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On February 4, 2026, Will Steward and Catherine “CiCi” Williams Steward filed a wrongful death and survival lawsuit in Travis County, Texas, in connection with the July 3 to 4, 2025, flood at Camp Mystic in Kerr County.
Their daughter, Cecilia “Cile” Steward, age 8, was attending Camp Mystic when the flood occurred during overnight hours. According to the petition, she went missing during the disaster and is presumed deceased. Public reports have identified Cile Steward as the only child still missing following the flood.
The lawsuit names Camp Mystic, LLC, and several related corporate entities and individuals as defendants. The petition alleges that camp leadership failed to evacuate campers after a Flash Flood Warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. for Kerr County with a “Considerable” threat tag. The petition further alleges failures related to emergency planning, evacuation procedures, and compliance with youth camp safety regulations.
The Stewards seek monetary damages in excess of $1,000,000. They also seek injunctive relief, including preservation of evidence and a temporary restraining order preventing reopening of the camp pending investigations.
Public reporting from KVUE, The Texas Tribune, and People has described the Camp Mystic flood as deadly and has noted that multiple lawsuits have been filed in connection with the disaster. In public reporting, camp representatives have stated that the flood was unprecedented and unforeseeable.
The petition references provisions of the Texas Administrative Code governing youth camps and cites sections of the Texas Health and Safety Code. It also discusses the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which was signed into law on September 5, 2025. Public summaries state that the Act establishes enhanced safety and emergency planning requirements for youth camps.
The case is currently in active litigation in Travis County. The allegations contained in the petition are contested claims and have not been adjudicated.
The July 3 to 4, 2025 Flood
According to the petition, the Camp Mystic flood occurred during overnight hours between July 3 and July 4, 2025, in Kerr County, Texas. Camp Mystic was operating as an overnight youth camp at the time.
The petition states that a Flash Flood Warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. for Kerr County and included a “Considerable” threat tag. The plaintiffs allege that this warning was received by camp leadership.
The lawsuit alleges that after the warning was issued, campers were not evacuated from their cabins. The petition further alleges that during the same time period, camp personnel moved canoes and other equipment to higher ground. The petition references the movement of equipment around 10 p.m. and again around 2 a.m.
The plaintiffs allege that campers remained in their cabins despite the warning and that evacuation did not occur during the window described in the petition.
The petition alleges that Camp Mystic lacked an adequate written flood evacuation plan. It further alleges failures related to emergency communication systems and preparedness.
The lawsuit references provisions within the Texas Administrative Code governing youth camps and alleges noncompliance with regulatory duties related to safety and emergency planning. The petition also cites provisions of the Texas Health and Safety Code in support of its claims.
The plaintiffs allege that these failures contributed to the circumstances surrounding the flood and its impact on campers.
In addition to claims related to evacuation and emergency planning, the petition alleges alteration or removal of certain physical evidence following the disaster. These allegations relate to conditions at the campsite after the flood.
The plaintiffs seek preservation of evidence as part of the requested injunctive relief.
Public reporting has described the flood as deadly and has noted that multiple lawsuits have been filed in connection with the disaster. Public reporting has also stated that Cile Steward remains missing.
Camp representatives have stated in public reporting that the flood was unprecedented and unforeseeable.
All factual assertions above that are attributed to the petition remain allegations in pending litigation and have not been adjudicated.
The following timeline is compiled from the February 4, 2026, petition, the February 6, 2026, press release announcing the lawsuit, and publicly reported information from KVUE, The Texas Tribune, and People. Allegations drawn from the petition are identified as such.
Camp Mystic was operating as an overnight youth camp in Kerr County, Texas.
During overnight hours between July 3 and July 4, 2025, a flood occurred at or near the camp.
Public reporting has described the flood as deadly.
According to the petition, a Flash Flood Warning was issued at 1:14 a.m. for Kerr County and included a “Considerable” threat tag.
The petition alleges that the warning was received by camp leadership.
The petition alleges that campers were not evacuated from their cabins following issuance of the 1:14 a.m. warning.
The petition further alleges that canoes and other equipment were moved to higher ground around 10 p.m. and again around 2 a.m.
The plaintiffs allege that during this time period, campers remained in their cabins.
These assertions are allegations contained in the filed petition.
Cecilia “Cile” Steward, age 8, went missing during the disaster. According to the petition, she is presumed deceased.
Public reports have identified Cile Steward as the only child still missing following the flood.
Public reporting also states that multiple lawsuits have been filed in connection with the Camp Mystic disaster.
The petition discusses the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which was signed into law on September 5, 2025.
Public summaries state that the Act establishes enhanced safety and emergency planning requirements for youth camps.
Will Steward and Catherine “CiCi” Williams Steward filed a wrongful death and survival lawsuit in Travis County, Texas.
The petition seeks monetary damages exceeding $1,000,000 and injunctive relief, including preservation of evidence and a temporary restraining order preventing reopening pending investigations.
