HUMAN REMAINS IDENTIFIED AS COLLEGE STUDENT WHO VANISHED NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO AFTER CRASHED CAR WAS FOUND

Nearly six years after Texas State University student Jason Landry vanished while driving home for the holidays, his family finally has confirmation of what happened to the missing 21-year-old — but investigators still do not have all the answers.

Human remains discovered earlier this month in Caldwell County, Texas, have been positively identified as Landry through DNA testing, authorities confirmed on September 23 and 24, 2026.

The discovery brings an end to one of the most haunting aspects of the case: the years-long uncertainty over where Jason was.

But it has not yet explained how he died.

JASON DISAPPEARED ON HIS WAY HOME

Landry was 21 when he disappeared on December 13, 2020.

He had been living in San Marcos, Texas, while attending Texas State University and was expected to travel to his family’s home in Missouri City for the winter holidays.

Authorities said Landry left his apartment at approximately 10:55 p.m.

He never made it home.

Just after midnight, his Nissan Altima was discovered abandoned on Salt Flat Road near Luling in Caldwell County.

The vehicle had crashed on the rural roadway.

Jason, however, was nowhere to be found.

Several of his personal belongings were discovered around the crash site, including clothing, while his car remained at the scene.

Despite extensive searches involving law enforcement, professional search teams and volunteers, there was no confirmed sign of Jason for almost six years.

THE MYSTERY THAT LASTED FOR YEARS

The circumstances surrounding the crash immediately raised questions.

Investigators previously believed the single-vehicle collision may have happened after Jason overcorrected while driving on the gravel road, causing his car to spin off the roadway.

His keys were reportedly still in the vehicle and the car’s lights were on when it was discovered.

But Jason himself was gone.

Over the years, investigators repeatedly searched the surrounding area from the ground and air.

The Texas Attorney General’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit eventually took a leading role in the investigation, working alongside the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Search and Rescue.

The investigation continued to generate public interest as Jason’s family and volunteers refused to stop searching for him.

A DISCOVERY NEAR THE OLD CRASH SITE

The breakthrough came on September 8, 2026.

A local resident discovered human remains east of Salt Flat Road, between Soda Springs Road and Biggs Road in Caldwell County.

The remains were located in the broader area where Jason had disappeared, although authorities said they were outside the established search area that had previously been examined.

Initially, investigators did not identify the remains.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office asked the public not to speculate while forensic specialists worked to determine whether the remains could be connected to a missing-person case.

That question was answered through DNA testing.

DNA CONFIRMS THE REMAINS ARE JASON

The University of North Texas Center for Human Identification conducted the DNA analysis that ultimately confirmed the remains belonged to Jason Landry.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the identification, describing it as a major development in a case that had weighed heavily on the family for almost six years.

The confirmation finally allowed Jason’s loved ones to stop wondering whether he might still be found somewhere.

But the discovery also brought a painful reality.

Jason would not be coming home alive.

THE CAUSE OF DEATH REMAINS UNKNOWN

Even with the identification, investigators still do not have a definitive explanation for what happened after Jason’s crash.

According to authorities cited by CBS Austin and ABC13, the recovered skeletal remains did not provide additional insight into the cause of death.

Investigators have also said they have found no indication of foul play at this stage.

The case therefore remains open.

The identification answers the question of who the remains belong to, but it does not necessarily answer how Jason died or exactly what happened during the hours after his vehicle was abandoned.

Those questions remain part of the ongoing investigation.

A FAMILY FINALLY HAS ANSWERS — BUT NOT ALL OF THEM

Jason’s disappearance left his family living through years of uncertainty.

They repeatedly appealed for information and continued supporting searches as investigators examined new leads.

Following the identification, the family expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers, volunteers and members of the public who had continued searching and remembering Jason.

In a statement shared through the family’s Missing Person – Jason Landry account, the family said that while they were grieving Jason’s death, they were grateful to those who had supported them and helped keep his memory alive.

For nearly six years, every possible lead carried the hope that Jason might still be found alive.

That hope has now ended.

But the discovery at least gives his family the ability to bring him home and begin mourning without the uncertainty that had defined the case for so long.

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Authorities have emphasized that the investigation is not over.

The Texas Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Jason’s disappearance and death.

The discovery of his remains could potentially provide investigators with additional evidence, even though officials have not publicly established a cause or manner of death.

For now, authorities have urged the public to respect the Landry family’s privacy.

After almost six years, Jason Landry has finally been found.

But one final mystery remains.

What happened to the 21-year-old student after his car came to a stop on that lonely Texas road?

That is the question investigators are still working to answer.