Judge appoints special master as Camp Mystic owners lose bid to limit digital search

Judge appoints special master as Camp Mystic owners lose bid to limit digital search by Taylor Whartnaby / Jessica Warner Tue, November 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM 9 VIEW ALL PHOTOS A judge has dealt a legal setback to the owners of Camp Mystic, siding with prosecutors seeking access to the Eastland family’s private digital information as part of the criminal investigation into the deadly July 4th flooding. (SBG San Antonio) Comment on this story 0 Comment Share story Share topics: Camp Mystic Special master Digital search Eastland family Criminal investigation Wrongful death Bankruptcy Flooding KERRVILLE, Texas - A judge has dealt a legal setback to the owners of Camp Mystic, siding with prosecutors seeking access to the Eastland family’s private digital information as part of the criminal investigation into the deadly July 4th flooding. The judge heard nearly two hours of arguments in court over how much of the Eastland family’s private digital information investigators should be allowed to search. Prosecutors argued the information could help establish what people knew and whether there were communications that point to criminal knowledge or an attempt to impede an investigation. The requested material includes text messages, emails, photos, browsing histories and deleted data. The defense asked the court to narrow the scope of the searches, but the judge denied that request. “In my opinion, the best resolution of the issues which confront both the state and the defense in that the materiality of whatever is being searched is going to be determined by an independent arbiter,” the judge said. Although the judge declined to limit the searches, he appointed an independent special master to review the material. More hearings are expected as the criminal investigation continues. This hearing comes just after a new lawsuit was filed against Camp Mystic and its owners by the family of Mary Grace Baker, one of the 27 girls killed July 4, 2025. The lawsuit was filed as a pause on wrongful-death cases was lifted, allowing civil suits to move forward during the camp’s bankruptcy. The Bakers allege Camp Mystic knew about flood risks but failed to have adequate safety and evacuation plans. Camp Mystic’s leadership has already been reshaped in federal bankruptcy court. A federal bankruptcy judge approved an agreement that removes the Eastland family from control of the camp and hands authority to two independent overseers. Under the agreement, the two independent officials have sole authority over the camp and its land. They will direct the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and decide how the camp will handle both civil lawsuits and government investigations. They will also consider any sale of assets. Camp Mystic has faced multiple wrongful-death lawsuits tied to the deadly flooding. Several families have sued the camp and its owners, the Eastlands, alleging wrongful death and gross negligence following the July 4, 2025, flood. The flooding in July 2025 killed 28 people, including 25 campers, and prompted scrutiny from lawmakers. Trending Family of five killed after SUV leaves wet I-10 overpass in Seguin, parents identified Rain-slicked IH-10 in Seguin turned deadly when a Chevrolet Tahoe left an overpass near FM 725, killing a Porter family of five, including three children. FM 725 was shut for hours as police investigate. Two adults, three children killed after vehicle goes off bridge near I-10 in Seguin A single-vehicle crash near FM 725 and Interstate 10 prompted road closures in Seguin on Sunday afternoon, according to the Seguin Police Department.In a traffic alert posted to Facebook, police said at 1:30 p.m. on 'I'm going to kill you tonight': San Antonio man accused of stalking ex-girlfriend 'I'm going to kill you tonight': San Antonio man accused of stalking ex-girlfriend Man hunted down by armed suspects, beaten and killed over $12K in drug money Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar revealed disturbing new details Tuesday about the September killing of Jaime Adolfo Rodriguez. POLL: Would you ride in Tesla’s fully driverless Robotaxi on San Antonio roads? Tesla launched an unsupervised robotaxi service in San Antonio at 5 a.m. Monday, opening a 270+ sq mi Model Y ride zone. It’s Tesla’s 5th Texas city and biggest rollout yet, larger than Waymo’s local area. NEWS IN PHOTOS: " Local " 9 NEW Judge appoints special master as Camp Mystic owners lose bid to limit digital search 5 ERCOT upgrades TXANS power grid alerts, adds first-ever text message option 6 USDA begins hiring for new Texas facility to combat New World Screwworm 7 Centro San Antonio to announce major downtown Fiesta expansion for 2027 at La Villita