Local News
Janie Hunt and Renee Smajstrla Confirmed Deceased After Being Swept Away From Camp Mystic During Central Texas Flash Flooding
HUNT, Texas — Camp Mystic Director Dick Eastland has been confirmed among the victims of the devastating flash flooding that struck Central Texas earlier this week. Eastland, a beloved and longstanding figure at the all-girls summer camp in Hunt, Texas, passed away amid catastrophic flooding that claimed the lives of at least 24 people and left dozens more missing.
He was widely respected for his enduring resilience, having overcome personal tragedy—including the loss of his son and grandson—and a successful battle with brain cancer. His leadership and commitment to Camp Mystic left an indelible mark on generations of campers and staff.
Among those also confirmed deceased are Janie Hunt and Renee Smajstrla, whose bodies were recovered after historic floodwaters swept away one of the cabins at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.
Ellen Troxclair confirmed to Channel 2 NOW that at least 10 individuals from Camp Mystic have been confirmed deceased, including longtime camp director Dick Eastland and several young campers.
This brings the total number of lives lost to at least 35, following the 25 fatalities reported the previous night.
The flooding followed more than 15 inches of rainfall in the area, causing the river to rise rapidly and inundate large portions of Kerr County.
Tornado Tacklers Statement: With heavy hearts, we share devastating news out of Texas tonight. State officials have confirmed that 13 young girls, ages 7 to 10, from Camp Mystic have tragically lost their lives due to the catastrophic flooding. At least 20 others remain unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue.
Authorities report that between 23 and 25 individuals, most of them children, remain unaccounted for as of Friday night.
The affected cabin, known as “Bubble Inn,” was among several buildings impacted by the deluge, which occurred in the early morning hours.
Search and rescue efforts have been ongoing, with state and local agencies operating throughout the night.
During a press conference Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott emphasized the severity of the disaster, declaring a state of emergency for multiple counties including Kerr, Gillespie, Comal, Llano, and Kendall. “This is a mass casualty event,” he stated, adding that “the response will continue nonstop until every person is accounted for.”
Infrared-equipped helicopters, operated by both state and federal teams, have been scanning the area throughout the night in hopes of locating survivors.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd confirmed that while most summer camps along the Guadalupe River had safely reunited children with families, Camp Mystic remains the only camp with unaccounted individuals as of Friday evening.
More than 200 people have already been rescued, with 167 of them airlifted by helicopter, according to Major General Thomas M. Suelzer. Additional helicopters and resources are being deployed to support evacuation, shelter, and tracking operations.
Governor Abbott reiterated that every available state asset would be dedicated to recovery efforts. “We’ll put in everything we have in the entire state,” he said. “No resource will be withheld.”
The camp, which has operated for nearly a century, had approximately 750 girls in attendance at the time of the disaster.
Camp officials have communicated directly with families of those unaccounted for and continue to coordinate with rescue agencies.
As search and rescue operations extend into the weekend, the community is calling for national prayer support. Loved ones, faith leaders, and camp alumni across the country are uniting in prayer for the missing, the deceased, and the families affected by this tragedy.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.