Overview
- A 25-to-30-foot oak branch fell at Camp Wildcraft on July 9, 2025, killing 8-year-old Lamar McGlothurn and injuring several other campers and adults.
- The family sued the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the camp and a landscaping company for negligence, citing emails and text messages that showed prior worry about the tree’s condition.
- A settlement signed in March and reported this week totals $19.3 million, with $14.65 million allocated to the child’s parents and $4.65 million split among six other claimants.
- Most of the money will come from MRCA-related insurance policies while smaller payments come from the camp and the tree care firm, and the MRCA issued a statement expressing sorrow.
- The case highlights questions about public-park tree inspection and maintenance practices and could prompt closer reviews of how MRCA-managed lands identify and address hazardous trees.