A press release was issued announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
Public reporting in outlets including KVUE, The Texas Tribune, and People covered the filing and summarized the allegations.
This timeline reflects the procedural and factual sequence as set forth in the petition and public reports. Allegations referenced above remain contested in active litigation.
The February 4, 2026, petition asserts multiple causes of action arising from the July 3 to 4, 2025, Camp Mystic flood. The claims described below reflect allegations made by the plaintiffs in active litigation. These claims have not been adjudicated.
The petition alleges negligence against the named defendants. In general terms, a negligence claim requires a plaintiff to allege the existence of a duty, a breach of that duty, and resulting damages.
The Stewards allege that the defendants owed duties related to the safety and supervision of minor campers and to emergency preparedness at an overnight youth camp. The petition alleges that those duties were breached in connection with evacuation decisions, emergency planning, and overall response to the flood warning.
The petition also pleads negligence per se. Negligence per se is a legal theory that alleges a violation of a statute or regulation that is designed to protect a class of persons from a particular type of harm.
The lawsuit references provisions of the Texas Administrative Code governing youth camps and cites sections of the Texas Health and Safety Code. The petition alleges that certain regulatory requirements related to safety and emergency planning were not met and that such alleged violations support the negligence per se claim.
The petition includes a claim for gross negligence. Under Texas law, gross negligence generally requires proof of an extreme degree of risk and actual awareness of that risk coupled with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others.
The Stewards allege that the defendants had awareness of flood risk conditions and that actions or inactions following the issuance of the flash flood warning constitute gross negligence. The plaintiffs seek exemplary damages in connection with this claim.
The petition asserts a premises liability claim. Premises liability generally concerns the duty of a property owner or operator to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition for invitees.
The Stewards allege that conditions at the camp property, including the location and use of cabins during flood conditions, created unreasonably dangerous conditions. The petition alleges that the defendants failed to take reasonable steps to reduce or eliminate those risks.
The petition also pleads a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. This claim generally requires allegations of extreme and outrageous conduct that causes severe emotional distress.
The Stewards allege conduct following the disaster that they contend supports this claim. These allegations are set forth in the petition and remain contested.
The lawsuit includes wrongful death and survival causes of action.
A wrongful death claim seeks damages on behalf of certain surviving family members for losses resulting from the death of a loved one. The petition seeks wrongful death damages, including mental anguish and loss of companionship.
A survival claim seeks damages that the decedent could have pursued had they survived, including alleged pre-death pain and suffering. The petition seeks survival damages in connection with the alleged events of July 3 to 4, 2025.
In addition to monetary damages exceeding $1,000,000, the Stewards seek injunctive relief. The petition requests preservation of evidence and a temporary restraining order preventing the reopening of the camp pending investigations.
All claims described in this section are allegations contained in the filed petition and are subject to adjudication in ongoing litigation.
The February 4, 2026, petition places the alleged conduct within the framework of Texas youth camp regulations and state health and safety laws. This section summarizes the regulatory provisions referenced in the lawsuit and the broader statutory context discussed in the filing. The descriptions below reflect how the petition characterizes those laws and regulations.
The petition cites provisions within the Texas Administrative Code that govern licensed youth camps. These regulations establish operational and safety requirements for camps that host minor children.
According to the petition, these regulations include duties related to safety planning and hazard mitigation. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to comply with regulatory requirements connected to disaster preparedness and emergency response.
The petition specifically alleges deficiencies related to written emergency planning, evacuation procedures, and safety preparedness in the context of flooding. The plaintiffs contend that compliance with these regulations was mandatory and designed to protect campers from foreseeable risks.
These alleged regulatory violations form part of the plaintiffs’ negligence per se claim.
The petition also cites provisions of the Texas Health and Safety Code in support of its claims. The filing references statutory duties connected to protecting the health and safety of minors in licensed camp settings.
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants’ conduct was inconsistent with statutory obligations intended to safeguard children attending youth camps.
As with the regulatory claims, these assertions are allegations within the lawsuit and remain subject to adjudication.
The petition discusses the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which was signed into law on September 5, 2025.
Public summaries describe the Act as establishing enhanced safety and emergency planning requirements for youth camps. The petition references the Act in its broader discussion of regulatory oversight and camp safety standards.
The flood at Camp Mystic occurred in July 2025, prior to the signing of the Act. The petition references the legislation as part of its contextual framing of youth camp safety obligations.
The regulatory and statutory references in the petition are presented as part of the plaintiffs’ broader claim that youth camps operate under defined safety standards and that those standards are intended to prevent or mitigate harm during emergencies.
The defendants have not yet been adjudicated to have violated any statute or regulation. The allegations described in this section are claims made by the plaintiffs in active litigation.
The Camp Mystic Flood
Public reporting has described the July 3 to 4, 2025, Camp Mystic flood as deadly. The flood occurred during overnight hours while the camp was operating as a residential youth camp in Kerr County, Texas.
