TX TX - Jason Landry, 21, enroute from TSU to home, car found crashed at Luling, 14 Dec 2020 #5

[jondaba]

JMHO that Jason was killed by a gang near the intersection of Austin Street and Magnolia Avenue.

Maybe he stopped for gas or a burger or to buy weed and ran into a gang of bad guys. Police should focus, if its not too late, on video from gas stations, 7-11s, Burger kings and the like. Is that area known for gang activity? drug traffic?

Who ever killed him drove off in Jason’s car. The killer(s) did not know about the phone, which had fallen between the seats and could not be seen.

It is misleading to refer to the time between Jason’s last phone use and the discovery of his car as a “67 minute window” in telephone transmissions. The term “window” implies a start and a stop. Here there was only a stop - presumably when Jason was removed from his car.

LE and Jason’s dad each found a load of belongings 900 feet from the vehicle. Jason would not have “shlepped” two loads of belongings 900 feet to different places. (Like six football fields in all). Sounds more like some punks had split the booty and then discarded it as useless or traceable. The fact that in one spot the belongings were laid out does not indicate that it was Jason who laid them out.

Jason cared enough about his betta fish to bring the fish home with him for the holidays. He would not have abandoned the fish to die like that.

Most likely, the killers were driving the car, dealt out the belongings, discarded hem and kept driving around - themselves drunk or loaded - until they crashed.

College kids invariably take their phones and car keys with them - precious items. The killers were ignorant of the phone and had no future need for the keys. They got out of there in a hurry, not bothering with the headlights.

Probably there was another car to drive the killers away. Cell pings from other phones off nearby phone relay towers should be investigated.

Dogs and the abandoned house: locals would know about the house and might have gone there. Jason would have no knowledge of it or reason to go there.

Seek informants about Luling gang members. Fingerprints in car or on watch, etc.

MOO . Praying that his parents will be comforted.

 

[K9Enzo]

JMHO that Jason was killed by a gang near the intersection of Austin Street and Magnolia Avenue.

Maybe he stopped for gas or a burger or to buy weed and ran into a gang of bad guys. Police should focus, if its not too late, on video from gas stations, 7-11s, Burger kings and the like. Is that area known for gang activity? drug traffic?

Who ever killed him drove off in Jason’s car. The killer(s) did not know about the phone, which had fallen between the seats and could not be seen.

It is misleading to refer to the time between Jason’s last phone use and the discovery of his car as a “67 minute window” in telephone transmissions. The term “window” implies a start and a stop. Here there was only a stop - presumably when Jason was removed from his car.

LE and Jason’s dad each found a load of belongings 900 feet from the vehicle. Jason would not have “shlepped” two loads of belongings 900 feet to different places. (Like six football fields in all). Sounds more like some punks had split the booty and then discarded it as useless or traceable. The fact that in one spot the belongings were laid out does not indicate that it was Jason who laid them out.

Jason cared enough about his betta fish to bring the fish home with him for the holidays. He would not have abandoned the fish to die like that.

Most likely, the killers were driving the car, dealt out the belongings, discarded hem and kept driving around - themselves drunk or loaded - until they crashed.

College kids invariably take their phones and car keys with them - precious items. The killers were ignorant of the phone and had no future need for the keys. They got out of there in a hurry, not bothering with the headlights.

Probably there was another car to drive the killers away. Cell pings from other phones off nearby phone relay towers should be investigated.

Dogs and the abandoned house: locals would know about the house and might have gone there. Jason would have no knowledge of it or reason to go there.

Seek informants about Luling gang members. Fingerprints in car or on watch, etc.

MOO . Praying that his parents will be comforted.

What did gang members gain by this- a joy ride in a old car? They happen to be at the intersection on foot and took over Jason and his car? Then they leave his wallet, weed and a gaming system (IIRC), then to be extra throw his fish on the ground. How did they get out of there with no car? I have a ton of questions with this scenario including what happened to Jason. IMO

 

[Gemmie]

It is misleading to refer to the time between Jason’s last phone use and the discovery of his car as a “67 minute window” in telephone transmissions. The term “window” implies a start and a stop. Here there was only a stop - presumably when Jason was removed from his car.

