Families Grieve As Identities Of Camp Mystic Flood Victims Are Revealed
Texas Flood Disaster at Camp Mystic Leaves Families Grieving
On July 4th, devastating flash floods struck Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ summer camp near Hunt, Texas, leaving at least five young girls dead and eleven still missing. The Guadalupe River rose nearly 30 feet, flooding cabins where over 750 campers were staying.
Richard “Dick” Eastland, the beloved 70-year-old camp director, died while trying to save the girls as torrential rain fell rapidly.
Many of the missing and deceased were among the youngest campers, who slept in lower cabins closer to the river. Videos shared a week before showed children joyfully singing and dancing—just days before tragedy struck.
Confirmed Victims
- Renee Smajstrla, 8 – remembered by her family as joyful and full of life.
- Janie Hunt, 9 – her mother said the family is devastated.
- Sarah Marsh, 8 – described as a “spunky ray of light.”
- Lila Bonner, 9 – died alongside her best friend and cabinmate.
- Eloise Peck, 8 – loved animals and passed with her best friend, Lila.
Other Young Victims Outside the Camp
- Blair Harber (13) and Brooke Harber (11) were swept away while staying at their grandparents’ river cottage nearby.
In total, over 100 people are feared dead, including 21 children. Families continue searching for the missing. Authorities say Camp Mystic alone has 11 girls unaccounted for, including:
- Kellyanne Lytal
- Lainey Landry
- Joyce Badon
- Ella Cahill
- Reese Manchaca
- Aiden Heartfield
Government Response
Former President Donald Trump signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Texas, promising federal support. Search and rescue operations involving FEMA, the Coast Guard, and local responders have saved hundreds, but the emotional toll is immense.
As families grieve and communities unite in prayer, the tragedy at Camp Mystic stands as one of the worst flood disasters in Texas in recent memory.
