CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The human remains discovered in a City Wastewater Lift Station have been identified as those of Caleb Harris, a Texas A&M – Corpus Christi student who had been missing for several months. The confirmation was made by forensic analysts at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI).
Harris, 21, disappeared from his off-campus apartment on the morning of March 4, 2024. Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) launched an extensive search effort that involved various law enforcement teams, including the Drone Team, Bike Team, Enduro Unit, 83rd Police Academy Class, Search and Recovery Dive Team, and Directed Patrol Officers. In addition to the CCPD, other agencies such as the Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Port of Corpus Christi Police Department Marine Unit, Texas Search and Rescue, and student volunteers from Texas A&M CC joined the search.
A specialized investigative team, comprising of CCPD’s Criminal Investigation Division and Organized Crime Unit, the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, and the Texas Rangers, was established shortly after Harris’s disappearance.
On June 24, city workers conducting maintenance at the Perry Place wastewater lift station made a discovery that ultimately led to the identification of the remains. The body, found in a wastewater collection well, showed no obvious signs of homicide. The remains were transported to the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office for examination. However, the advanced state of decomposition made it impossible to determine the cause of death or establish an identification at that time.
Now that the identification has been confirmed, the remains will be returned to the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office, where the final autopsy report will be prepared.