Human remains found in Caldwell County near Luling have been identified as belonging to Jason Landry.
SAN ANTONIO — Human remains found in Caldwell County near Luling have been identified as belonging to Jason Landry, a Texas State University student who went missing nearly six years ago while driving home for the holidays.
Jason Landry, 21, was last seen on Dec. 13, 2020, traveling from San Marcos to his family's home in Missouri City. Shortly after midnight, authorities discovered his crashed and abandoned vehicle on Salt Flat Road in Caldwell County near Luling, with some of his belongings inside the car and others scattered nearby. Law enforcement, search teams and volunteers spent years combing the area in hopes of finding him.
On Sept. 8, a local resident found human remains east of Salt Flat Road, between Soda Springs and Biggs Road. The University of North Texas Center for Human Identification performed DNA analysis and confirmed the remains belonged to Landry. The skeletal remains have not given investigators new answers about his cause or manner of death and officials report no evidence of foul play.
Over the years, the Cold Case Unit from the Texas Attorney General's Office worked closely with the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Search and Rescue and community volunteers to search for Landry. Their combined efforts ultimately led to this discovery. Pat Tucker, a neighbor in the area, explained the uncertainty among locals. “It's kind of crazy. And there are a lot of people going down this road and if he's walking down the road, someone would have seen him. But since he crashed, no one's seen him,” Tucker said.
Attorney General Ken Paxton addressed the significance of the identification. “This development marks a critical moment in a case that has weighed heavily on our hearts for nearly six years. The Landry family has suffered an unimaginable tragedy and they will remain in our prayers, especially during this incredibly difficult time,” Paxton said. He added, “My Cold Case Unit will continue fighting to solve cases and bring closure on behalf of Texas families and victims.”
News 4 has been following this story since Landry's disappearance and will continue to monitor updates. Law enforcement asks the public to respect the family's privacy as they receive this news. The $20,000 reward for information related to Landry's disappearance remains available and anyone with relevant details is urged to contact the Texas Attorney General's Office at 512-936-0742.