Coverage has focused on the impact of the flooding on campers and families and on the circumstances surrounding evacuation and emergency response.
Public reporting identifies Cecilia “Cile” Steward as an 8-year-old camper from Austin who went missing during the flood.
According to the report, she remains missing. The petition filed by her parents states that she is presumed deceased.
News coverage has described her as the only child still missing following the disaster.
The Texas Tribune and other outlets have reported that multiple lawsuits have been filed in connection with the Camp Mystic flood.
The Stewards’ lawsuit is one of several legal actions arising from the disaster.
Public reports state that camp representatives have described the flood as unprecedented and unforeseeable.
These statements have been included in news coverage as part of the broader context surrounding the disaster and the litigation.
The case filed by the Stewards is currently pending in Travis County, Texas. The allegations contained in the petition are contested and have not been adjudicated.
News coverage has framed the lawsuit within the broader context of legal and regulatory scrutiny following the flood.
Reporters referencing this case may wish to distinguish between allegations contained in the petition and facts confirmed through independent reporting or official findings.
The February 4, 2026, petition outlines the categories of damages and forms of relief sought by Will and Catherine “CiCi” Steward. The requests described below reflect the claims made in the filed lawsuit and remain subject to judicial review and adjudication.
The petition states that the plaintiffs seek monetary relief in excess of $1,000,000.
The lawsuit includes claims for wrongful death and survival damages arising from the July 3 to 4, 2025, flood.
Under Texas law, a wrongful death claim allows certain surviving family members to seek damages for losses resulting from the death of a loved one.
The petition seeks wrongful death damages, including mental anguish and loss of companionship. The plaintiffs allege that these losses resulted from the events surrounding the flood.
The petition also asserts a survival claim. A survival claim allows the estate of a decedent to pursue damages that the individual could have sought had they survived.
The petition seeks survival damages, including alleged pre-death pain and suffering.
The lawsuit seeks exemplary damages in connection with the gross negligence claim.
Under Texas law, exemplary damages may be available where a plaintiff proves gross negligence as defined by statute. The petition alleges that the defendants’ conduct meets that standard. These allegations remain contested.
In addition to monetary damages, the petition seeks injunctive relief.
The requested injunctive relief includes preservation of evidence. The plaintiffs also seek a temporary restraining order preventing the reopening of the camp pending investigations.
Any injunctive relief would require court action and has not been adjudicated at this stage of the litigation.
All forms of relief described in this section are requests made by the plaintiffs in active litigation and are subject to judicial determination.
This section summarizes the procedural posture of the case based on the February 4, 2026, petition and publicly reported information. It reflects the status of the lawsuit as filed and does not include findings or rulings beyond what has been reported.
On February 4, 2026, Will Steward and Catherine “CiCi” Williams Steward filed a wrongful death and survival lawsuit in Travis County, Texas.
The petition names Camp Mystic, LLC, and several related entities and individuals as defendants. The lawsuit asserts claims including negligence, negligence per se, gross negligence, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful death, and survival causes of action.
The petition states that the plaintiffs seek monetary relief exceeding $1,000,000 and injunctive relief, including preservation of evidence and a temporary restraining order preventing reopening of the camp pending investigations.
The petition indicates that the plaintiffs intend to conduct discovery under Level 3 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Level 3 discovery allows a court to tailor discovery parameters through a scheduling order.
Any discovery schedule would be set by the court.
The allegations contained in the petition are claims made by the plaintiffs. At this stage, they have not been adjudicated.
No court findings of liability have been made based on the information provided in the petition and publicly reported materials referenced in this press kit.
Public reporting has included statements from camp representatives describing the flood as unprecedented and unforeseeable.
As of the filing of the petition and the issuance of the February 6, 2026, press release announcing the lawsuit, the claims remain contested.
The case is currently pending in Travis County, Texas. Further procedural developments, including responses from defendants, motions, hearings, or rulings, would be reflected in the court docket.
Reporters covering the case may wish to consult the official court docket for updates on filings, hearings, and any rulings as litigation progresses.
The following materials are available to support accurate reporting on the Camp Mystic flood lawsuit filed on February 4, 2026. These materials consist of primary source documents and publicly reported coverage referenced in this press kit.
The original Petition was filed on February 4, 2026, in Travis County, Texas.
The petition sets forth:
Reporters are encouraged to review the petition directly when quoting specific allegations or statutory references.
The press release was issued announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
The release includes:
Any quotations used in reporting should be reproduced exactly as published in the release.
Coverage of the lawsuit and the Camp Mystic flood has appeared in outlets including:
These outlets have reported on:
Use of photographs or personal statements should be handled with care and consistent with standard newsroom practices when covering stories involving minors and grieving families.
Lead counsel is available for an interview upon request.
Media inquiries are directed to use our contact form for inquiries.
All materials referenced in this section are intended to assist journalists in verifying information and accurately distinguishing between allegations contained in the lawsuit and facts established through public reporting.
