KERR COUNTY, Texas – The district attorney representing Kerr County filed a motion Friday recusing herself from the criminal investigation of Camp Mystic, citing her close ties to the Hunt area and a past working relationship with a member of the Eastland family, which owns and operates the camp.
The development comes as several members of the Eastland family are fighting search warrants obtained by the Texas Rangers for electronic data as part of the investigation into the deadly July 4, 2025 floods.
The Texas Rangers obtained search warrants late last month to obtain phone data and electronic records belonging to members of the Eastland family and several other employees of the camp.
Twenty five campers, two counselors and owner Dick Eastland died in the floods.
Lucy Wilke, whose jurisdiction includes Gillespie County, wrote that she “has grown more and more uncomfortable and less unbiased in the investigation” because of her ties to the Hunt area and close friendships with people who are friends with the Eastland family.
Wilke also stated in the recusal motion that her office is down an assistant district attorney and does not have the level of resources needed for the investigation and any potential prosecution.
Wilke has requested that a special prosecutor from Texas Attorney General’s Office be appointed to the case.
Eastlands seek to block review of electronic evidence
The recusal attempt comes while a separate legal effort by members of the Eastland family aims to prevent investigators from reviewing electronic evidence obtained through the 14 search warrants.
An attorney for Cathryn Eastland, Edward Stacy Eastland, George Eastland, Mary Liz Eastland, Richard Eastland and Willetta “Tweety” Eastland filed motions this week asking a judge to hold a hearing over the warrants and immediately stop investigators from reviewing or using data obtained through them.
The motions argue the warrants are broad and that investigators could obtain attorney-client communications and other privileged material connected to civil litigation and other proceedings involving Camp Mystic.
In an affidavit supporting the search warrants, Texas Ranger Brant Johnston alleged that Camp Mystic’s leadership failed to adequately prepare for a foreseeable flood threat and then failed to act quickly enough as conditions deteriorated.
The failures rose to the level of criminal conduct and “recklessly caused” the deaths of 25 campers and two counselors, according to the affidavit.
Potential criminal charges include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, abandoning or endangering a child, injury to a child and deadly conduct, according to records.
No criminal charges have been filed.
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