LULING, Texas — Friday, Dec. 13, marks four years since Texas State student Jason Landry disappeared on his way home for the holidays. His family continues to search for answers about what happened.
“It's a very strange place to be,” Jason Landry's father, Kent Landry, said. “We expected to find out what happened in the first week and here we are, four years later, still without any answers.”
Jason Landry was driving from San Marcos to his home in Missouri City, Texas, just outside of Houston. On Dec. 13, 2020, his car was found crashed and abandoned about 30 miles of southeast of San Marcos.
Investigators say Jason Landry’s case is difficult because there is no evidence that a crime occurred. Body camera footage shows investigators finding his vehicle with his backpack, clothing, a laptop and some toiletries. Law enforcement also searched houses and sheds nearby, but no one was around.
“It's hard enough to contemplate losing your child, but to not have closure, not be able to grieve, not be able to mourn, not be able to put it in proper context is the hardest part. Because part of your life is just stuck waiting for those answers,” Kent Landry said.
Every year since Jason Landry’s disappearance, his family and friends have gathered for a candlelight vigil at the site of the crash to pray for answers. A volunteer search group also goes out to search the area about once or twice a month in the fall and winter.
Kent Landry said these group of volunteers don’t know his son, but they all came together after seeing news stories about his disappearance. They volunteer to provide extra help where Texas Search and Rescue and other law enforcement agencies aren't able to.
"Unfortunately, as families of missing people know, your case gets pushed further and further back as new cases come online and resources are limited," Kent Landry said. "They're kind of like, 'We don't know what else to do,' and it just gets put in a file folder stuck in a drawer."
What happened with Jason Landry's case?
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office took on the case when it happened, but because the county only has one investigator, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton got involved to help with the search.
In 2021, the Texas AG's Office created the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit to help law enforcement agencies across the state with cold case investigations. Texas Search and Rescue found that in 2023 alone, nearly 46,000 people were reported missing in Texas.
Jason Landry's case was one of the first to be investigated within the new unit.
The AG's Office said it dedicated hundreds of hours of investigative resources into this case, including using forensic testing, search warrants, witness testimony and other specialized experts, but still found nothing pointing them to Jason Landry.
The Landry family's message
Kent Landry is a man of faith, and the family believes Jason Landry is in heaven. Kent Landry said during these past four years, he has been reminded of the importance of family in his life.
"God uses the worst of circumstances to remind us of what's truly important," he said. "In the end, when you have faced something like we're going through, it's the family, friends and loved ones that matter."
Their situation has also prompted many conversations with young people and parents of college-age individuals about being careful at night, being more aware of their surroundings and turning on a locator on their phones so people can find them.
"If that means one more young adult is home for Christmas instead of what we're going through, then God has used that to make a difference," Kent Landry said.
This holiday season, Kent Landry wants to spread the message to not take for granted life's blessings and to connect with family, regardless of what has happened in the past.
"I look at other parents, you know, complaining about something their kid did or did not do, and I'm like, 'I would do anything to be able to yell at Jason,'" Kent Landry said. "I would give anything to be disappointed. I would give anything to celebrate successes with him."
On Friday night, the family and friend will hold another candlelight vigil from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for Jason Landry in Luling, at the site of the crash. If you're unable to attend in person, the family invites people to light a candle at home, take a moment of silence or say a prayer. You can also share pictures of the candle and your thoughts and prayers on this Facebook group page.
A $20,000 reward is still being offered for information that leads to Jason Landry's whereabouts. If you have any information, you can call Sgt. Rachel Kading at the Office of the Attorney General at 512-936-0742.