1 00:00:01,767 --> 00:00:05,643 [narrator reading] 2 00:00:05,667 --> 00:00:07,843 [trooper Cristobal Flores] Oh, there's a wallet. 3 00:00:07,867 --> 00:00:09,843 He's completely naked wherever he's at. 4 00:00:09,867 --> 00:00:13,400 [Kent Landry] To get a 2:00 a.m. phone call from a highway patrolman, 5 00:00:13,467 --> 00:00:15,500 that changes your life forever. 6 00:00:17,166 --> 00:00:20,400 [narrator] His family is desperate for answers. 7 00:00:20,467 --> 00:00:22,142 [Kent] I was the only one looking for Jason. 8 00:00:22,166 --> 00:00:25,543 And the car ran off the road right around this curb. 9 00:00:25,567 --> 00:00:26,843 Found his wrecked car. 10 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:29,000 God, please be with him. 11 00:00:29,767 --> 00:00:31,000 [narrator reading] 12 00:00:31,967 --> 00:00:35,042 retraces Jason's last known steps. 13 00:00:35,066 --> 00:00:36,500 Why did he miss that turn? 14 00:00:37,467 --> 00:00:39,743 Did something nefarious happen to him? 15 00:00:39,767 --> 00:00:42,100 [Jeff Ferry] It really is two separate questions. 16 00:00:42,166 --> 00:00:43,900 What happened to Jason? 17 00:00:43,967 --> 00:00:44,967 And where is Jason? 18 00:00:46,166 --> 00:00:48,266 [Kent] Words can't describe... 19 00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:51,343 that living hell... 20 00:00:51,367 --> 00:00:55,700 thinking, "Is he lying in some shallow grave somewhere?" 21 00:00:55,767 --> 00:00:57,900 That's all you can think about. 22 00:00:57,967 --> 00:01:00,976 [narrator] The more people who know Jason's story, 23 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,843 the greater the chance of bringing him home. 24 00:01:03,867 --> 00:01:07,500 [narrator reading] 25 00:01:07,567 --> 00:01:09,000 Help find him. 26 00:01:09,667 --> 00:01:12,266 {\an8}Have you seen Jason Landry? 27 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:24,867 [Kent] I'm Jason Landry's father. 28 00:01:26,367 --> 00:01:28,543 Every college student is different but, 29 00:01:28,567 --> 00:01:31,000 Jason has always been... 30 00:01:31,867 --> 00:01:33,567 {\an8}He's always been strong-willed. 31 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:36,600 He's always been courageous. 32 00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:39,643 He just would always strike out on an adventure. 33 00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:42,000 He would do anything. 34 00:01:42,066 --> 00:01:45,142 {\an8}He was always incredibly optimistic. 35 00:01:45,166 --> 00:01:49,066 He always figured everything would be okay in the end. 36 00:01:50,467 --> 00:01:52,843 Lisa and I have been married 31 years. 37 00:01:52,867 --> 00:01:55,800 We have three kids, Jason's our youngest. 38 00:01:55,867 --> 00:01:58,743 My wife's the musician, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. 39 00:01:58,767 --> 00:02:01,000 But he's always wanted to play any instrument. 40 00:02:03,166 --> 00:02:04,843 He's always loved it. 41 00:02:04,867 --> 00:02:08,443 Growing up in a church family isn't a normal family. 42 00:02:08,467 --> 00:02:10,343 Being a preacher's kid is, is difficult. 43 00:02:10,367 --> 00:02:12,843 So, whoo-whoo-whoo. 44 00:02:12,867 --> 00:02:14,042 [all laughing] 45 00:02:14,066 --> 00:02:17,343 I think there's just this pressure to be perfect. 46 00:02:17,367 --> 00:02:19,900 Going to church is not really optional 47 00:02:19,967 --> 00:02:21,443 [chuckles] when you're a preacher's kid, 48 00:02:21,467 --> 00:02:23,600 and that's, uh, unusual in this day and age. 49 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:27,843 This was his first semester at Texas State. 50 00:02:27,867 --> 00:02:30,100 Finals were just wrapping up... 51 00:02:30,166 --> 00:02:31,726 and he was coming back for Christmas, 52 00:02:33,066 --> 00:02:35,142 so, you know, kind of looking forward to the week 53 00:02:35,166 --> 00:02:38,100 and, uh, all the different things you've got going on in life. 54 00:02:40,867 --> 00:02:42,242 [Jack Frank] My name is Jack Frank. 55 00:02:42,266 --> 00:02:45,042 I've known Jason Landry since childhood, 56 00:02:45,066 --> 00:02:48,100 and he was also my next door neighbor here in college. 57 00:02:50,767 --> 00:02:52,843 Jason's game plan was to go home 58 00:02:52,867 --> 00:02:54,867 and then just be home for winter break. 59 00:02:55,967 --> 00:02:58,200 He said, "I'm gonna hit the road back home." 60 00:02:58,266 --> 00:03:01,000 And I sent him a text asking him to get some sleep 61 00:03:01,767 --> 00:03:03,142 before he hit the road, 62 00:03:03,166 --> 00:03:05,867 {\an8}and he sent me a text saying that, "I'm all good. 63 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,300 I appreciate you looking out." 64 00:03:09,700 --> 00:03:11,600 And that was the last I got to hear from him. 65 00:03:14,767 --> 00:03:16,009 My name's Jeff Ferry. 66 00:03:16,033 --> 00:03:17,976 I'm a captain of the Criminal Investigation Division 67 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,560 of the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office. 68 00:03:22,367 --> 00:03:25,643 December 13th, 2020, was a Sunday night. 69 00:03:25,667 --> 00:03:29,400 A volunteer firefighter is driving down Salt Flat Road, 70 00:03:29,467 --> 00:03:31,000 which is this county road in Luling... 71 00:03:31,667 --> 00:03:32,743 [siren wailing] 72 00:03:32,767 --> 00:03:34,500 and he encounters a vehicle 73 00:03:34,567 --> 00:03:38,300 {\an8}with its driver's side against tree line, a fence line. 74 00:03:39,367 --> 00:03:41,643 [volunteer] Got some driver's side damage. 75 00:03:41,667 --> 00:03:44,300 Headlights are on, see that it's unoccupied. 76 00:03:44,367 --> 00:03:46,242 [volunteer] Apparently the driver was able 77 00:03:46,266 --> 00:03:48,200 to kick out the window in the back. 78 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,943 [Jeff] The volunteer calls the Caldwell County dispatch. 79 00:03:51,967 --> 00:03:56,166 In our county, Texas Highway Patrol works all motor vehicle collisions. 80 00:03:57,467 --> 00:04:00,200 And so, a Texas Highway Patrol trooper 81 00:04:00,266 --> 00:04:01,786 ends up responding about an hour later. 82 00:04:02,767 --> 00:04:04,343 He kind of drove up and down the road 83 00:04:04,367 --> 00:04:06,667 looking for the driver of this vehicle... 84 00:04:08,166 --> 00:04:11,400 making sure there's nobody who's hurt. 85 00:04:11,467 --> 00:04:13,343 And maybe he wandered off from the car, 86 00:04:13,367 --> 00:04:14,476 and now he's laying in a ditch 87 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:18,142 and he needs medical aid. We have to find him. 88 00:04:18,166 --> 00:04:20,843 Especially because temperatures are dropping. 89 00:04:20,867 --> 00:04:25,200 It's cold. We've got a pretty significant weather event blowing in that night. 90 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:29,443 But he doesn't find anybody. 91 00:04:29,467 --> 00:04:31,467 So, Highway Patrol shows up at that accident scene. 92 00:04:33,567 --> 00:04:36,343 {\an8}-[volunteer speaking] -[highway patrolman] Oh, there. 93 00:04:36,367 --> 00:04:38,443 {\an8}He does encounter some clothes, 94 00:04:38,467 --> 00:04:40,142 {\an8}which is very unusual. 95 00:04:40,166 --> 00:04:44,042 {\an8}The clothes are about 900 feet to the south, 96 00:04:44,066 --> 00:04:47,000 {\an8}going towards Luling from the collision scene. 97 00:04:47,066 --> 00:04:48,976 He's completely naked wherever he's at. 98 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,800 Those articles of clothes are strewn about the roadway 99 00:04:51,867 --> 00:04:55,300 in sequence consistent with voluntarily disrobing. 100 00:04:55,367 --> 00:04:57,767 Then he finds a backpack. 101 00:04:59,767 --> 00:05:01,367 [highway patrolman] Oh, there's a wallet. 102 00:05:03,567 --> 00:05:05,443 [Jeff] At this point, our deputy arrives 103 00:05:05,467 --> 00:05:07,543 at the vehicle collision scene. 104 00:05:07,567 --> 00:05:09,967 [highway patrolman] White male. Probably a college kid. 105 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:11,900 Oh, my goodness! 