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Remains of missing Texas State student Jason Landry found
The Texas Attorney General's Cold Case Unit announced Sept. 23 that DNA testing conducted by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification conclusively identified the remains as Landry's.
Landry was 21 when he vanished on Dec. 13, 2020, while driving from his San Marcos apartment to his family's home in Missouri City for Christmas break.
For years, his disappearance remained one of the area's most closely followed missing-person cases.
His Car Was Found — But Jason Wasn't
Shortly after midnight on Dec. 14, 2020, Landry's crashed Nissan Altima was discovered on Salt Flat Road near Luling in Caldwell County.
His vehicle was abandoned, with personal belongings and clothing scattered around the crash site. Despite extensive searches involving law enforcement, professional search teams, volunteers, drones, aircraft and search dogs, investigators could not locate Landry.
The Texas Attorney General's Cold Case Unit began assisting with the investigation in 2022 and continued reviewing leads and conducting additional searches over the years.
Remains Found Earlier This Month
The breakthrough came Sept. 8, when a local resident discovered human remains east of Salt Flat Road, between Soda Springs and Biggs Road in Caldwell County.
The location was near the area where Landry's vehicle had been found, although officials said it was outside the established search area that had previously been covered.
Investigators sent the remains for forensic analysis, ultimately confirming through DNA that they belonged to Landry.
His family was notified of the identification.
The Mystery of What Happened Remains
While the discovery answers the biggest question of where Landry had been, authorities say it does not explain how he died.
The skeletal remains provided no additional insight into his cause or manner of death. Officials also said investigators have found no indication of foul play at this time.
That means important questions surrounding Landry's final hours remain unanswered.
Investigators have not publicly established what happened after his vehicle crashed or how he traveled from the crash site to the location where his remains were ultimately discovered.
A Search That Lasted Nearly Six Years
Landry's disappearance prompted years of searches by authorities and volunteer organizations, including Texas Search and Rescue and Texas EquuSearch.
The Texas Attorney General's office said investigators repeatedly conducted ground and aerial searches, reviewed new information and worked with the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies. Citizen volunteers also devoted significant time and resources to the effort.
The discovery brings an end to the years-long search for Landry, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.
His Family Asks for Privacy
Landry's family has been notified of the identification and has asked for privacy as they process the news.
In a statement shared through the family's missing-person page, they expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers, search teams, volunteers and members of the public who continued looking for Jason and supported the family throughout the years.
After nearly six years of uncertainty, the family finally knows where Jason is.
But for those who loved him, the search for answers about what happened to him is not necessarily over.
Source: KHOU 11
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