“Justin was abandoned”: Family of father found dead in burning vehicle two years ago still waiting for answers

SAN ANTONIO – It has been more than two years since a father of two was found dead in his burning vehicle in far south San Antonio.

To this day, his family does not know exactly what happened to Justin Vodrey, but investigators believe the vehicle was intentionally set on fire at the time of his death.

In this case, no arrests were made and the cause and manner of death are undetermined according to the coroner.

Vodrey had moved to Pleasanton, Texas, just days before his death for a new job. His sister Stephanie Gleyre said a new chapter was beginning for him.

“It feels like it happened yesterday, but then it seems like an eternity ago,” Gleyre said.

Gleyre said she still remembers the moment her family received the call about his death.

“I was immediately on my knees screaming and crying, and that’s how we all reacted, by and large,” she said.

On the night of July 3, 2022, Vodrey was at a bar, the Coyote Crossing Saloon, according to San Antonio police. Hours later and 11 miles away, investigators responded to a burning SUV on Neal Road. Inside, they discovered Vodrey’s burned body.

“So they’re saying he wasn’t shot or stabbed or anything like that, but he was dead before they put him in the Tahoe and drove him to Neal Road,” Gleyre said.

The initial police report states that he was found in the back seat of his SUV with both right doors open and that the vehicle’s identification numbers had been destroyed.

Since that report, Gleyre said she has not received any new information from investigators. She said the family has not heard from an investigator in over a year.

“That’s been my biggest fear since I found out he’s gone because the case is no longer being pursued,” Gleyre said. “That’s still one of my biggest fears.”

Gleyre said her brother was a loving father to two children, including a young man in his 20s and a young girl who is now 10 years old.

“She doesn’t know exactly what happened, so she’s sugarcoating the situation a little, but she misses him,” Gleyre said.

She just wants someone to be held accountable so that healing can begin and closure can be found.

“We feel like Justin has been abandoned because there is nothing there,” Gleyre said.

KENS 5 has asked SAPD for an update on the case. We are awaiting a response.