camp sued six DSHS officials alleging they violated their daughters’ constitutional rights to life and bodily integrity, The Center Square reported. They argue DSHS never should have granted the camp’s license to begin with last year because the camp was not in compliance with state law requiring written and posted evacuation and disaster plans or evacuation procedures other than instructing girls to remain in their cabins.
The lawsuit was filed by Houston-based Yetter Coleman and Mithoff Law on behalf of the parents of nine deceased daughters: Lila Bonner, Chloe Childress, Molly Dewitt, Katherine Ferruzzo, Lainey Landry, Blakely McCrory, Anna Margaret Bellows, Sarah Catherine Marsh and Mary Kathryn Jacobe.
Despite this, the camp submitted an application to have its license renewed at the end of March. It has already accepted applications for roughly 900 campers to attend its Cypress Lake location this summer, enough to host all six sessions this summer, a camp spokesperson told The Center Square. The camp is holding an orientation with parents and their daughters who plan to return and has posted information about camp safety on its website.
“The safety of our campers and counselors is and always has been our highest priority,” the camp says. “Even before the Texas Legislature enacted new laws to enhance camp safety across the state, Camp Mystic began working with engineers and safety experts to make improvements at Cypress Lake. We are committed to go above and beyond what is required to provide the safest possible camping experience for your daughter.”
The camp denies all culpabilities for the girls’ deaths last July 4. Its owners argue they are in compliance with new camp safety laws.
“Our decision to partially reopen areas of the camp is informed by our faith and our commitment to continue the nearly century-long mission and ministry of Camp Mystic to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually,” the camp told The Center Square. “Camp Mystic is working with engineers and other experts to comply with all elements of the recently passed camp safety legislation. Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, which we are planning to re-open this summer, is a separate property that is not adjacent to the Guadalupe River and sustained no damage from the historic flood on July 4.”
The camp also said it “has cooperated with every investigative request we have received, including our thorough cooperation with the work of the Senate and House General Investigating Committees. We have worked closely with the Texas Rangers since the tragic events of July 4, assisting them in their search and recovery efforts, which are ongoing. We look forward to cooperating with the Texas Rangers and supporting them in their efforts to gain a thorough and accurate understanding of what happened on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River during the early hours of July 4.”
