Remains have reportedly been found near Salt Flat Road outside Luling, close to where Texas State University student Jason Landry's crashed vehicle was discovered nearly six years ago. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office has neither confirmed nor denied the reported recovery, citing an active investigation, and has referred questions to the Texas Attorney General's Office.
The reported discovery, reported by WOAI, has renewed attention on Landry's long-unresolved disappearance. Landry, a Texas State University student from Missouri City, vanished in December 2020 while driving home for the holidays. According to WOAI, the reported recovery occurred near the same stretch of road where his crashed vehicle was found abandoned, with some of his belongings scattered nearby.
A Trip Home That Never Ended
Landry left campus in San Marcos and vanished on his way home for the holiday, according to ABC News 4. His crashed car was found on a desolate gravel road outside Luling, his belongings scattered nearby. The vehicle was found crashed and abandoned shortly after midnight on December 14, 2020, and Jason's phone, wallet and some of his clothing were found near the wreckage, but there was no sign of him, per KHOU.
Investigators have said Landry's phone and digital footprint last placed him at the intersection of East Austin Street and North Magnolia Avenue in Luling, according to CBS Austin's reporting on the sheriff's office's drone imaging efforts. His abandoned car was found 67 minutes later, the outlet reported, a detail that has shaped the geography searchers have focused on ever since.
Years of Searches and a Case That Changed Hands
By the fifth anniversary of Landry's disappearance, search efforts had continued, according to KHOU. At the five-year mark, his family gathered for a candlelight vigil, CBS Austin reported. Advocates have not given up hope, according to the station. Search efforts have continued.
Accounts differ on when state authorities took over the investigation. ABC News 4 has reported that the Texas Attorney General's Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit has overseen Jason's case since 2023, while FOX 7 Austin has reported that the Office of the Attorney General took over the case in 2022. Either way, the unit has continued to lead the search for answers in the years since.
Landry's family has also pushed reward offers to keep the case in public view, though reports have varied on the amount. ABC News 4 reported a $20,000 reward for information leading to finding Jason tied to the five-year vigil, while KXAN reported that the family announced a $10,000 reward in May 2021. A new search was planned after that five-year vigil, subject to landowner permission and weather conditions, according to ABC News 4.
What Remains Unconfirmed
For now, the reported recovery near Salt Flat Road remains just that — reported. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office has declined to confirm or deny the find while the investigation remains active, and has directed inquiries to the Texas Attorney General's Office. No further detail on the reported recovery has been made public.