106 00:05:14,266 --> 00:05:17,700 Thinking approximately 10 marijuana blunts 107 00:05:17,767 --> 00:05:21,443 located inside a prescription bottle. 108 00:05:21,467 --> 00:05:23,800 [Jeff] Certainly, the narcotics we think played a factor. 109 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,667 There was no indication there had been a loss of life as a result of that collision. 110 00:05:31,266 --> 00:05:34,800 All the evidence was that this was an intoxicated person, 111 00:05:34,867 --> 00:05:37,600 you know, college kid out of Texas State, 112 00:05:37,667 --> 00:05:39,543 goofing off, and had a collision. 113 00:05:39,567 --> 00:05:41,266 Why does he take his clothes off? 114 00:05:42,266 --> 00:05:43,242 I don't know. 115 00:05:43,266 --> 00:05:44,243 [indistinct speaking on radio] 116 00:05:44,267 --> 00:05:46,300 [trooper Flores] Last name Landry. 117 00:05:46,367 --> 00:05:48,042 First name Jason. 118 00:05:48,066 --> 00:05:51,166 [Jeff] And our trooper radios a driver's number in. 119 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:54,743 Then ends up calling Mr. Landry... 120 00:05:54,767 --> 00:05:56,376 [phone ringing] 121 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,643 and Mrs. Landry, who are the registered owners of the vehicle 122 00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:01,000 that's left abandoned. 123 00:06:01,367 --> 00:06:03,943 - [Lisa Landry] Hello? - [trooper Flores] Mrs. Landry? 124 00:06:03,967 --> 00:06:06,142 - [Lisa] Yeah? - [trooper Flores] My name is Trooper Flores 125 00:06:06,166 --> 00:06:08,600 - with the Texas Highway Patrol. - [Lisa] Okay. 126 00:06:08,667 --> 00:06:12,643 [trooper Flores] The reason I'm calling is I'm currently at a, uh, crash scene 127 00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:15,343 - involving a 2003 Nissan Altima... - [Lisa] Uh-huh. 128 00:06:15,367 --> 00:06:17,042 - Golden color. - [Lisa] Okay. 129 00:06:17,066 --> 00:06:20,643 [trooper Flores] I suspect Jason may have been driving this vehicle. 130 00:06:20,667 --> 00:06:22,000 [Lisa] Oh, my gosh. Okay. 131 00:06:23,867 --> 00:06:26,042 [Kent] To get a 2:00 a.m. phone call and be 132 00:06:26,066 --> 00:06:28,843 a highway patrolman on the other end of the line, 133 00:06:28,867 --> 00:06:30,467 it's just... 134 00:06:31,567 --> 00:06:32,847 Well, you just can't imagine it. 135 00:06:33,567 --> 00:06:35,643 That changes your life forever. 136 00:06:35,667 --> 00:06:36,800 [Lisa] How bad was the car? 137 00:06:36,867 --> 00:06:38,142 [trooper Flores] Yeah, he crashed into, uh, 138 00:06:38,166 --> 00:06:39,643 some trees and a private fence. 139 00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:41,200 [Lisa] Oh, my gosh. Okay. 140 00:06:41,266 --> 00:06:43,343 [trooper Flores] Have you been in contact with him this evening? 141 00:06:43,367 --> 00:06:44,767 [Lisa] I have not. 142 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,240 - [Kent] Are you able to find his phone? - [trooper Flores] No. 143 00:06:47,900 --> 00:06:49,667 [Kent] So, should I head... 144 00:06:50,266 --> 00:06:51,743 What should we do? 145 00:06:51,767 --> 00:06:53,743 - [trooper Flores] Well... - [Kent] [indistinct] 146 00:06:53,767 --> 00:06:55,200 [Lisa] Yeah, we're in Houston. 147 00:06:55,266 --> 00:06:57,142 [trooper Flores] No, I understand. I understand. 148 00:06:57,166 --> 00:07:00,643 I'll be back in touch with you momentarily, okay? 149 00:07:00,667 --> 00:07:02,242 [Kent] I wouldn't say they were nonchalant, 150 00:07:02,266 --> 00:07:04,100 but they found his wrecked car, 151 00:07:04,767 --> 00:07:06,843 and they were looking for him. 152 00:07:06,867 --> 00:07:08,843 And really, kind of, that was about it. 153 00:07:08,867 --> 00:07:12,743 I don't know how long I waited before I left, 154 00:07:12,767 --> 00:07:13,867 but it wasn't too long. 155 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:16,266 And then I hit the road. 156 00:07:18,567 --> 00:07:21,142 I'm driving to Luling from Houston, 157 00:07:21,166 --> 00:07:22,600 and I was just gonna help search 158 00:07:22,667 --> 00:07:25,142 and do whatever it needed to be to find my son. 159 00:07:25,166 --> 00:07:27,700 You know, frankly, I was driving along thinking at any minute 160 00:07:27,767 --> 00:07:30,400 I'm gonna see Jason just walking along the road, 161 00:07:30,467 --> 00:07:32,507 and I get to choke him and hug him at the same time. 162 00:07:34,467 --> 00:07:37,066 But there's nothing on this dark highway. 163 00:07:38,767 --> 00:07:40,242 You know, I'm almost to Luling, 164 00:07:40,266 --> 00:07:42,767 and I figure there are people searching. 165 00:07:43,367 --> 00:07:44,743 I figure there are sirens, 166 00:07:44,767 --> 00:07:47,900 there's cops walking around with... with spotlights on. 167 00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:50,567 There's nothing out there. 168 00:07:52,266 --> 00:07:53,743 My wife Lisa calls me and says, 169 00:07:53,767 --> 00:07:55,543 "They towed the car." 170 00:07:55,567 --> 00:07:59,543 I'm like, "Can you call the highway patrolman and get the exact location?" 171 00:07:59,567 --> 00:08:01,000 She called the highway patrolman, 172 00:08:01,066 --> 00:08:03,767 and then she woke him up 'cause he had gone home and gone to bed. 173 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:08,367 So, she gave me the exact location off of Salt Flat Road. 174 00:08:11,867 --> 00:08:13,843 When I found the accident site... 175 00:08:13,867 --> 00:08:17,743 These are the track marks, and you go down here, 176 00:08:17,767 --> 00:08:21,600 and you can see where the car went off, 177 00:08:21,667 --> 00:08:25,867 and you see the wheels, and hit down here by this tree and fence. 178 00:08:27,367 --> 00:08:29,443 And that's when I found his clothes. 179 00:08:29,467 --> 00:08:31,000 See, those are two pair of socks, 180 00:08:31,467 --> 00:08:33,000 socks, shorts. 181 00:08:33,867 --> 00:08:35,443 [Jeff] Mr. Landry sees socks, 182 00:08:35,467 --> 00:08:36,743 and they're kind of goofy socks, 183 00:08:36,767 --> 00:08:38,100 and he knows [clicks fingers] 184 00:08:38,166 --> 00:08:39,743 immediately, 185 00:08:39,767 --> 00:08:41,000 those are my son's. 186 00:08:41,967 --> 00:08:43,167 [Kent] I mean, I was a lawyer. 187 00:08:43,867 --> 00:08:45,343 I'm not stupid. 188 00:08:45,367 --> 00:08:47,667 I know what evidence could be, 189 00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:50,443 but they don't work the scene. 190 00:08:50,467 --> 00:08:52,242 That's my personal opinion. 191 00:08:52,266 --> 00:08:54,076 They don't do what everyone has seen 192 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:55,800 that they do at an accident site. 193 00:08:56,567 --> 00:08:57,800 You know, put the tape up, 194 00:08:58,667 --> 00:09:01,000 measure the tire tracks, 195 00:09:01,066 --> 00:09:05,700 pick up the evidence that literally is laying in front of you. 196 00:09:05,767 --> 00:09:09,800 But I don't know why they don't pick up his clothes. 197 00:09:09,867 --> 00:09:13,467 I'm about 20 feet ahead, and this is his flip flops. 198 00:09:15,166 --> 00:09:17,843 And this is his T-shirt. 199 00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:21,743 Thankfully, Mr. Landry documents that prior to picking them up. 200 00:09:21,767 --> 00:09:23,343 He takes video of all that. 201 00:09:23,367 --> 00:09:26,343 [Kent] This is his toiletry bag. 202 00:09:26,367 --> 00:09:30,142 And the car ran off the road right around this curve. 203 00:09:30,166 --> 00:09:31,926 So this is, you know, maybe a football field, 204 00:09:33,867 --> 00:09:37,200 and maybe a little bit more where I found his clothes laying in the road. 205 00:09:38,367 --> 00:09:41,242 This still pisses me off, to be honest. 206 00:09:41,266 --> 00:09:44,543 It's your job to do the most basic thing. 207 00:09:44,567 --> 00:09:46,309 But from the very beginning, 208 00:09:46,333 --> 00:09:49,543 highway patrolmen thought this was nothing other than a one-car accident 209 00:09:49,567 --> 00:09:51,800 with some college student who smoked pot, 210 00:09:51,867 --> 00:09:54,643 and he is just wondering around out in the woods. 