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Austin serial killer Raul Meza may be linked to more unsolved cases
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Austin serial killer Raul Meza may be linked to more unsolved cases

AUSTIN, TexasInvestigators say a convicted serial killer may be connected to more unsolved cases in Austin. Raul Meza Jr. He is already preparing to spend the rest of his life in prison, but the case is not closed yet.

“Work on this case continues,” said Austin Police Homicide Unit Detective Patrick Reed.

Despite Serial killer Meza will die in prisonHe is likely to appear in court in the future.

“There are still other cases where we think he may be involved,” Detective Reed said.

Meza called the Austin Police Department in March 2023.

“This time it was a little different than the other times I’ve answered the phone. The caller said, my name is Raul Meza and I think you’re looking for me,” Detective Reed said.

Detective Reed said Meza revealed a lot of information. The conversation lasted approximately 14 minutes until Meza hung up the phone.

“He was giving dates and locations, and we were trying to confirm the dates, locations and names he would give and narrow down the timeline,” Detective Reed said.

Meza told Reed over the phone that he killed Jesse Fraga, the man he lived with in Pflugerville, and a woman who lived on Sara Drive in 2019.

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“We had the case facts developed in the 2019 case. We reached out to CODIS and then did a phone interview so we were able to quickly verify a lot of the information,” Detective Reed said.

They prepared a case for the murders of Gloria Lofton and Jesse Fraga. An arrest warrant was issued, law enforcement found him at a bus stop in North Austin, and he was taken in for questioning. Detective Reed described the interview as unique.

“Someone like Mr. Meza has been incarcerated, he’s been through the system quite a bit, he’s been interviewed by the police probably countless times, more than most, so he’s very well adapted to the situation he’s in, so he doesn’t seem to be caught unprepared or worried in any way,” Detective Reed said.

Meza killed 8-year-old Kendra Page in 1982. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison but was released on parole after 11 years.

Last month, Meza pleaded guilty to the murders of Lofton and Fraga and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“I think that sentence highlights the work that was done, as well as what it means to society to have someone like him incarcerated for life without parole,” Detective Reed said.

Detective Reed said it’s not over.

“We are still working to confirm some of the things he said in the phone call,” Detective Reed said.

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Lofton’s daughters said in the meeting that someone else was involved in Meza’s mother’s case.

“There are two other family members who may be involved in this,” said Sonia Houston, Gloria Lofton’s daughter.

“We know some of the things that Mr. Meza has alleged, and so we need to review that information as well to determine if there is any truth to that and, if so, whether and to what extent anyone else was involved,” Detective Reed said.

Gloria Lofton’s daughter, Christina Fultz, said, “We want a response to a completely real, ethical, moral and completely real case, like let’s do it right, completely open and shut.” he said.

Meza was eliminated because he was involved in eight unsolved cases in Austin so far.

“We still have four cases that we are awaiting DNA testing to determine if we have any connection to him,” Detective Reed said.

Detective Reed said there is another case in Pflugerville from 2022. This case involves the FBI, Austin police and Pflugerville police searching a field in July 2023.

“It’s progressing, we have leads, but it’s still active and open,” Detective Reed said.

Regarding the cases in San Antonio, the agencies said they could not find a case that fit the timeline Meza gave for possible murders there.

“This is definitely one of the unique cases that I think we’ll see in Austin,” Detective Reed said.

If Meza is found to be connected to more cases, it will be the District Attorney’s Office’s responsibility to pursue these charges.