Upon arrival to the area, approximately 900 feet from the collision scene, Jason’s father found articles of his sons clothing (shirt, shorts, socks, underwear, slide sandals and a wristwatch) in the roadway.
Those clothes were collected by his father and later released to investigators who have processed those clothes for any evidentiary findings. A single blood smear was detected on the clothes. This blood spot was small and was not indicative of serious bodily injury.
It is possible that an injury causing the blood spot occurred as Jason was exiting the vehicle and came into contact with the barbed wire fence or foliage.
Upon a review of the Troopers body and dash cameras from his initial response to the crash scene, investigators know that approximately 900 feet from the collision scene, the following articles, belonging to Jason, were discovered in the roadway; a backpack, a ball cap, a plastic bag of personal toiletries, and a tumbler with his deceased beta fish in it. These findings were north of the clothing, recovered the next morning by Jason’s father. Jason’s backpack contained his wallet, a usable amount of marijuana, a laptop computer, gaming equipment, and a few personal effects.
Any report stating that the backpack was “filled” with narcotics, is inaccurate. The small amount of marijuana has been seized and is being held.
There remains a possibility that the marijuana was combined with an unknown hallucinogenic substance. Those findings are pending.
It is believed that the clothing discovered in the roadway was the clothing Jason was wearing prior to the collision occurring. There is no indication that the clothing was removed under duress or threat. There was cold weather during the time Jason is believed to have gone missing, with the low temperature being recorded around 36 degrees F with a high of 43 degrees F.
On Monday, Jason’s father received the backpack from DPS (without the seized marijuana) and released the phone to DPS Troopers when efforts began to access the device and data. DPS continued being lead on the search and initial investigative efforts, until Friday, 12/18/20 when the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office assumed lead. This office has been working with various outside agencies and organizations since assuming lead investigative responsibility.
Jason’s vehicle has been processed for DNA and any blood evidence with the assistance of the Texas Rangers. There was no evidence of blood inside the vehicle.
There is no evidence that Jason was traveling to meet with or had communicated intent to meet with anyone in or around Luling.