COLLEGE STATION, TX – Authorities in Texas have identified the discovered remains at a Corpus Christi wastewater facility last month as the missing college student, Caleb Harris. The 21-year-old student of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi was reported missing in March after he left to walk his dog and never returned. Despite his dog finding its way home, Caleb left his keys, wallet, and vehicle behind.
The human remains surfaced when city workers were conducting maintenance at a wastewater lift station. While there were “no obvious signs of homicide,” the Corpus Christi Police Department delivered the remains for examination at the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Due to extensive decomposition, it was unfeasible for the medical examiner to recognize the remains or determine the cause of death. The examination subsequently led to DNA analysis at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, where a report confirmed the remains were likely to be from a child of Harris’ parents.
This development has left Harris’ family, friends, and authorities with heavy hearts. “Thank you for your prayers and support during this tragic time,” the family said in a released statement on Wednesday.
An ongoing police investigation has executed over 50 digital search warrants, issued 82 preservation requests, and analyzed exceeding 1500 GB of data since Harris’ disappearance. Despite the identification confirmation, the police department maintains that the investigation remains open.