211 00:09:54,667 --> 00:09:59,343 Well, if you believe that that's true in 30-degree weather 212 00:09:59,367 --> 00:10:01,000 with 20-knot winds, 213 00:10:01,767 --> 00:10:06,643 and, literally, there's a full set of clothes lying on the road. 214 00:10:06,667 --> 00:10:09,443 You at least go find the lost person, 215 00:10:09,467 --> 00:10:12,743 wrap a blanket around him, give him some hot soup, 216 00:10:12,767 --> 00:10:15,600 and then sort out the details as to what happened. 217 00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:20,066 But I was the only one looking for Jason. 218 00:10:22,100 --> 00:10:25,142 I had Find My Phone for Jason, 219 00:10:25,166 --> 00:10:28,843 so I could see that his phone was at the tow lot 220 00:10:28,867 --> 00:10:31,000 where the highway patrolman said the car was towed. 221 00:10:37,667 --> 00:10:40,166 I don't know what the heck happened back here. 222 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:42,843 When I found his wrecked car, 223 00:10:42,867 --> 00:10:45,343 it's just kind of chaos, 224 00:10:45,367 --> 00:10:48,976 in a sense of your emotion, 225 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,743 your emotions. 226 00:10:50,767 --> 00:10:53,100 Oh, God, please be with him. 227 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,300 I knew his phone was in there. 228 00:10:55,367 --> 00:10:59,400 It had slid down kind of between the seat and the armrest. 229 00:10:59,467 --> 00:11:01,307 I had to go from the backseat, kinda behind it, 230 00:11:02,467 --> 00:11:03,700 and I was able to get it. 231 00:11:03,767 --> 00:11:06,967 Not that I could unlock it, it's just, I had his phone. 232 00:11:08,867 --> 00:11:11,076 [Jeff] There's no evidence of where Jason is. 233 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:13,643 And so, there's nobody looking for Jason. 234 00:11:13,667 --> 00:11:15,700 And so, Mr. Landry does what anybody does, 235 00:11:15,767 --> 00:11:19,000 calls the police and says, "Hey, what's going on?" 236 00:11:19,967 --> 00:11:21,800 Texas Highway Patrol then realizes, 237 00:11:21,867 --> 00:11:24,242 "Hey, we should get a search team together." 238 00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:25,343 [Luz Moreno-Lozano] On December 14th, 239 00:11:25,367 --> 00:11:27,343 they bring in Texas Search and Rescue, 240 00:11:27,367 --> 00:11:28,734 {\an8}aka TEXSAR. 241 00:11:28,767 --> 00:11:31,167 {\an8}And they're a non-profit that comes in for smaller communities 242 00:11:33,066 --> 00:11:37,443 who don't just have the resources to dedicate to large searches like this. 243 00:11:37,467 --> 00:11:39,976 And they search several acres of land. 244 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,800 Usually, they do by ground, 245 00:11:42,867 --> 00:11:44,076 they do it by horse, 246 00:11:44,100 --> 00:11:46,567 they also do aerial, um, searches as well. 247 00:11:48,967 --> 00:11:54,242 Texas Search and Rescue were out there searching around the crash site for him. 248 00:11:54,266 --> 00:11:58,042 Right near where the car was wrecked, there's a hillside, 249 00:11:58,066 --> 00:11:59,400 and on the other side of the hill 250 00:11:59,467 --> 00:12:01,387 is a retention pond that's maybe a half-acre big. 251 00:12:04,066 --> 00:12:09,500 And all the search dogs keep hinting that he went into that pond. 252 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:15,142 [Jeff] They brought in some swiftwater rescue guys, 253 00:12:15,166 --> 00:12:17,943 some dive teams to search this pond. 254 00:12:17,967 --> 00:12:21,900 They brought out sonar imaging to image the pond. 255 00:12:24,867 --> 00:12:27,000 [Kent] They get permission from this owner 256 00:12:27,066 --> 00:12:30,100 to actually drain the entire pond. 257 00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:32,126 And you can hear the pumps running 24 hours a day. 258 00:12:34,467 --> 00:12:36,976 And every moment for the first week, 259 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,600 I keep expecting the director from Texas Search and Rescue 260 00:12:41,667 --> 00:12:43,700 to tell us that they found our son. 261 00:12:47,667 --> 00:12:50,166 Words can't, can't describe... 262 00:12:51,567 --> 00:12:52,567 that living hell. 263 00:12:53,367 --> 00:12:54,367 [sniffles] 264 00:12:55,567 --> 00:12:56,567 [exhales] 265 00:12:57,767 --> 00:13:00,100 Just waiting... 266 00:13:01,567 --> 00:13:03,343 waiting for the axe to fall, 267 00:13:03,367 --> 00:13:05,400 thinking any moment... 268 00:13:07,266 --> 00:13:08,300 you're gonna hear... 269 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,467 that they found your child. [sniffles] 270 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:20,867 And all I can visualize is him floating there... 271 00:13:22,467 --> 00:13:25,000 in that dirty water. 272 00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:30,142 And you don't want him to be there. 273 00:13:30,166 --> 00:13:32,486 And then finally when they drained the pond, he's not there. 274 00:13:33,967 --> 00:13:37,242 You're thankful, but where is he? 275 00:13:37,266 --> 00:13:41,643 [sniffles] Are we looking in the right places and just haven't found him? 276 00:13:41,667 --> 00:13:43,500 Are we not looking in the right places 277 00:13:43,567 --> 00:13:45,266 because he was never there? 278 00:13:47,700 --> 00:13:52,076 Or is he lying in some shallow grave somewhere around Luling, 279 00:13:52,100 --> 00:13:54,443 and we just haven't found him 280 00:13:54,467 --> 00:13:55,967 'cause someone put him there? 281 00:13:57,266 --> 00:13:58,900 That's all you can think about. 282 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:01,780 As a dad, you're primary responsibility is, 283 00:14:03,867 --> 00:14:05,367 is to protect your kids. 284 00:14:06,367 --> 00:14:07,467 And I failed. 285 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:14,600 Hello, my name is Jason Landry. [chuckles] 286 00:14:18,467 --> 00:14:21,242 {\an8}I saw Jason every single day 287 00:14:21,266 --> 00:14:24,042 {\an8}the week prior to his disappearance. 288 00:14:24,066 --> 00:14:25,743 So, I, I just got out of the shower, 289 00:14:25,767 --> 00:14:27,400 and you know, I was thinking, 290 00:14:27,467 --> 00:14:29,443 you know, about things, as I do. 291 00:14:29,467 --> 00:14:32,076 That Monday started off completely normal, 292 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:35,343 like he was the person I'd known him to be, 293 00:14:35,367 --> 00:14:38,700 and was just doing his day to day routine. 294 00:14:38,767 --> 00:14:41,000 He spent a lot of time in his bedroom, 295 00:14:41,667 --> 00:14:43,843 especially just with online school. 296 00:14:43,867 --> 00:14:47,076 Our campus life was just looking at a monitor that semester. 297 00:14:47,100 --> 00:14:51,042 Our social life was, uh, pretty lackluster. 298 00:14:51,066 --> 00:14:54,600 I started noticing Jason was relying 299 00:14:54,667 --> 00:14:57,343 a lot more on smoking, 300 00:14:57,367 --> 00:15:00,343 and the more he ended up smoking, 301 00:15:00,367 --> 00:15:05,076 the more off-rails his thought process started, started going. 302 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:06,867 The weed's good in a sense that it... 303 00:15:08,066 --> 00:15:09,443 gives you great ideas and everything, 304 00:15:09,467 --> 00:15:11,000 but it's hard to focus as well. 305 00:15:11,367 --> 00:15:12,900 {\an8}I'm not naive. 306 00:15:12,967 --> 00:15:14,300 {\an8}I went through college too. 307 00:15:14,367 --> 00:15:16,643 {\an8}And to tell me if, if I am surprised 308 00:15:16,667 --> 00:15:19,343 {\an8}that a 21-year-old in college smokes pot, 309 00:15:19,367 --> 00:15:21,500 {\an8}no, I am not surprised. 310 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,643 [Jack] I met Jason Landry in seventh grade, 311 00:15:25,667 --> 00:15:28,300 and then as the years went by, 312 00:15:28,367 --> 00:15:29,867 I got to know him a lot more. 313 00:15:31,266 --> 00:15:33,643 When I got to Texas State, I was moving in, 314 00:15:33,667 --> 00:15:37,343 and Jason pulls up in the house right next door to me. 315 00:15:37,367 --> 00:15:41,000 He was very happy to see someone he knew as well. 316 00:15:41,166 --> 00:15:43,100 And, uh, seeing him next door 317 00:15:43,166 --> 00:15:46,200 gave me a lot more hope for the semester. 