Jason Landry Identified Nearly Six Years After Disappearance After Human Remains Found Near Crash Site

CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS — Nearly six years after Texas State University student Jason Landry disappeared without a trace, authorities have confirmed that human remains discovered earlier this month are those of the young man.

Landry, who was 21 years old when he vanished, disappeared on December 13, 2020, while driving from San Marcos, Texas, to his family’s home in Missouri City for the holidays.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office announced on September 23, 2026, that DNA testing had conclusively identified the remains as Landry’s. The testing was conducted by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI).

The discovery brings an end to a nearly six-year search that involved law enforcement agencies, professional search teams and hundreds of community volunteers.

Landry disappeared after a late-night drive home

According to authorities, Landry left his apartment in San Marcos late on December 13, 2020, intending to drive to his family’s home in Missouri City.

Shortly after midnight on December 14, his Nissan Altima was discovered crashed and abandoned on Salt Flat Road near Luling, in Caldwell County.

But Landry was nowhere to be found.

His vehicle remained at the scene, with several of his personal belongings discovered nearby. Clothing and other items were scattered along the roadway, creating a puzzling scene that would become the focus of a massive search operation.

Despite extensive searches of the surrounding area, investigators were unable to locate Landry.

The case remained unresolved for years.

Personal belongings were found near the crash

The circumstances surrounding the disappearance attracted widespread attention because of the unusual condition of the crash scene.

Authorities previously reported finding Landry’s cellphone and other personal belongings. His father also discovered clothing — including his shirt, shorts, socks, underwear and shoes — along the roadway approximately 900 feet from where the vehicle had crashed.

Other items recovered during the investigation included a backpack containing his wallet, laptop and gaming equipment.

Investigators also reported finding a small blood smear on clothing, although authorities said it was not considered evidence of a serious injury. There was no evidence of significant blood inside the vehicle.

For years, however, none of these clues led investigators to Landry.

A new discovery six years later

A major development came on September 8, 2026, when a local resident discovered human remains in Caldwell County.

The remains were found east of Salt Flat Road, between Soda Springs Road and Biggs Road, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

The location was in the broader area where investigators had searched for Landry, although officials said the remains were found outside previously established search areas.

At first, authorities did not publicly identify the remains.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said additional examination would be required to determine the person’s identity and whether the remains were connected to any missing-person case.

That question was answered after forensic testing.

DNA confirms the remains belonged to Jason

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

Authorities notified Landry’s family following the identification.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office said the skeletal remains do not provide additional insight into the cause or manner of death.

Investigators have also reported no indication of foul play at this time.

That means that while Landry has finally been located and identified, important questions surrounding what happened to him remain unanswered.

The search continued for nearly six years

Landry’s disappearance generated an enormous search effort.

Law enforcement officers, professional search organizations and volunteers repeatedly searched fields, roadsides and wooded areas around the location where his vehicle was found.

The Texas Attorney General’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit became involved in the investigation in 2022 after receiving a request for investigative assistance from Caldwell County authorities.

Since then, investigators have conducted additional ground and aerial searches, reviewed new leads, carried out forensic testing and worked with multiple agencies and specialists.

The investigation involved the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Search and Rescue, among others.

Citizen volunteers also spent years searching for Landry and raising awareness about his disappearance.

A family that never stopped searching

For years, Landry’s family continued to search for answers.

Annual vigils were held near the location where his vehicle was found, while social media campaigns and fundraising efforts kept his name in the public eye.

The family previously said that although they feared Jason might no longer be alive, finding him remained extremely important.

Following the DNA identification, the family expressed gratitude toward investigators, search volunteers and members of the public who had supported them throughout the nearly six-year ordeal.

The identification means that Jason can finally be brought home to his family.

But the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

Investigation remains focused on unanswered questions

Authorities have not announced a cause or manner of death based on the remains recovered.

Officials have specifically said that there is no indication of foul play, but that does not answer every question about the events between Landry’s disappearance and the discovery of his remains.

Investigators are continuing to review the case and the evidence collected over the years.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office has asked that the Landry family be given privacy as they process the devastating news.

After nearly six years of searching, the mystery of where Jason Landry was has finally been resolved.

The question of what happened to him after his car crashed on that December night in 2020, however, remains.

For his family, the identification brings both profound grief and the long-awaited certainty of knowing where Jason is.

He was 21 when he disappeared.

Nearly six years later, his family finally has the answer they had been waiting for: Jason Landry has been found.