AUSTIN, Texas – Recent developments in a cold-case homicide from 2018 may be linked to Raul Meza Jr., 63, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by Austin Police detectives. The affidavit indicates that the police have identified a potential connection between the 2018 homicide and Meza’s modus operandi. This has prompted the police to seek access to Meza’s Google account in order to uncover more details about the murders Meza is already linked to, as well as any additional cold case homicides.
In May, Meza was arrested and charged with the murder of Jesse Fraga, 80, after confessing to the crime. He also implicated himself in the murder of his former neighbor, Gloria Lofton, 65, in 2019. Furthermore, Meza claimed to have committed a double homicide in San Antonio, Texas, in the years prior to his arrest.
Authorities have indicated that Meza may be connected to as many as ten cold cases, leading to concerns about the extent of his alleged criminal activities. During a press conference in May 2023, an Austin official referred to Meza as a “serial killer,” reflecting the serious nature of the charges against him.
In a disturbing turn, a recent search in a Pflugerville field led to the discovery of several locations exhibiting characteristics of a possible burial site. Items such as clothes, rope, and a tarp were found, along with an area that suggested the presence of a grave site.
Meza has a lengthy criminal history dating back almost 50 years, including convictions of aggravated robbery and murder. At the age of 15, he participated in a robbery during which the store manager was shot and left for dead. Furthermore, while on parole for aggravated robbery, Meza was accused of raping and murdering 8-year-old Kendra Page, for which he was eventually convicted.
Meza’s troubled past and the recent revelations surrounding the 2018 cold-case homicide have raised significant concerns about the impact of his alleged criminal activities. The ongoing investigation will likely shed further light on the extent of Meza’s potential involvement in multiple homicides, posing serious challenges for law enforcement as they seek to ensure justice for the victims and their families.