Timothy J. Perez Missing: Remains of 31-year-old Conroe man, last seen in March 2022, found near Austin

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) — The remains of a missing 31-year-old Conroe man have been identified after he was last seen in Austin over seven months ago.

Authorities found skeletal remains north of SH-45 and Mopac Expressway near Austin on October 11.

In an update Sunday, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said the remains have been positively identified as belonging to Timothy J. Perez.

Investigators say they don’t currently suspect third-party fault, though it’s unclear how he died.

Perez was reported missing on March 5, 2022 while in Austin to visit his brother.

His father said Perez told his family he was going home around 10:30 p.m., but a few hours later he told his father he was running out of gas and that he was lost.

ORIGINAL REPORT: The Conroe family has been asking for help locating missing son in Austin since Saturday

His parents then got in their car to drive to Austin, but received a call from police at around 4:20 a.m. stating they had found his vehicle near an exit off I-35. The 31-year-old could not be found.

According to police, his car was found with a cold engine and an empty gas tank about 15 miles from Perez’s brother’s home.

“The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate the circumstances of Timothy’s death to determine the cause of death and provide continued support to the family,” Criminal Investigations Division Commander John Foster said.