Human Remains Identified as Texas State Student Jason Landry, Missing Since 2020 Crash

AUSTIN, Texas – Human remains discovered this month in Caldwell County have been positively identified as Jason Landry, the Texas State University student whose disappearance after a car crash near Luling nearly six years ago prompted extensive searches and a long-running missing-person investigation.

DNA analysis by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification confirmed the remains belonged to Landry, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit. Landry was 21 when he disappeared Dec. 13, 2020.

Landry had left San Marcos and was driving to his family’s home in Missouri City when he disappeared. His crashed and abandoned vehicle was discovered shortly after midnight along Salt Flat Road in rural Caldwell County near Luling. Clothing and other personal belongings were found near the crash site, but searches failed to locate him.

The case remained unresolved until Sept. 8, when a local resident discovered skeletal remains east of Salt Flat Road between Soda Springs and Biggs Road. The discovery was in the same general area where Landry disappeared.

The remains were submitted for forensic testing, which confirmed Landry’s identity.

Investigators said the skeletal remains have not provided additional information about how Landry died. Authorities have found no indication of foul play.

The finding brings a major development in a case that has drawn attention across Texas since 2020.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office took a larger role in the investigation in 2022 at the request of Caldwell County authorities. Investigators reviewed digital evidence, interviewed witnesses, consulted accident reconstruction and forensic experts, obtained a geofence search warrant and conducted additional searches. The Attorney General’s Office previously said evidence indicated Landry was involved in a single-vehicle crash and investigators had found no evidence another vehicle was involved.

Over the following years, the Cold Case Unit conducted additional ground and aerial searches and continued reviewing new leads. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Search and Rescue and numerous volunteers also participated in efforts to locate Landry.

Landry’s family has been notified of the identification. Authorities have asked that the family’s privacy be respected.