In 2013, He Mysteriously Vanished After Running Out Of Gas On A Texas Highway
In 2013, Brandon Lawson was a 26-year-old father of four who worked long shifts in an oil field. He was also in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Ladessa, and was known to have the natural ability to make everybody laugh.
After leaving his home in San Angelo, Texas, on August 8, 2013, though, Brandon was never seen again.
It all began late that evening when he and Ladessa reportedly got into an argument. So, at 11:53 p.m., Brandon got in his truck and left for his father’s house– hoping to get some space to cool off.
While traveling, Brandon also phoned his brother, Kyle. Apparently, he had run out of gas while driving along Highway 277 outside of Bronte, Texas, and asked Kyle for help.
At that point, Kyle and his girlfriend, Audrey, reached out to Ladessa to fill her in on the situation. Then, the group arranged a plan to help out Brandon.
First, Ladessa left an empty gas can out on her porch. Afterward, Kyle and Audrey picked up the can to deliver it to Brandon.
As for why Kyle couldn’t just get the gas himself, his paycheck from work reportedly had not yet cleared– so he was unable to buy the gas himself but was happy to deliver Ladessa’s gas can to his brother.
By the time Kyle actually got to his brother’s location at approximately 1:10 a.m., though, Brandon’s truck was there, but he was nowhere to be found.
A Sheriff’s Deputy also arrived at Brandon’s vehicle around the same time and noticed how his truck had no visible damage. However, Brandon’s car keys and cell phone were missing.
Facebook – pictured above is Brandon
It was later uncovered that prior to the group’s arrival, Brandon had also called 911– detailing how he had been “in a field” and needed help from the cops. The Sheriff’s Deputy, Kyle, Audrey, and Ladessa had no clue this call had been placed.
While on the phone with the dispatcher, Brandon claimed to have “run into somebody.”
“Ahhh, ran into them? Okay,” the dispatcher responded.
Afterward, emergency dispatchers also received another call from a truck driver– who passed by Brandon’s truck and claimed the vehicle was posing a hazard, being that it was parked crookedly on the roadside.
And once Kyle began speaking with the Sheriff’s Deputy at the scene, he received another call from Brandon.
That time, though, it appears there was weak cell reception– because it was hard for Kyle to understand his brother. All he heard was Brandon claiming to be in a field.
It was at that point that Kyle remembered Brandon had recently learned about a warrant out for his arrest from two years prior. That’s why Kyle considered the fact that his brother might have been trying to avoid the cops and opted not to mention the phone call with Brandon to authorities at the time.
Kyle had no idea that his brother had previously contacted 911, though. And if he did, he likely would not have assumed his brother was trying to hide.
Kyle’s girlfriend Audrey apparently had a similar suspicion, too, because, at 1:18 a.m., she texted Brandon, informing him that a police officer was at his truck.
Later, in statements provided to police, Kyle and Audrey did admit to receiving a call from Brandon earlier on. Audrey also revealed how, during that conversation, Brandon claimed to be “ten minutes up the road” and bleeding.
However, none of this information was ever reported to the Sheriff’s Deputy at the scene. So, it remains unclear whether the Deputy was aware that Brandon had even called 911.
According to a later report in The Observer Enterprise, a local newspaper, Brandon’s 911 call was also documented as “a stranded motorist who ran out of gas.” And there was no mention of his need for urgent help.
So, at the scene, the Sheriff’s Deputy turned emergency flashers on and locked Brandon’s truck. Then, he left the scene and arranged to have a tow truck pick up the vehicle in the morning.
The Sheriff’s Deputy did reportedly continue looking for Brandon– driving up and down the highway. Kyle and Audrey did the same after leaving the gas can in the back of Brandon’s truck– just in case he returned to the vehicle.
By the time the sun rose that morning, though, Brandon still had not been heard from– pushing Kyle and Audrey to become increasingly worried.
At that point, Kyle’s paycheck from work had also finally cleared. So, he was able to return to the truck, grab the gas can to fill it up and bring it back to his brother’s vehicle.
When Kyle spoke with investigators soon afterward, he also finally revealed the entire account of what had happened the night before– admitting to being on the phone with Brandon while the Sheriff’s Deputy was at the truck.
But, Kyle and Brandon’s other family members were not aware of the prior 911 call placed by Brandon until his girlfriend, Ladessa, saw the call on an itemized cell phone transactions report provided by investigators.
Since that report was created, though, there has been no other activity on Brandon’s cell phone or bank accounts.
On October 24, 2013, an extensive search was finally conducted in the area Brandon went missing. Afterward, various subsequent searches also took place.
Throughout these efforts, though, one specific area was avoided because it was private property.
But that was until 2022 when a group of volunteers finally gained permission to comb the private property. During this effort, various articles of clothing were discovered matching the items Brandon had been wearing when he went missing.
This prompted the Texas Rangers to get involved, and after the investigators conducted their own search, they uncovered partial human remains.
Now, as of this month, the DNA testing results of the partial remains still have not yet been released. So, Brandon’s loved ones continue awaiting answers.
At the time of his disappearance, Brandon was five foot nine, weighed 230 pounds, and had brown hair. He would be 36 years old today.
If you have any information regarding Brandon’s case, you are urged to contact the Coke County Sheriff’s Office at (325) 453-2717.
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