The Texas Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit announced that DNA analysis has conclusively identified recently recovered human remains as those of Jason Landry, a Texas State University student missing since December 2020, according to a Sept. 23 news release from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office.
Landry, then 21, disappeared on Dec. 13, 2020, while driving from San Marcos to his family’s home in Missouri City, the release said. Shortly after midnight, his crashed and abandoned vehicle was found on Salt Flat Road in Caldwell County near Luling, with several of his personal belongings, including clothing, scattered near the crash site. He was not located despite extensive searches by law enforcement, search teams and volunteers.
On Sept. 8, 2026, a local resident discovered human remains east of Salt Flat Road, between Soda Springs and Biggs Road, according to the attorney general’s office. DNA testing by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification confirmed the remains were Landry’s.
The skeletal remains do not provide additional insight into the cause or manner of death, and investigators have found no indication of foul play, the release said.
The office said its Cold Case Unit conducted repeated ground and aerial searches over the years, reviewed new leads and continually reexamined the case in collaboration with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Search and Rescue. The release also credited citizen volunteers who devoted substantial time, effort and personal resources to the search, saying the combined efforts led to the recovery and forensic analysis that made the identification possible.
“This development marks a critical moment in a case that has weighed heavily on our hearts for nearly six years,” Paxton said in the release. “The Landry family has suffered an unimaginable tragedy, and they will remain in our prayers, especially during this incredibly difficult time.” He added that the Cold Case Unit “will continue fighting to solve cases and bring closure on behalf of Texas families and victims.”
The Landry family has been notified, and the agencies involved have asked for privacy for the family, according to the release. The attorney general’s office said further information will be released as appropriate.