318 00:15:47,467 --> 00:15:52,543 Jason was so excited to go to Texas State. 319 00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:54,500 {\an8}- [Jason] Bro. - [girl] What? 320 00:15:54,567 --> 00:15:57,843 {\an8}-I got accepted. -[girl gasps] You did? That's amazing! 321 00:15:57,867 --> 00:15:59,200 {\an8}[girl] Are you happy? 322 00:15:59,266 --> 00:16:00,500 {\an8}Duh. 323 00:16:01,767 --> 00:16:03,800 [Kent] Of course, COVID hit, 324 00:16:03,867 --> 00:16:07,200 and all the fun of going out and meeting people, 325 00:16:07,266 --> 00:16:10,443 were just taken away from him. 326 00:16:10,467 --> 00:16:13,067 For some people, if you're really introverted, that's a good thing. 327 00:16:13,266 --> 00:16:14,343 But for an extrovert, 328 00:16:14,367 --> 00:16:17,042 that's just the worst thing in the world, 329 00:16:17,066 --> 00:16:20,976 to lock yourself into a room and not be able to actually connect with people. 330 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,242 And I think that really negatively impacted Jason. 331 00:16:24,266 --> 00:16:25,266 Um... 332 00:16:26,767 --> 00:16:28,843 I'm tired. I wanna go to bed. 333 00:16:28,867 --> 00:16:32,900 I think Jason struggled with the life online. 334 00:16:32,967 --> 00:16:35,000 He was really just in his own shell. 335 00:16:35,066 --> 00:16:38,343 What I would always do is, you know, 336 00:16:38,367 --> 00:16:40,500 think about all the things I have to do 337 00:16:40,567 --> 00:16:41,607 and get overwhelmed by it. 338 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,976 [Kent] For Jason, he was still, I think, 339 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,843 very much in that midst of trying to sort things out, 340 00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:53,567 and, uh, trying to decide what we wanted for his life. 341 00:17:01,100 --> 00:17:05,543 I knew that Jason, over the days up until that point, 342 00:17:05,567 --> 00:17:07,743 hadn't been sleeping and eating properly, 343 00:17:07,767 --> 00:17:09,800 and had only been smoking. 344 00:17:09,867 --> 00:17:11,667 That's when I started having concerns for him. 345 00:17:12,667 --> 00:17:17,943 But Jason was still completely coherent and cognitive. 346 00:17:17,967 --> 00:17:21,867 {\an8}The night he left, that was the last time I texted Jason. 347 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,076 [Jeff] So, Saturday, after Jason's disappearance, 348 00:17:30,100 --> 00:17:32,800 the search continued with TEXSAR. 349 00:17:32,867 --> 00:17:34,743 Helicopters went up. 350 00:17:34,767 --> 00:17:36,800 Fixed-wing aircraft has gone out. 351 00:17:36,867 --> 00:17:39,367 K-9 teams have gone out. 352 00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:43,710 Drone assets were deployed. 353 00:17:43,734 --> 00:17:48,443 And we used hundreds of thousands of drone images that were taken. 354 00:17:48,467 --> 00:17:51,266 {\an8}That first week was, was pretty intense. 355 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:57,600 - [helicopter whirring] - [Kent] We're seeing the helicopters fly in 356 00:17:57,667 --> 00:17:59,376 and the dog teams. 357 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:03,200 I can't even begin to imagine how many dog teams have searched for Jason. 358 00:18:03,266 --> 00:18:07,643 It seems like every dog in half the United States has been searching for Jason. 359 00:18:07,667 --> 00:18:10,443 I'm like, "Why haven't we found him or any trace of him? 360 00:18:10,467 --> 00:18:12,147 Have we been searching in the right place?" 361 00:18:14,300 --> 00:18:17,943 After Saturday, we said, "Hey, if we have not found anything by now, 362 00:18:17,967 --> 00:18:20,643 let's cease search operations 363 00:18:20,667 --> 00:18:24,343 until we have evidence of one thing or another." 364 00:18:24,367 --> 00:18:26,700 We hadn't even built a timeline by that point, 365 00:18:26,767 --> 00:18:30,100 so we requested TEXSAR to cease all search operations. 366 00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:35,500 And then we started doing the forensics on the car. 367 00:18:35,567 --> 00:18:38,142 Our detectives processed that vehicle. 368 00:18:38,166 --> 00:18:40,343 They went through every piece of evidence. 369 00:18:40,367 --> 00:18:41,367 We collected DNA swabs. 370 00:18:42,166 --> 00:18:44,443 We fingerprinted the outside of the car 371 00:18:44,467 --> 00:18:46,543 to see if there had been any other, uh, 372 00:18:46,567 --> 00:18:49,900 potentially viable latent prints that we can retrieve and process. 373 00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:55,242 We became very aggressive in our investigation, 374 00:18:55,266 --> 00:18:57,500 and started looking from video, 375 00:18:57,567 --> 00:18:59,667 from anybody or anything that was in the area. 376 00:19:01,166 --> 00:19:02,600 We're pulling game cameras. 377 00:19:02,667 --> 00:19:04,042 We're reaching out to property owners 378 00:19:04,066 --> 00:19:07,242 and seeing if they have hidden cameras on their property. 379 00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:10,042 We're looking for video from convenience stores. 380 00:19:10,066 --> 00:19:11,506 Maybe something happened on the drive 381 00:19:12,567 --> 00:19:17,500 from the apartment in San Marcos to the area of the crash. 382 00:19:17,567 --> 00:19:20,900 Maybe something happened on the road in between the two. 383 00:19:20,967 --> 00:19:24,567 But we were really left with nothing on the video side. 384 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,076 We did rely on traditional police work, 385 00:19:29,100 --> 00:19:34,000 and we also relied heavily on Jason's digital data. 386 00:19:34,066 --> 00:19:37,600 We knew early on, one of the key things we wanted was Waze, 387 00:19:37,667 --> 00:19:40,266 which has his geolocation data. 388 00:19:42,266 --> 00:19:44,643 He was driving through Luling... 389 00:19:44,667 --> 00:19:48,500 and it certainly appears that during that travel, 390 00:19:48,567 --> 00:19:51,743 he's using Waze for directions. 391 00:19:51,767 --> 00:19:53,843 [Luz] When you're using apps like Waze, 392 00:19:53,867 --> 00:19:57,076 they, like, pinging you, like, every time you pass a tower, 393 00:19:57,100 --> 00:20:00,076 {\an8}and so they can see minute by minute where you are. 394 00:20:00,100 --> 00:20:04,142 And the thing about using technology 395 00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:06,142 is that you can also see when they close it out. 396 00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:08,646 And I think that's really been a game-changer for investigators. 397 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,600 [Jeff] It appears that he minimizes Waze and opens up Snapchat. 398 00:20:16,867 --> 00:20:19,200 He's looking at a story on his phone... 399 00:20:20,266 --> 00:20:22,100 and he misses his turn. 400 00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:26,100 He should turn right. 401 00:20:26,667 --> 00:20:27,900 He proceeds straight. 402 00:20:33,467 --> 00:20:35,200 Looking at all the evidence we've collected, 403 00:20:35,266 --> 00:20:39,343 we can document every second of Jason's travel 404 00:20:39,367 --> 00:20:41,327 {\an8}from his apartment in San Marcos, the entire route, 405 00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:46,843 {\an8}into Luling, where we believe he misses his turn. 406 00:20:46,867 --> 00:20:49,743 {\an8}We have every second accounted for. 407 00:20:49,767 --> 00:20:51,009 [indistinct speaking on radio] 408 00:20:51,033 --> 00:20:54,343 [Jeff] And then Jason has a single-vehicle collision, 409 00:20:54,367 --> 00:20:56,000 but we don't know why. 410 00:20:56,967 --> 00:20:58,600 What contributed to that collision? 411 00:20:58,667 --> 00:21:01,843 Could a deer, or a hog, or something jumped out on the road 412 00:21:01,867 --> 00:21:03,467 and he overcorrected? Could have. 413 00:21:04,667 --> 00:21:06,900 Could it have been Jason dropped his phone? 