Family offering reward for the safe return of missing college student from New Braunfels

SAN ANTONIO — A reward is now being offered for the safe return of a missing college student from New Braunfels.

It’s been more than two weeks since Caleb Harris, 21, mysteriously vanished from his off-campus apartment complex in Corpus Christi.

Police say the Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi student let his dog out at about 2:45 a.m. on Mar. 4.

According to loved ones, Caleb let his dog back inside. His wallet, keys, and truck were all left at the apartment. 

However, before dawn, the barefoot college student and his phone were gone.

Randall Harris has been in Corpus Christi ever since his son’s disappearance.

“About five town homes down the way, one of the girls went back and there was a [surveillance] video at about 1:00 with him, his roommate, and future roommate walking the dog,” said Randy.

“We know that he had his hat on, he had a white shirt on, some new pants; kind of a dark teal-colored fishing pants, and he was barefoot. Our last snapchat was to my daughter at 2:44 a.m. when he was out walking the dog again. He was waiting on an Uber driver to drop off his lunch for the next day. He would go to school, come back, grab all his fishing gear, and kayak and would go out fishing. He would always go out with someone [when he is fishing]. Everything he was doing was preparing for the next day, preparing for the next week. He has a job in Alaska this summer, he already renewed his lease, has good grades, nothing was out of the ordinary,” Randy continued.

The Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) says volunteers scoured hundreds of acres around the apartment complex. Officers then went door-to-door and searched more than 30 vacant apartments.

Investigators say they interviewed Caleb’s roommates, friends, family members, and several acquaintances. So far, police say they have no reason to suspect anyone was involved in Caleb’s disappearance.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are assisting CCPD in the search for Caleb. Detectives have been traveling to New Braunfels and San Antonio to interview people who knew the 21-year-old, CCPD Chief Mike Markle said.

“Check you ring cameras,” Randy begged. “It doesn’t matter where you live. There are thousands of cameras. We have checked businesses and apartments – authorities have done that. All the businesses around there have been checked, but there are thousands of ring cameras. There has to be a camera out there that caught his image. It literally takes five minutes, just look on Mar. 4 from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. There has to be an image of him; in a car, walking, we just don’t know.”

On Thursday, the family said they are now offering $25,000 for Caleb’s safe return.

“There have been what they consider ‘sightings’ but they just haven’t panned out,” said Randy. “When that happens, they dispatch everything they have including drones to those locations. We get excited, so it’s just a rollercoaster [of emotions]. If he is out there, we know that he is recalling scripture. He is a child of God, we know that for a fact and we love him. Just continue to pray. Pray for his health, pray for his stamina, and pray that if he is in a situation where he needs to fight, pray for the ability to fight and come home.”

To claim the reward or share information on Caleb’s whereabouts, call 361-826-2950.