Follow the minute-by-minute timeline leading up to missing Missouri City student's crash
Authorities are providing more insight into the timeline of the disappearance of a Texas State University student from Missouri City.
Jason Landry, 21, vanished more than six weeks ago, on Dec. 13, as he was headed home from college.
His Nissan Altima was found crashed and abandoned in the town of Luling, Texas, on Dec. 14. Luling is approximately 30 minutes away from the school in San Marcos and 140 miles west of Houston. His wallet, phone and keys were found inside the car. Clothing was found approximately 900 feet from the crash, according to the sheriff's office.
In an update Friday, the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office said investigators have gained access to most of Jason's phone and computer data. Investigators are waiting for search warrants from social media/tech companies to be returned and plan to immediately process the information once received.
Minute-by-minute timeline
- Investigators believe Landry left his apartment in San Marcos at 10:55 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2020.
- At 11:05 p.m., he drove down Highway 80 and passed under I-35 in San Marcos. He continued driving, entering Caldwell County at 11:07 p.m.
- By 11:11 p.m., Landry was in Martindale, Texas, continuing south on Highway 80.
- At 11:15 p.m., Landry passed over SH 130 on Highway 80.
- At 11:17 p.m., he was in Fentress entering Prairie Lea at 11:19 p.m. and the area of Stairtown at 11:21 p.m.
- Landry entered the City of Luling on Highway 80 at 11:24 p.m. As he went through the intersection of Hackberry Street, where Highway 80 becomes Austin Street, he stopped using the Waze app and began using the Snapchat app on his cell phone. He continued on Austin Street to the intersection with U.S. Highway 183 (Magnolia Ave.).
- It's believed Landry continued straight through that intersection, continuing onto E. Austin. It's at this intersection where Landry's digital footprint stops.
Authorities believe Landry continued on E. Austin onto Spruce Street, which turns into Salt Flat Road.
Landry's Altima is found abandoned in the 2300 block of Salt Flat Road about 30 minutes after midnight on Dec. 14, 2020.
Investigators are now focused on trying to find out what happened in that 67-minute window, between the last data footprint at Austin and Magnolia and the discovery of the crash scene.
Landry's phone had cell signal and was powered on, but investigators are trying to determine why it doesn't appear to have been used since the area of Magnolia Avenue and Austin Street.
What we know about the crash scene
Landry's car was found abandoned, lights on, with the keys in the ignition and front passenger side door locked.
The sheriff's office said it was a single-vehicle crash, most likely from overcorrecting on the gravel road and spinning off the roadway.
The rear driver's side corner made initial contact with a tree on the east side of the roadway, propelling the front driver's side into another tree and barbed wire fence. There is no evidence that any other vehicle or outside force was involved in the collision.
The evidence collected leads investigators to believe the collision with the trees and the fence line was the only contact the vehicle sustained.
The rear window was also broken as a result of the impact with a tree.
A volunteer firefighter, who discovered Jason's abandoned car, did not enter the vehicle and neither did the trooper who responded to the crash about an hour later, officials said.
The vehicle was towed to an impound yard the next morning, where Landry's father, who is the car's registered owner, entered through the unlocked driver's side and found his son's phone between the driver's seat and the center console.
About 900 feet from the crash scene, Landry's father found articles of his clothing, including a shirt, shorts, socks, underwear, slide sandals and a wristwatch in the road.
What do we know about the items found?
Authorities detected a single blood smear. It was small and not indicative of serious bodily injury, officials said.
It's possible Landry was injured when he got out of the car and came into contact with the barbed wire fence or foliage.
Investigators also found a backpack, ball cap, plastic bag of personal toiletries and a tumbler with his deceased beta fish in it. These items were all discovered north of the clothing recovered by Landry's father.
Landry's backpack contained his wallet, a usable amount of marijuana, a laptop computer, gaming equipment and a few personal effects.
The small amount of marijuana has been seized and is being held. Officials say it's possible the marijuana was combined with an unknown hallucinogenic substance, but those results are still pending.
It's believed the clothing found in the road is what Landry was wearing prior to the crash. There is no indication that the clothing was removed under duress or threat.
It was also cold outside at the time of Landry's disappearance with the low temperature being recorded around 36 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 43 degrees.
Landry's father received his backpack, without the seized marijuana, on Monday.
The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation and said there was no evidence of blood inside the car.
There is also no evidence Landry was traveling to meet with or had communicated intent to meet with anyone in or around Luling.
Earlier in January, search crews used horses, dogs and even helicopters to look for him, but eventually suspended their efforts. Family told ABC13 in December that officials drained a pond in Luling that they believed could have clues to Jason's disappearance, but found nothing.
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Landry's father, mother, other family members, and his ex-girlfriend, who lives out of state, are not suspects or persons of interest at this time, deputies said.
There is also no evidence that an unknown person of interest is involved nor is there a threat to the community.
Still, if you know anything about Landry's whereabouts, call 911 or the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office at 512-398-6777 or email Detective Jeff Ferry at jeff.ferry@co.caldwell.tx.us.
Anyone with game cameras on private property or private surveillance video from the area is encouraged to review it as soon as possible. You can contact the sheriff's office if assistance is needed.
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