414 00:21:06,967 --> 00:21:09,643 If he's digging around for his phone, overcorrected, 415 00:21:09,667 --> 00:21:11,000 had a single-vehicle collision, 416 00:21:11,066 --> 00:21:13,767 and then left the vehicle on his own? 417 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,100 Certainly feels like that's the most plausible. 418 00:21:20,867 --> 00:21:23,543 It really is two separate questions, though. 419 00:21:23,567 --> 00:21:25,743 You know, what happened to Jason? 420 00:21:25,767 --> 00:21:27,100 And where is Jason? 421 00:21:28,867 --> 00:21:31,367 This is America, and you're allowed to disappear. 422 00:21:32,767 --> 00:21:36,543 If you want to start another life, you can do that. 423 00:21:36,567 --> 00:21:38,266 That's not something we've encountered. 424 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,600 But it is a possibility. 425 00:21:40,667 --> 00:21:42,027 So, is this an involuntary missing? 426 00:21:42,767 --> 00:21:44,066 Is this a voluntary missing? 427 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,443 {\an8}Fast forward a couple of months, 428 00:21:56,467 --> 00:22:00,076 now there's these creations of these Facebook groups. 429 00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:01,943 Now the media's heavily involved. 430 00:22:01,967 --> 00:22:04,300 [reporter] A missing person billboard can now be found 431 00:22:04,367 --> 00:22:07,743 along Highway 183 going from Luling to Lockhart, 432 00:22:07,767 --> 00:22:11,943 in hopes of bringing home missing Texas State student Jason Landry. 433 00:22:11,967 --> 00:22:15,843 [Luz] I've been covering this since December of 2020 434 00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:18,142 when we learned that Jason had gone missing. 435 00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:20,046 This case seemed to resonate with the community, 436 00:22:21,266 --> 00:22:23,600 more than any other case that I've seen. 437 00:22:23,667 --> 00:22:25,943 {\an8}People see something like this happen and they're like, 438 00:22:25,967 --> 00:22:27,767 {\an8}"Oh, my gosh. That could literally be my kid." 439 00:22:29,767 --> 00:22:31,976 [Kent] You can't imagine. 440 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,000 You're waiting for a phone call but you dread a phone call. 441 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,367 And then you wonder how long are you going to be waiting. 442 00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:43,000 {\an8}And it just... 443 00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:46,600 {\an8}Every day is another day. 444 00:22:51,367 --> 00:22:54,643 [Jeff] It's likely that Jason wanders into the woods. 445 00:22:54,667 --> 00:22:57,166 I do believe firmly that we just haven't found him. 446 00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:01,100 We know that the area where Jason goes missing 447 00:23:01,166 --> 00:23:03,367 has a lot of wild hogs. 448 00:23:06,300 --> 00:23:09,300 And these are 200, 300-pound critters. 449 00:23:09,367 --> 00:23:13,443 [Luz] We know that there is a wild hog problem in Central Texas. 450 00:23:13,467 --> 00:23:16,500 Wild hogs can destroy thousands of dollars 451 00:23:16,567 --> 00:23:18,543 of crops and property. 452 00:23:18,567 --> 00:23:20,767 And so, if Jason was somewhere in the woods unconscious, 453 00:23:22,567 --> 00:23:26,567 I think there's a possibility that wildlife could have gotten to his body. 454 00:23:28,767 --> 00:23:30,976 [Jeff] When there's a scarcity of food, 455 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,443 hogs will not miss a meal, 456 00:23:32,467 --> 00:23:36,500 especially in December, January, February. 457 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,867 Is it possible that that's why we've not been able to find a body? 458 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,000 Maybe. 459 00:23:44,066 --> 00:23:46,367 It's possible he's gone. 460 00:23:48,367 --> 00:23:50,447 [Kent] In my opinion, Caldwell County Sheriff's Office 461 00:23:51,066 --> 00:23:54,242 don't seem to want to think about a possibility 462 00:23:54,266 --> 00:23:56,743 that it's anything other than a one-car accident, 463 00:23:56,767 --> 00:23:59,543 and that Jason wandered off in the field 464 00:23:59,567 --> 00:24:01,867 and got eaten by feral hogs. 465 00:24:02,567 --> 00:24:03,710 Period. 466 00:24:03,734 --> 00:24:05,667 There's nothing to be done in their mind 'cause, 467 00:24:06,467 --> 00:24:07,634 you know... 468 00:24:08,767 --> 00:24:11,367 there's nothing left of Jason. "Too bad, so sad." 469 00:24:12,367 --> 00:24:15,100 But maybe it's not a single-car accident. 470 00:24:15,166 --> 00:24:16,700 Let's broaden the scope. 471 00:24:16,767 --> 00:24:19,000 Let's use all the tools that are available. 472 00:24:23,266 --> 00:24:24,543 [Abel Pena] My name is Abel Pena. 473 00:24:24,567 --> 00:24:28,200 I'm retired from the FBI after 26-and-a-half years. 474 00:24:28,266 --> 00:24:31,543 {\an8}I've worked, uh, a number of missing persons cases, 475 00:24:31,567 --> 00:24:33,667 {\an8}uh, while employed with the FBI. 476 00:24:34,867 --> 00:24:36,600 My daughter attends Texas State, 477 00:24:36,667 --> 00:24:40,567 and she called me about a friend of hers that, um, was, was missing. 478 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:42,843 It hit close to home. 479 00:24:42,867 --> 00:24:45,142 Jason was characterized by my daughter as just 480 00:24:45,166 --> 00:24:47,543 a very pleasant, 481 00:24:47,567 --> 00:24:49,000 very happy-go-lucky free spirit, 482 00:24:51,667 --> 00:24:53,843 but a very warm and loving person. 483 00:24:53,867 --> 00:24:57,343 My daughter used to date his best friend, 484 00:24:57,367 --> 00:24:59,943 and so, there was this closeness that they had. 485 00:24:59,967 --> 00:25:02,667 Jason was just one of those people that was kind of a, 486 00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:05,400 I think a glue person 487 00:25:05,467 --> 00:25:08,843 that keeps a group of people together. 488 00:25:08,867 --> 00:25:12,743 He was one that had a lot of good friends and impacted a lot of lives. 489 00:25:12,767 --> 00:25:16,000 And it was a friend of his who told her dad, 490 00:25:16,066 --> 00:25:18,100 "Hey, Dad, have you heard about this one?" 491 00:25:18,166 --> 00:25:19,326 And he contacted us and said, 492 00:25:20,367 --> 00:25:22,407 "Hey, I think, I think I might be able to help you." 493 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:26,443 [Abel] We're a part of Project Absentis which is non-profit. 494 00:25:26,467 --> 00:25:29,643 We got a team of retired FBI agents, border patrol. 495 00:25:29,667 --> 00:25:32,142 We've got some other intel folks. 496 00:25:32,166 --> 00:25:34,242 So we're there to kind of provide that bridge 497 00:25:34,266 --> 00:25:37,400 between the family, uh, of the missing, 498 00:25:37,467 --> 00:25:41,800 and be there for, um, assistance to, to local or state authorities. 499 00:25:41,867 --> 00:25:45,467 We offered our services free of charge to the Landry family. 500 00:25:46,300 --> 00:25:47,543 [Kent] To have someone else 501 00:25:47,567 --> 00:25:49,687 besides Caldwell County Sheriff's Office looking at it 502 00:25:51,567 --> 00:25:52,643 makes us happy. 503 00:25:52,667 --> 00:25:54,242 Put a different set of eyes on this, 504 00:25:54,266 --> 00:25:56,543 maybe they can look at the same facts 505 00:25:56,567 --> 00:25:58,200 and get a different conclusion. 506 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,443 [Abel] I reached out to the Caldwell County Sheriff's Department, 507 00:26:03,467 --> 00:26:07,400 and it can be a little bit of a, um, a balancing act 508 00:26:07,467 --> 00:26:10,976 where you don't wanna appear like you're, you're trying to take over. 509 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,643 What we wanted to do was work together trying to locate Jason. 510 00:26:14,667 --> 00:26:17,800 We felt comfortable sharing information, 511 00:26:17,867 --> 00:26:19,947 um, 'cause we were all working towards the same goal, 512 00:26:20,867 --> 00:26:22,400 finding Jason, getting answers. 