Richard Eastland

Twenty-five campers and two counselors were killed when the river surged over its banks in the predawn hours of July 4, 2025.

Camp owner and director Richard Eastland was also killed.

At least 136 people were killed along a several-mile stretch of the river.

Earlier this month, state police investigators sought search warrants for the electronic communications of the camp owners saying they could provide evidence of manslaughter, negligent homicide, child abandonment, or other crimes.

And then we had to go to the second floor because the water was coming in.

The owner of the field, Richard Eastland, received an emergency flood warning on his phone at 1.14 a.m.

But instead of calling to evacuate the campers and the staff, he and his family decided to wait and evaluate the risks first.

If the environmentalists, if the weather experts believe that there are signs, that the weather models are index of floods and emit an alert or a flood warning, pay attention and act immediately.

With hopes that a buyer will preserve the camp's historic mission, 25 campers and two counselors were killed when the river surged over its banks in the pre-dawn hours of July 4, 2025.

Camp owner and director Richard Eastland also was killed.

They were among at least 136 people killed along a several-mile stretch of the river.

The Eastman family has owned the camp for decades and initially sought to reopen this past summer, faced fierce opposition from victims' families as lawsuits and legalities play out.