I don't find it misleading in the way that LE stated it and meant it (it's their statement, not ours). The start of the window is when his digital footprint ends (no more use of the phone). The window ends when the wrecked car was found. They use that terminology as the "window" in which they are focused on. What caused him to stop using the phone at that intersection, never to be used again?

JMO....

 

[Puzzles]

Whilst I agree there are implausible or inexplicable elements to the scenario suggested by @jondaba , can we work with it a little?

As posted upthread, I too consider Jason was abducted. I believe it's possible his car was driven by the criminal and followed by an accomplice to the crime. Jason's car was ditched by the driver who continued on in the accomplice's vehicle, in which Jason was perhaps transported also.

This possible scenario is supported by there being no evidence, to my knowledge, proving Jason was driving his own car at the time it was abandoned.

It could also explain the bizarre placement of his belongings on the road, which suggests wherever Jason was, he was naked.

Jason's phone was found by his Dad between the driver's seat and the console. At least, for me, it's a place I check when I can't find my phone, as it has slipped down there countless times. Reportedly, Jason's phone as on and had a signal.

"...Investigators say Jason’s phone, which was found between the driver’s seat and center console, was on and had a signal,..."
Cell phone data reveals timeline in mysterious disappearance of Texas State student Jason Landry

IMO, if a person had an accident, at night, on a somewhat deserted road, he/she would search for the phone and call for assistance. As Jason had been using his phone earlier on his trip, it's reasonable to believe he'd look for it between the driver's seat and the console.

I understand we've discussed the possibility Jason was confused from a developing concussion. If so, perhaps he didn't think of looking for his phone, because he was unable to think logically, at all. That's certainly a reasonable assumption. But why have extensive searches for a trace of him in the surrounding area found nothing?

 

[adelynschmidt]

As far as gang activity being related to Jason's dissapearance, I have not found any news article to suggest that Luling or Caldwell county is experiencing high gang violence. Even searching for crime in Luling brings up mostly articles about Jason.
According to Texas' 2019 Crime Report (https://www.dps.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/crimereports/19/cit2019.pdfhttps://www.dps.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/crimereports/19/cit2019.pdf) major urban areas are where the activity is. Cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Perhaps I'm wrong but I just don't see abduction by a gang as a possibility. As far as we know jason is not involved in heavy drug use (the weed in his backpack was only a small amount, imo not an addict) or other dangerous activities. Again, I could be totally wrong!

 

[Seattle1]

Other than ransom or revenge which do not appear to be applicable, I can't think of any plausible reason why a 21-year yr old male college student would be abducted -- especially leaving everything of value behind. This theory makes no sense to me. MOO

 

[JosieMae]

I can't reconcile a gang abduction with Jason being stripped of his clothing and the fact that some of his things were left behind.

Now that I think about it, those facts alone make the entire scenario inexplicable.

 

[Megnut]

A staged car accident IMO leave evidence of swerving. Over-correction would be about impossible to plan...

I think the evidence as we know it leads only to Jason as the operator. Something caused him to swerve, pitching him into the tree....

What IS possible IMO is that he was not alone... chased by a real or an imagined enemy....

Abandoning his clothes, so far no theory explains that.....

Perplexing to be sure....

JMO

 

[ForensicToxicologist]

I agree, cluciano. I do not detect anything nefarious occurring before or after the car accident happened. Once I realized Officials combed through over 100 hours of the areas' CCTV and determined they did not see Jason in the area, it became obvious he didn't linger in the area of that important intersection, veer off to meet anyone in Luling, and no vehicles were chasing his car.

It's incredibly sad for the Landry Family not to know precisely what happened to their loved one. Their baby boy is missing. The confusion and grief is nearly unbearable for his parents.