513 00:26:22,467 --> 00:26:24,743 When we first started this investigation, 514 00:26:24,767 --> 00:26:28,142 um, you know, you wanna look at the victim. 515 00:26:28,166 --> 00:26:31,700 From that picture, you can determine his habits, his behavior. 516 00:26:31,767 --> 00:26:35,643 The Sheriff's Department believed that Jason was so high 517 00:26:35,667 --> 00:26:38,700 he crashed that vehicle. 518 00:26:38,767 --> 00:26:42,042 But most college kids, they smoke marijuana, they get high. 519 00:26:42,066 --> 00:26:45,643 And so, by all accounts, Jason was a normal college kid, 520 00:26:45,667 --> 00:26:47,367 experimented with marijuana. 521 00:26:47,967 --> 00:26:49,000 As an investigator, 522 00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:55,400 you wanna make sure you allow, uh, other possibilities. 523 00:26:55,467 --> 00:26:59,042 Initially, I felt a bit critical about the way it was handled. 524 00:26:59,066 --> 00:27:02,300 The red flag, for many of us, would have been the clothes, 525 00:27:02,367 --> 00:27:05,643 just to see the clothes laid out the way they were along the road. 526 00:27:05,667 --> 00:27:08,743 The whole area was trampled on, tampered with, 527 00:27:08,767 --> 00:27:13,042 and the vehicle was towed immediately. 528 00:27:13,066 --> 00:27:15,800 If there was any evidence left behind, it was destroyed. 529 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,720 We also had a lot of questions to why Jason drove down Salt Flat Road. 530 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,543 You know, why did he miss that turn? 531 00:27:25,567 --> 00:27:27,976 Was he distracted? Was he lost? 532 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,242 Did somebody guide him down that road? 533 00:27:31,266 --> 00:27:33,976 We started going door-to-door along Salt Flat Road 534 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,343 and also along Austin and Magnolia at the intersection. 535 00:27:37,367 --> 00:27:39,042 So we start talking to people. 536 00:27:39,066 --> 00:27:41,600 And while it didn't really get us too much, 537 00:27:41,667 --> 00:27:43,900 it still gave us an understanding of the area 538 00:27:43,967 --> 00:27:47,900 and some of the neighbors, some of the people in the town. 539 00:27:47,967 --> 00:27:50,167 We start learning that there is a drug problem out there, 540 00:27:51,867 --> 00:27:53,443 a major drug problem. 541 00:27:53,467 --> 00:27:55,843 Drugs just are wreaking havoc on Luling. 542 00:27:55,867 --> 00:27:59,100 So we learned that there is, um, some bad people. 543 00:28:00,367 --> 00:28:03,843 [Jeff] Recently, we've had an uptick in violent crime, 544 00:28:03,867 --> 00:28:05,643 a lot more violent encounters, 545 00:28:05,667 --> 00:28:07,343 a lot more murder cases. 546 00:28:07,367 --> 00:28:09,643 Certainly, it's been more violent than it has been 547 00:28:09,667 --> 00:28:12,643 any other time in my 19-year career. 548 00:28:12,667 --> 00:28:16,343 But you're gonna have bad people all over the, the country. 549 00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,142 [Abel] As we continued knocking on doors, 550 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:20,366 a lot of people in Luling were very forthcoming with us. 551 00:28:21,166 --> 00:28:23,142 {\an8}We continue to follow the disappearance 552 00:28:23,166 --> 00:28:25,443 {\an8}of Texas State student Jason Landry. 553 00:28:25,467 --> 00:28:28,843 {\an8}[reporter 2] Jason Landry disappeared in December of 2020 554 00:28:28,867 --> 00:28:31,443 {\an8}on his way back from his college in San Marcos 555 00:28:31,467 --> 00:28:33,700 {\an8}to his home near Houston for Christmas break. 556 00:28:33,767 --> 00:28:37,142 {\an8}Law enforcement say his car was found crashed in Luling 557 00:28:37,166 --> 00:28:39,643 {\an8}with Jason nowhere to be found. 558 00:28:39,667 --> 00:28:42,343 {\an8}And I don't think he walked away from his life just like that. 559 00:28:42,367 --> 00:28:44,800 {\an8}And so, somebody knows something, 560 00:28:44,867 --> 00:28:45,943 {\an8}and we think it's local. 561 00:28:45,967 --> 00:28:48,843 Many, however, were reluctant. 562 00:28:48,867 --> 00:28:50,147 They would say they know things, 563 00:28:50,967 --> 00:28:53,076 but were just too afraid to talk 564 00:28:53,100 --> 00:28:55,000 because of drug dealers nearby. 565 00:28:55,066 --> 00:28:57,567 [Abel] We felt it was beneficial, 566 00:28:58,300 --> 00:29:00,543 uh, to set up a tip line 567 00:29:00,567 --> 00:29:03,042 to receive incoming calls from people 568 00:29:03,066 --> 00:29:05,066 that felt uncomfortable calling the police. 569 00:29:06,300 --> 00:29:09,343 I mean, they're deathly scared of what could happen 570 00:29:09,367 --> 00:29:11,600 if these people learned 571 00:29:11,667 --> 00:29:15,000 that they were involved in telling us who was involved. 572 00:29:16,767 --> 00:29:19,327 We didn't feel that the tip line was gonna receive a lot of calls. 573 00:29:20,667 --> 00:29:22,743 [phone ringing] 574 00:29:22,767 --> 00:29:24,242 - [Abel] But we did. - [phone ringing] 575 00:29:24,266 --> 00:29:28,543 And the consistency of calls about what happened to Jason that night 576 00:29:28,567 --> 00:29:31,100 was too overwhelming to ignore. 577 00:29:33,567 --> 00:29:37,100 The information we received is that something nefarious happened to him. 578 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,743 {\an8}[narrator] Jason Landry was last seen December 13th, 2020. 579 00:29:45,767 --> 00:29:47,800 {\an8}[narrator reading] 580 00:29:59,166 --> 00:30:02,242 [Abel] Any tip we received, we vetted out. 581 00:30:02,266 --> 00:30:05,443 {\an8}There was a sighting of Jason near Dallas. 582 00:30:05,467 --> 00:30:08,142 We traveled up there and knocked on the door, and we met with the person 583 00:30:08,166 --> 00:30:11,000 that they believed was Jason. It wasn't obviously Jason. 584 00:30:11,467 --> 00:30:16,142 We sent people out to Austin 'cause there were sightings at some of the homeless camps. 585 00:30:16,166 --> 00:30:19,100 A sighting here in San Antonio. Uh, we checked that out. 586 00:30:20,367 --> 00:30:22,300 We traveled and we vetted a lot of these leads 587 00:30:22,367 --> 00:30:24,667 in the hope that Jason was there, was out there. 588 00:30:28,967 --> 00:30:30,543 And so, we continued pressing forward, 589 00:30:30,567 --> 00:30:33,500 talking to more and more people from our anonymous tip line. 590 00:30:33,567 --> 00:30:35,643 The information we were receiving... 591 00:30:35,667 --> 00:30:38,743 is that Jason encountered individuals 592 00:30:38,767 --> 00:30:41,000 at that intersection of Magnolia and Austin Street, 593 00:30:42,500 --> 00:30:44,900 and something happened to him. 594 00:30:44,967 --> 00:30:47,142 We're not sure what at this point. 595 00:30:47,166 --> 00:30:50,700 But something, we believe, nefarious happened to him. 596 00:30:50,767 --> 00:30:54,567 And we were told he may not have been driving the vehicle. 597 00:30:56,100 --> 00:30:58,543 {\an8}From the intersection to where the vehicle was found 598 00:30:58,567 --> 00:31:02,400 {\an8}down Salt Flat Road, roughly 4 miles away... 599 00:31:02,467 --> 00:31:06,567 {\an8}...somebody may have driven that vehicle and crashed that vehicle... 600 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,400 purposely. 601 00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:11,027 [Kent] See, those are two pair of socks. 602 00:31:11,166 --> 00:31:12,643 Socks, shorts. 603 00:31:12,667 --> 00:31:15,500 [Abel] And then thrown his clothes around 604 00:31:15,567 --> 00:31:17,543 to make it look like something had happened there, 605 00:31:17,567 --> 00:31:21,543 which steered the investigation at the onset. 606 00:31:21,567 --> 00:31:23,700 [volunteer] I can see where he went sideways. 