Cause of Death Revealed for College Student Who Vanished Before Car Was Found with Blood Inside

A 19-year-old college student who went missing from Pasadena, Texas, on Feb. 8 has been found slain in Houston.

The Pasadena Police Department is actively investigating the death of Payas Deo alongside the Houston Police Department, according to a press release.

Deo’s body was recovered on March 1 near Dumas Street in Houston. He was found in a field in an “advanced state of decomposition,” according to KHOU. The University of Houston-Clear Lake student had been shot twice, an autopsy found — once in the head and once in the neck, per KHOU. 

Blood was also found inside the teen’s vehicle, and the car had a broken window, his family previously told KHOU. Deo’s shoes were also found inside the car.

“We thought somebody would have kidnapped him. That was the first thing came into mind, because his shoes, what he wears, those shoes were inside the car,” Payas’ father Rohit Deo said to KHOU when Deo was still missing.

Deo’s death has been ruled a homicide, per Fox26Houston.

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The teen was last seen leaving his home around 8 p.m. on Feb. 8, per Click2Houston. His car was found about five miles away the following day.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Thursday night in Deo’s honor.

PEOPLE reached out to the Houston Police Department and the Pasadena Police Department for comment but did not hear back at the time of this writing.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (713) 477-1221.