Did law enforcement state they’d gone through 100 hours of footage? I think I missed that, but I’d love to read about what areas they’ve reviewed footage from.

 

[DeDee]

Did law enforcement state they’d gone through 100 hours of footage? I think I missed that, but I’d love to read about what areas they’ve reviewed footage from.

The Austin American Statesmen informs us:

Investigators have reviewed hundreds of hours of video from cameras in and around Luling, but none turned up anything on Landry.

Jason Landry Investigation: Texas Search and Rescue commencing 3-day search

 

[bombardier]

To be honest, I believe that most likely they will find Jason's remains this year or the next nearby from the crash site (ie within walking distance), in an area not yet searched/that is difficult to search. There are some very strange details in this case and I find everyone's theories very interesting and I would love to believe that Jason may be alive somewhere, but Occam's Razor, based on outcomes of similar cases, leads me to believe that a tragic accident happened to Jason. I think it is hard to fathom that an area can be so well-searched and a person will STILL not be found, but for some reason, it still happens despite all our technological advancements...I am reminded of Barbara Thomas (body found after a year) and ambassador Richard Morris (body found 4 months later).
I will gladly eat humble pie if I end up being wrong; I have no information that sways me in any which way, I'm just thinking about how MP cases of this nature often end.

 

[JosieMae]

To be honest, I believe that most likely they will find Jason's remains this year or the next nearby from the crash site (ie within walking distance), in an area not yet searched/that is difficult to search. There are some very strange details in this case and I find everyone's theories very interesting and I would love to believe that Jason may be alive somewhere, but Occam's Razor, based on outcomes of similar cases, leads me to believe that a tragic accident happened to Jason. I think it is hard to fathom that an area can be so well-searched and a person will STILL not be found, but for some reason, it still happens despite all our technological advancements...I am reminded of Barbara Thomas (body found after a year) and ambassador Richard Morris (body found 4 months later).
I will gladly eat humble pie if I end up being wrong; I have no information that sways me in any which way, I'm just thinking about how MP cases of this nature often end.

That's my hunch as well. I'll add Chandra Levy to that list of remains found much later after a long search.

 

[jondaba]

That's my hunch as well. I'll add Chandra Levy to that list of remains found much later after a long search.

Here’s the problem in this case:
Two sets of belongings found in two different places aprox 900 feet from car!
I cant believe that Jason, after the crash, carried the two loads 900 feet to different locations.
100% impossible if he was mortally injured in the crash or too stunned to use his cell phone.
No Doubt but that one or more third-persons were involved.
Either poor Jason was killed in Luling and his car stolen then and crashed later, or: when Jason crashed his car, some “Bad Samaritans” got involved.
But we are not gonna learn that Jason crashed himself, distributed his belonging 6 football fields away, then concealed himself to die somewhere nearby.

 

[jondaba]

Respectfully, this is a case for author/investigator John Krakauer.

 

[Puzzles]

Here’s the problem in this case:
Two sets of belongings found in two different places aprox 900 feet from car!
I cant believe that Jason, after the crash, carried the two loads 900 feet to different locations.
100% impossible if he was mortally injured in the crash or too stunned to use his cell phone.
No Doubt but that one or more third-persons were involved.
Either poor Jason was killed in Luling and his car stolen then and crashed later, or: when Jason crashed his car, some “Bad Samaritans” got involved.
But we are not gonna learn that Jason crashed himself, distributed his belonging 6 football fields away, then concealed himself to die somewhere nearby.

BBM for focus:
I agree with you, @jondaba, it is unlikely Jason placed his belongings as described they were found.

Is there CCTV footage to prove Jason was driving his vehicle the night he disappeared? His vehicle was captured on camera, but I've seen no reports at all to convince us Jason was the driver of the vehicle found abandoned at the crash site.