607 00:31:23,767 --> 00:31:25,500 [Kent] But the crazy thing about this case 608 00:31:25,567 --> 00:31:28,443 {\an8}is it's all reduced down to one hour. 609 00:31:28,467 --> 00:31:31,400 {\an8}What happened between 11:30 and 12:30, 610 00:31:31,467 --> 00:31:33,543 {\an8}between that point at Luling 611 00:31:33,567 --> 00:31:36,000 {\an8}and Salt Flat Road? 612 00:31:36,066 --> 00:31:40,266 {\an8}What happened in one hour over about a three-mile stretch of road? 613 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:45,467 I wanna be careful what I say here. 614 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,900 We received several names from these anonymous calls 615 00:31:49,967 --> 00:31:53,443 of the people that would say they were involved, 616 00:31:53,467 --> 00:31:57,543 or may have knowledge of Jason's disappearance. 617 00:31:57,567 --> 00:32:01,743 They said Jason was accosted by individuals at that location. 618 00:32:01,767 --> 00:32:05,042 But they're saying that even if these guys are arrested, 619 00:32:05,066 --> 00:32:07,800 they're worried about the families and just the repercussions 620 00:32:07,867 --> 00:32:11,000 that result, uh, in them being considered, 621 00:32:12,266 --> 00:32:14,443 um, snitches. 622 00:32:14,467 --> 00:32:17,242 {\an8}[Luz] Luling is a small rural community 623 00:32:17,266 --> 00:32:19,976 {\an8}where folks have been for generations. 624 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:21,800 And when it comes to talking about the cops, 625 00:32:21,867 --> 00:32:25,667 I think there's always a fear when some kind of case is being investigated. 626 00:32:27,500 --> 00:32:30,300 [Abel] I received a letter at my home address. 627 00:32:30,367 --> 00:32:31,976 It was a bit creepy receiving a letter 628 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,543 that I had no clue who it was from. 629 00:32:34,567 --> 00:32:38,343 But it described in fairly good detail 630 00:32:38,367 --> 00:32:41,000 everything we've been hearing on our anonymous tip line. 631 00:32:41,667 --> 00:32:43,743 If they were making this up, 632 00:32:43,767 --> 00:32:48,443 I do not believe they would go through the effort to find my home address. 633 00:32:48,467 --> 00:32:51,543 They wanted to make sure that that information got specifically to me. 634 00:32:51,567 --> 00:32:53,543 And it was received. 635 00:32:53,567 --> 00:32:54,743 {\an8}We are familiar with the information 636 00:32:54,767 --> 00:32:57,600 {\an8}that the private investigators were able to collect, 637 00:32:57,667 --> 00:33:00,042 {\an8}and we're familiar with some of their beliefs. 638 00:33:00,066 --> 00:33:03,443 But people have different motivations for sharing information. 639 00:33:03,467 --> 00:33:06,242 People say things 'cause there's no consequences, right? 640 00:33:06,266 --> 00:33:08,843 Well, then you hear that, and then you tell somebody, 641 00:33:08,867 --> 00:33:11,000 and then it's that classic telephone game, right? 642 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,567 All of which makes investigations difficult. 643 00:33:17,567 --> 00:33:20,443 [Kent] Some crazy person sent me an email saying 644 00:33:20,467 --> 00:33:23,667 that Jason was disposed of by a woodchipper, 645 00:33:24,367 --> 00:33:26,100 like in the movie Fargo. 646 00:33:29,500 --> 00:33:32,843 And to think that they would send that to me. 647 00:33:32,867 --> 00:33:36,166 Then you visualize that happening to your child. 648 00:33:38,367 --> 00:33:40,400 And I pray that that's not true. 649 00:33:42,266 --> 00:33:44,042 [Jeff] We try to make this story make sense 650 00:33:44,066 --> 00:33:45,667 with the information we have. 651 00:33:47,667 --> 00:33:51,943 I mean, I guess, if I'm a 21-year-old coming from a college town 652 00:33:51,967 --> 00:33:54,242 which is full of narcotics, 653 00:33:54,266 --> 00:33:57,200 I guess it's possible you could stop in Luling, Texas 654 00:33:57,266 --> 00:33:59,100 at 11:30 at night, 655 00:33:59,166 --> 00:34:02,343 and randomly encounter convicts on the corner, 656 00:34:02,367 --> 00:34:06,400 and that they would force your vehicle off the road, or kill you, 657 00:34:06,467 --> 00:34:08,967 and then stage the single vehicle collision... 658 00:34:10,767 --> 00:34:12,127 which we don't believe happened. 659 00:34:14,367 --> 00:34:15,743 But that's what was getting said, 660 00:34:15,767 --> 00:34:17,900 and that's what the PIs kept hearing, 661 00:34:17,967 --> 00:34:19,543 and so, "By God, it's gotta be true 662 00:34:19,567 --> 00:34:20,800 'cause people keep telling us." 663 00:34:21,700 --> 00:34:23,843 Well, it's my opinion, 664 00:34:23,867 --> 00:34:28,843 the only way the private investigators' theories can flesh out 665 00:34:28,867 --> 00:34:33,076 is if you discount all of the hard evidence. 666 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:36,443 And that, that's really when we stopped having a relationship 667 00:34:36,467 --> 00:34:39,076 with the private investigator. 668 00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:41,660 [Abel] If you believed that Jason just walked off and disappeared, 669 00:34:42,767 --> 00:34:46,000 uh, in my opinion, there's not gonna be much effort 670 00:34:46,066 --> 00:34:48,443 in trying to look at this case 671 00:34:48,467 --> 00:34:52,000 as anything other than a missing persons case. 672 00:34:52,066 --> 00:34:56,500 And it's important as an investigator to explore really all options. 673 00:34:56,567 --> 00:35:00,100 And that's to look at the possibility that something, 674 00:35:00,166 --> 00:35:02,300 uh, criminal could have happened to Jason. 675 00:35:05,166 --> 00:35:08,000 So they're treating this as a missing persons case. 676 00:35:08,066 --> 00:35:11,000 But there was DNA, uh, samples taken 677 00:35:11,467 --> 00:35:14,600 as well as fingerprints from Jason's car. 678 00:35:15,667 --> 00:35:16,676 You can process the prints. 679 00:35:16,700 --> 00:35:19,242 You can try to run it through the, the system 680 00:35:19,266 --> 00:35:21,643 and see if it matches with any known prints. 681 00:35:21,667 --> 00:35:24,500 I've tried enough cases in criminal court and civil court 682 00:35:24,567 --> 00:35:28,443 to know that there's so many databases and stuff that you can search for. 683 00:35:28,467 --> 00:35:32,367 If you have the DNA material, you can search for a, a hit. 684 00:35:34,667 --> 00:35:37,500 [Jeff] That DNA evidence is not really evidence of anything. 685 00:35:37,567 --> 00:35:40,943 I mean, it's evidence that somebody else is in the car. 686 00:35:40,967 --> 00:35:42,887 Well, how many people have ever been in your car? 687 00:35:42,967 --> 00:35:44,467 We have to have evidence of a crime. 688 00:35:45,367 --> 00:35:47,300 And if we thought for a second 689 00:35:47,367 --> 00:35:49,843 that DNA evidence would get us any closer 690 00:35:49,867 --> 00:35:51,142 to what had happened to Jason Landry, 691 00:35:51,166 --> 00:35:53,600 whole-heartedly and assuredly we would do that. 692 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:58,500 But, you know, it gets to a point 693 00:35:58,567 --> 00:36:00,343 where we don't have anything else to update. 694 00:36:00,367 --> 00:36:02,142 So, that's frustrating. 695 00:36:02,166 --> 00:36:05,142 We don't ever hang it up, right? 696 00:36:05,166 --> 00:36:09,000 We just continue to trudge on. We continue to work. 697 00:36:09,066 --> 00:36:11,000 I just want them to do their job and find answers. 698 00:36:13,367 --> 00:36:15,643 {\an8}[reporter] Since Jason's disappearance six months ago, 699 00:36:15,667 --> 00:36:19,042 {\an8}the Landry family has become no stranger to the city of Luling. 700 00:36:19,066 --> 00:36:20,976 {\an8}When we come here... 701 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:24,643 {\an8}...it's a, what that makes me think of is it's so hard every time 702 00:36:24,667 --> 00:36:26,800 {\an8}- we leave again without him. - Yep. 703 00:36:26,867 --> 00:36:28,543 {\an8}[reporter] And they say they'll keep coming 704 00:36:28,567 --> 00:36:30,900 {\an8}until they find out what happened to their son. 705 00:36:30,967 --> 00:36:33,100 {\an8}Just help us find him. We just wanna find him. 706 00:36:34,867 --> 00:36:37,643 If someone hurt Jason, or did something to Jason, 707 00:36:37,667 --> 00:36:40,166 then they, they better be brought to justice. 