Search for Missing Texas State Student Jason Landry Continues Near Luling

LULING, TX – It’s been nearly 10 months since Jason Landry disappeared on his way home from Texas State University for vacation. On Saturday, Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) conducted a day-long search of the area near Luling where Jason was last seen.

This isn’t the first time they’ve searched this area. This is actually the eighth time and they continue to search this area as they believe he might still be there.

“We believe Jason Landry is still out there somewhere, he just hasn’t been discovered yet,” captain Jeff Ferry said with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.

On Saturday, CCSO called TEXSAR back to Jason Landry’s last known location to conduct a new search. “We’re looking for evidence, in particular, we’re looking for human remains, most likely bones,” Ferry said.

Jason’s father, Kent Landry, says the last 10 months have been difficult without his son, but he has found it easy to know that God is watching over Jason.

“We know that no matter what, if in an hour they find Jason’s body, he’s in heaven. Nothing has changed for eternity. Nothing. I’m still going to see him. I’m still going to spend the whole eternity with him in heaven and that’s what keeps you going,” Kent said.

Ten months after Jason’s disappearance, 50 trained and certified TEXSAR volunteers returned to land to search for him, this time with more data under their belt and 86 points of interest to examine.

“Our last major search in February yielded over 36,000 different images of the drones out of the thousands of miles we’ve covered on the ground, so over the past few months since that search we’ve been combing through those images, using the software, and the AI ​​there to find anomalies of points of interest and things that needed further tracking,” said Shawn Hohnstreiter, director of field operations for TEXSAR.

Several teams searched, including drone, mounted, ground search and canine teams.

As the volunteers searched for his son, Kent found himself thinking back to his time with Jason. He hopes no other family will have to deal with the pain his family is facing right now and encourages others to enjoy the little things.

“I would encourage any parent to spend more time with their children, spend more time with their family and create memories. Where I stand I am so grateful for all the years and all the memories that I have for Jason because I may not have any more,” Kent said.

As the search for Jason Landry continues, the public is asked to contact Captain Ferry directly at 512-398-6777 ext. 4504 or email [email protected] with any information regarding Jason’s disappearance.

WHO IS JASON LANDRY?

Investigators believe the 21-year-old planned to drive home from his apartment in San Marcos to Missouri City, a suburb of Houston. A timeline from the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office tracks Landry’s movements from the time he left his apartment in San Marcos to the time his phone stopped ringing in Luling.

The schedule provided by the CCSO is as follows:

• December 13, 2020, 10:55 p.m.: Landry leaves his apartment in San Marcos, heading for Missouri City
• December 13, 2020, 11:05 p.m.: Landry drives on Interstate 80 and goes under I-35 in San Marcos
• December 13, 2020, 11:07 p.m.: Landry enters Caldwell County on Highway 80, heading south
• December 13, 2020, 11:11 p.m.: Entrance of Landry Martindalealways heading south on Highway 80
• December 13, 2020, 11:15 p.m.: Landry passes over SH 130 on Highway 80
• December 13, 2020, 11:17 p.m. to 11:21 p.m.: Landry passes through Fentress, Prairie Lea and Stairtown
• December 13, 2020, 11:24 p.m.: Landry enters Luling on Highway 80.

The CCSO says that when Landry crossed the Hackberry Street intersection where Highway 80 becomes Austin Street, he stopped using the Waze app and started using Snapchat.

Landry then continued on Austin St. to the intersection with US 183, also known as Magnolia Avenue, and CCSO says investigators believe he continued straight through that intersection, continuing on E. Austin, but at this intersection his digital footprint stops. Landry then continued on E. Austin to Spruce Street, which turns into Salt Flat Road.

A volunteer firefighter found Jason Landry’s car wrecked and abandoned on the 2300 block around 12:30 a.m. Dec. 14, the CCSO says. The vehicle’s lights were still on. A highway patrolman had Jason’s car towed away. He took his backpack, which contained a few joints, and left.

Hours later, Jason Landry’s father, Kent Landry, found his way to Salt Flat Road. He expected to see flashing police lights and his son. Instead, the road was dark and empty. “I saw deer, three different sets of deer go by. Coyotes went by and I didn’t see another car, another person.”

The clothes Jason Landry was wearing, his shoes, even his underwear, were strewn across the street. “I’ve found [my son’s] fish. I found where the accident happened and I’m the only one who took photos or videos,” he said.

Kent Landry was able to locate his son’s vehicle at a car pound. His cell phone was still in the car. No one was looking for him. Kent Landry added: “[the accident scene is] in the middle of nowhere. In this time window, it’s very possible that there won’t be anyone else in this box other than Jason and whoever did what they did. Who else is involved in this case.”

___
MORE TITLES:
Family and friends of missing student Jason Landry offer $10,000 reward
Family and Investigators Seek Geofencing Warrant in Jason Landry Case
Volunteers search for missing Texas state student Jason Landry again
New details released in search for missing Texas state student
Search continues in Caldwell County for missing Texas state student
Texas EquuSearch Suspends Search for Missing Texas State Student
Search teams work 300 acres in search of Texas state student
A week later, the search continues for a missing student from the state of Texas
Nearly a week after his disappearance, the search for a missing Texas state student continues
Texas State student still missing near Luling
Authorities to decide if search continues for missing Texas state student
Hope fades as search for missing Texas state student ends on day three
Search continues for missing Texas state student
___
DOWNLOAD: FOX 7 AUSTIN NEWS APP
SUBSCRIBE: Daily newsletter | Youtube
TO FOLLOW: Facebook | instagram | Twitter