 

[GMS]

Here’s the problem in this case:
Two sets of belongings found in two different places aprox 900 feet from car!
I cant believe that Jason, after the crash, carried the two loads 900 feet to different locations.
100% impossible if he was mortally injured in the crash or too stunned to use his cell phone.
No Doubt but that one or more third-persons were involved.
Either poor Jason was killed in Luling and his car stolen then and crashed later, or: when Jason crashed his car, some “Bad Samaritans” got involved.
But we are not gonna learn that Jason crashed himself, distributed his belonging 6 football fields away, then concealed himself to die somewhere nearby.

In regard to JL's belongings, it's been my understanding, based on reports and the photo I included that the backpack was found approximately 900 feet south of the car and then his clothes further south. Yes, they are different locations, but not necessarily in opposite directions. In this scenario, my thought is that he walked the approx. 900 feet and dropped the backpack...continued walking and then began to take off his clothes.

 

[bombardier]

The shed clothing is definitely the strangest and most confusing part of this case, but I DO think it's possible that Jason did it himself. Whenever that be due to head trauma and resulting confusion (this wouldn't be a...common reaction to a head injury but clearly outliers do happen and this case is full of em), a possible bad drug reaction as mentioned consistently in the thread, shock from the accident leading to strange decisions (feeling overheated and panicking, wanting to look at his body to assess injuries, worrying for some reason that he would get blood on his clothes), or perhaps a medical event such as a complex partial seizure (I have also considered if he had a TBI that led to a seizure of this nature, which is not as well known as the classic tonic clonic but produces automatic behaviors).
I just can't find a good, logical, reason why a bad actor would take Jason's clothes off, fold them to some extend, and drop them off at intervals. If a bad actor wanted to imply that Jason had 'lost it' and stripped, you could just throw the clothes off willy-nilly. If they wanted to imply that Jason maybe had been assaulted and taken, it would make more sense to drop all the clothes in the same place. The type of behavior exhibited in this case is just so odd that I am more inclined to believe that a man with a head injury and shock performed it, rather than a criminal who is, more or less, neurologically intact.

 

[bombardier]

I should probably elaborate on my tentative theory of a complex partial seizure! These types of seizures do not occur throughout the whole brain, but rather in one specific lobe, so it creates very odd symptoms that people do not immediately clock as a seizure.
Symptoms are usually preceded by an 'aura' (a weird feeling or strange sensation; which also gives me pause wondering if Jason could have started seizure activity before the crash and the aura led to the actual crash), and the symptoms themselves usually last under 3 minutes, though they lead to post-ictal symptoms (symptoms after the seizure occurs, like confusion, tiredness, and strong emotions).
Symptoms are specific to the person and specific to the lobe affected, but all show a lack of awareness to ones environment, it looks like someone has gone on 'autopilot'. People can freeze up, moan, cry, repetitively pick at things, start walking aimlessly, and start removing clothing. Here is a good resource about this kind of seizure.

 

[bombardier]

While a complex partial (also called a focal awareness impaired) seizure is usually associated with a known diagnosis of epilepsy (vs a one-off seizure in response to stimuli), of course, there are exceptions!
Here is the abstract to a study of patients who developed complex partial seizures following head injury, 16/25 of which had their head trauma later in life.
Here is a case study of a man who developed complex partial seizures following a severe head injury after a road traffic accident.
Here is the abstract to a study of patients who developed odd, complex partial seizures after a relatively minor closed head injury (i.e. a concussion or bruising without loss of consciousness). This one is very interesting to me and I might go try to find the whole article, as the details match up well to Jason's case.
(sorry about all the links and rambling- I've been out of uni since April and I'm itching to research again had to hold myself back from using APA citations there)

 

[Puzzles]

Excellent, informative posts, @bombardier. Thank you!

That Jason suffered such a neurological event could explain the bizarre placement of his belongings, more so, IMO, than previously discussed overheating from hypothermia, which he wouldn't have experienced for some time after initial exposure.