Luling, Texas — The remains of Texas State University student Jason Landry have been identified nearly six years after he disappeared while driving home for Christmas, bringing a long-awaited but heartbreaking development to a case that has drawn extensive searches across Caldwell County.
DNA testing confirmed that skeletal remains discovered on Sept. 8 belonged to Landry, who was 21 years old when he vanished in December 2020, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
The remains were found by a resident in Caldwell County, roughly 50 miles outside Austin. Officials said the discovery does not provide new information about how Landry died, and investigators have found no indication of foul play.
Landry Vanished After a Rural Road Crash
Landry disappeared on Dec. 13, 2020, while traveling from San Marcos toward his family’s home in Missouri City for Christmas. The Texas State University student was driving a Nissan Altima when he crashed on a rural road in Luling.
When investigators located the vehicle, they found Landry’s phone and wallet inside the car. Pieces of his clothing were also discovered scattered around the surrounding area.
What happened after the crash remained unknown for years.
Landry’s disappearance triggered a major search effort involving law enforcement, professional search teams and volunteers. Texas Department of Public Safety records showed aircraft were used to conduct grid searches around his last known location.
Remains Found Outside Original Search Area
Despite the extensive effort, Landry’s remains were eventually discovered outside the area authorities had established for the original searches.
The resident who found them was cutting grass on his property when he noticed what he initially believed was a ball. Instead, sources told, he had discovered a human skull.
The discovery came after investigators and volunteers had conducted more than 30 searches over nearly six years. Search teams had covered portions of Caldwell County both from the ground and from the air, but Landry remained missing.
The case eventually received additional attention from the Texas Attorney General’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit, which took over the investigation in 2022.
DNA Testing Finally Confirms His Identity
After the skeletal remains were discovered, DNA testing was used to establish their identity.
Officials confirmed Wednesday that the remains belonged to Landry, providing his family with confirmation after years of uncertainty. However, the identification did not answer every question surrounding his disappearance.
Authorities said the remains shed no new light on the circumstances of Landry’s death, and investigators have found no evidence indicating that he was the victim of foul play.
Landry’s family has been notified of the identification.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton described the development as an important moment in a case that had remained unresolved for almost six years.
“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,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said.
“My Cold Case Unit will continue fighting to solve cases and bring closure on behalf of Texas families and victims.”
Search Volunteers Remember Jason
The case also became deeply personal for the volunteers who repeatedly searched the area for Landry.
Shawn Hohnstreiter, co-founder of TEXSAR, a nonprofit search, rescue and disaster response organization, said volunteers spent countless hours searching roads and fields throughout Caldwell County.
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Finding Landry had become an important part of the lives of many volunteers who participated in the searches.
“We’ve been searching for Jason for nearly six years now,” he said.
After the remains were identified, Hohnstreiter returned to a memorial established near the location where Landry’s vehicle was found. There, he left a challenge coin, a symbolic gesture representing closure for the volunteers and respect for Landry.
“This has been a big moment in all of our lives on the TEXSAR side for many years,” Hohnstreiter told the outlet. “It’s one I believe also deserves the respect.”
A Long Search Finally Comes to an End
For nearly six years, Landry’s family and the people involved in the search were left without certainty about what happened after his crash.
The identification of his remains now provides confirmation of his fate, although many questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remain unanswered.
The discovery also closes one chapter of a case that prompted repeated searches across rural Caldwell County and involved law enforcement officers, search organizations and volunteers who continued looking long after Landry disappeared.
Were you familiar with Jason Landry’s disappearance before his remains were identified? Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below.
