Nearly six years after Texas State student Jason Landry disappeared, human remains have been found near the area where his car was located.
Caldwell County authorities confirmed to KVUE that they are trying to positively identify remains found near the Salt Flat Road area in Luling – the same area where Landry’s crashed vehicle was found in December 2020 – and determine if they belong to Landry.
Authorities said the remains were found outside the established search area. DNA and dental records will be used to identify the remains, and law enforcement officials say that process could take at least another week.
KVUE also reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Texas Attorney General’s Office about the discovery of the remains. DPS deferred to the AG’s office, which is the lead investigative agency. This article will be updated if KVUE receives a response from that office.
Landry was last seen on Dec. 13, 2020, when he was driving home to Missouri City, Texas, after leaving his college apartment in San Marcos. His vehicle was found crashed and abandoned just north of 2379 Salt Flat Road in Luling early the next morning.
Investigators said Landry seemed to have stripped out of his clothing, leaving behind his belongings. Among them was a backpack, a useable amount of marijuana, a laptop, gaming equipment, a bag of toiletries and more.
Some investigators believe that Landry walked away from the car on his own and no crime occurred. Others believe there is evidence Landry was the victim of a crime.
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office took on Landry’s case when it first happened, but because the county has limited investigative resources, the Texas Attorney General’s Office got involved to help with the search.
In 2021, the AG’s office created the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit to help law enforcement agencies across the state with cold case investigations. Landry’s case was one of the first to be investigated within the new unit.
The AG’s office has said it has dedicated hundreds of hours of investigative resources to Landry’s case, including using forensic testing, search warrants, witness testimony and other specialized experts. But over the years, they have found nothing pointing them to Landry’s whereabouts.
In 2022, investigators briefly believed they had a possible new lead when an unidentified man was found in The Bronx. However, the New York Police Department confirmed the man was not Landry.
Every year since his disappearance, Landry’s family and others have gathered for a candlelight vigil at the site where his car was located. His case has remained active, with a $20,000 reward offered for information that leads to his whereabouts.