708 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:47,976 {\an8}And first tonight, a prayer vigil in Missouri City 709 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,000 {\an8}for 21-year old Jason Landry. 710 00:36:50,066 --> 00:36:53,242 {\an8}The student at Texas State has now been missing for one year. 711 00:36:53,266 --> 00:36:55,843 {\an8}Fox 26's Matthew Seedorff is live outside 712 00:36:55,867 --> 00:36:58,443 {\an8}Southminster Presbyterian Church tonight 713 00:36:58,467 --> 00:37:01,066 {\an8}where a vigil for Jason just wrapped up. Matthew. 714 00:37:02,567 --> 00:37:05,843 {\an8}An emotional night for family and friends here. 715 00:37:05,867 --> 00:37:08,700 {\an8}[Kent] There's one here at the church. 716 00:37:08,767 --> 00:37:13,600 {\an8}And the one in Luling was set up by some of the locals there. 717 00:37:13,667 --> 00:37:15,467 {\an8}My family did attend the candlelight ceremony. 718 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,242 {\an8}I wasn't able to make it myself because of my work schedule, 719 00:37:20,266 --> 00:37:22,343 which I do think about a lot. 720 00:37:22,367 --> 00:37:26,743 I feel like that was a very important thing to be present for. 721 00:37:26,767 --> 00:37:30,443 Jason was always known for wearing his silly socks. 722 00:37:30,467 --> 00:37:32,643 And so, I was texting his mom, 723 00:37:32,667 --> 00:37:35,142 and I was just saying, "I'm wearing my silly socks 724 00:37:35,166 --> 00:37:36,843 and here thinking about y'all." 725 00:37:36,867 --> 00:37:40,100 {\an8}[Kent] It's amazing how many people turned out for both of those. 726 00:37:40,166 --> 00:37:43,266 {\an8}And to be honest, I wasn't at either one. 727 00:37:44,767 --> 00:37:45,767 I stayed out all night, 728 00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:49,800 um, by where the accident was... 729 00:37:52,266 --> 00:37:54,600 just by myself and Jason. 730 00:37:54,667 --> 00:37:56,400 And there's no good reason why. 731 00:37:56,467 --> 00:37:59,200 I just needed to. 732 00:37:59,266 --> 00:38:03,700 It's the same reason why you go put flowers on a loved one's grave, 733 00:38:03,767 --> 00:38:06,242 on their birthday, or on the anniversary of their death. 734 00:38:06,266 --> 00:38:07,400 You just... 735 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:09,800 You need to... 736 00:38:10,967 --> 00:38:12,667 be there in that space. 737 00:38:22,767 --> 00:38:25,266 [Jeff] At the one-year mark, we're still actively investigating. 738 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:27,643 We're still looking for information. 739 00:38:27,667 --> 00:38:30,100 And we were made available to the Landry's 740 00:38:30,166 --> 00:38:32,166 {\an8}if they have questions, but... 741 00:38:33,166 --> 00:38:35,166 {\an8}...I think our relationship is strained. 742 00:38:37,667 --> 00:38:40,800 [Luz] The Attorney General's office opened up a Cold Case Unit 743 00:38:40,867 --> 00:38:42,843 at the end of 2021. 744 00:38:42,867 --> 00:38:45,107 They just took the Landry case on in December, I believe. 745 00:38:46,567 --> 00:38:49,800 {\an8}For the Landry family, it means that there is gonna be a fresh set of eyes 746 00:38:49,867 --> 00:38:51,400 {\an8}and a fresh set of investigators 747 00:38:51,467 --> 00:38:52,867 taking on Jason's case, 748 00:38:53,667 --> 00:38:55,209 looking at all of the evidence. 749 00:38:55,233 --> 00:38:58,643 Maybe looking at something that the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office missed, 750 00:38:58,667 --> 00:39:01,100 or the private investigator might have missed. 751 00:39:01,166 --> 00:39:04,643 And hopefully we find an answer that wasn't there before, 752 00:39:04,667 --> 00:39:06,600 and can give the Landry family 753 00:39:06,667 --> 00:39:08,600 the closure that they're looking for. 754 00:39:08,667 --> 00:39:11,800 [Jeff] The Texas Attorney General's Missing Person Unit 755 00:39:11,867 --> 00:39:13,843 did not exist when Jason went missing. 756 00:39:13,867 --> 00:39:15,147 I'm hopeful that the AG's office 757 00:39:16,066 --> 00:39:18,943 has another technique, or another tool. 758 00:39:18,967 --> 00:39:22,142 So, the fact that they were willing to step up and go, 759 00:39:22,166 --> 00:39:23,900 "Yeah, we'll take a crack at it," 760 00:39:23,967 --> 00:39:25,300 we're very appreciative of that. 761 00:39:26,467 --> 00:39:28,142 [Abel] I believe it is a turning point. 762 00:39:28,166 --> 00:39:30,743 I believe it is good for the case 763 00:39:30,767 --> 00:39:35,600 {\an8}to again look at it from a different set of eyes. 764 00:39:35,667 --> 00:39:38,266 The Attorney General's investigator is aware of the people 765 00:39:38,867 --> 00:39:40,066 and the witnesses. 766 00:39:41,367 --> 00:39:43,976 And we're grateful that they've reached out to us 767 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:45,080 and consider us a resource. 768 00:39:45,967 --> 00:39:47,300 That's what we're here for. 769 00:39:47,367 --> 00:39:50,443 Hopefully, the Attorney General's office 770 00:39:50,467 --> 00:39:53,300 might be able to break through that impasse, 771 00:39:53,367 --> 00:39:57,266 and maybe get some new, useful information and crack the case. 772 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,543 [Jeff] The people in our community want to know, 773 00:40:01,567 --> 00:40:03,443 is there a bad guy out there? 774 00:40:03,467 --> 00:40:07,400 Is there some nefarious character that's visiting harm 775 00:40:07,467 --> 00:40:10,900 to our friends and our family and our community? 776 00:40:10,967 --> 00:40:12,643 Well, we can say with confidence is, 777 00:40:12,667 --> 00:40:13,943 is that we don't think so, right? 778 00:40:13,967 --> 00:40:15,647 We don't, we don't believe that to be true. 779 00:40:16,967 --> 00:40:20,100 I maintain, and this is a tragedy, 780 00:40:20,166 --> 00:40:21,500 but it's not a crime. 781 00:40:21,567 --> 00:40:25,976 There's no reason to believe that anybody in the world 782 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,500 has information on Jason Landry, 783 00:40:28,567 --> 00:40:29,967 except Jason Landry. 784 00:40:32,367 --> 00:40:36,600 Jason resonated with, with many of the people in a special way. 785 00:40:36,667 --> 00:40:40,000 I mean, strangers around the country that speak of Jason. 786 00:40:40,066 --> 00:40:41,343 There's Facebook pages, 787 00:40:41,367 --> 00:40:43,743 and their sole purpose is to find Jason. 788 00:40:43,767 --> 00:40:45,447 I, I hear the passion in their posts about, 789 00:40:46,266 --> 00:40:47,906 you know, Jason being just like their son. 790 00:40:48,867 --> 00:40:50,142 [Jack] I do hold out hope. 791 00:40:50,166 --> 00:40:52,700 I, I hope that for his family's sake 792 00:40:52,767 --> 00:40:54,409 there is an answer. 793 00:40:54,433 --> 00:40:57,543 A day doesn't go by where I don't think about the friend that I lost 794 00:40:57,567 --> 00:40:59,843 and how hard it's been since then. 795 00:40:59,867 --> 00:41:03,367 He was a really good person and a good friend. 796 00:41:04,367 --> 00:41:07,500 I thank God for Jason... 797 00:41:09,100 --> 00:41:12,976 for the man he was, and is, 798 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:15,240 and the impact that he has had on so many people's lives. 799 00:41:19,667 --> 00:41:22,000 Last time I saw him in person was, 800 00:41:22,066 --> 00:41:24,843 he was walking out the door for Thanksgiving, 801 00:41:24,867 --> 00:41:27,142 and he's heading back to school. 802 00:41:27,166 --> 00:41:29,042 {\an8}And I remember telling him, "Well, I'll see you 803 00:41:29,066 --> 00:41:31,700 {\an8}in a couple of weeks for Christmas. 804 00:41:31,767 --> 00:41:34,142 {\an8}You know, It doesn't seem worth it to give you a hug," 805 00:41:34,166 --> 00:41:37,843 {\an8}but I'm so thankful I did, you know. 806 00:41:37,867 --> 00:41:39,600 {\an8}I'm so thankful I told him I loved him. 807 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,000 {\an8}[sniffles] 808 00:41:44,667 --> 00:41:46,427 {\an8}We've still got Christmas presents from 2020. 809 00:41:50,967 --> 00:41:52,300 {\an8}[sighs] 810 00:41:52,367 --> 00:41:53,467 {\an8}What do you do with those?