Texas College Student Jason Landry’s Disappearance Remains a Mystery Three Years Later
Three years ago this week, Texas State University student Jason Landry vanished on a drive from San Marcos to his hometown of Missouri City, Texas. The 21-year-old was last seen on December 13, 2020, and his abandoned vehicle was discovered on a rural roadway near Luling, Texas, the following morning.
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office reported that Landry’s car had crashed, and they believe he may have stripped naked in the street, leaving his belongings behind. Captain Jeff Ferry shared that Landry had been searching for information on spiritual enlightenment practices, strains of marijuana, and the impact of psychedelics on his life prior to his disappearance.
Landry FaceTimed a friend approximately an hour before leaving his apartment, during which he was recorded rolling blunts and placing them in a CVS container. The friend, concerned about Landry’s state, screen-recorded the conversation. Landry was set to meet this friend in Missouri City, but all signs pointed to him being under the influence.
The video footage provided crucial information for investigators, helping match Landry’s clothing to that found near the crash site and confirming he was alone in the car. Captain Ferry noted the relevance of Landry’s apparent state in the video, given the harsh environment he would soon find himself in.
Since February 2022, the Office of the Attorney General’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit, prompted by requests from the Caldwell County District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office, has dedicated extensive resources to the case. This includes forensic testing, search warrants, witness interviews, and collaboration with experts from various agencies.
In November 2023, a roundtable case review involving experts in digital forensics, geospatial sciences, and criminal intelligence from agencies such as the FBI, Texas Rangers, and Texas Search and Rescue took place. The panel concluded that all credible leads and investigative steps have been thoroughly pursued up to this point, but Landry’s disappearance remains unresolved. The commitment to the investigation and public cooperation persist, with authorities urging anyone with credible information to come forward.
The Texas OAG’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit considers this matter to be an ongoing and active investigation and encourages anyone with credible information about the case to contact the Unit at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/coldcasetips.
“Our thoughts remain with the Landry family during this difficult time.”, said Paxton in a statement.
