Raul Meza Jr. (born October 14, 1960) is an American serial killer[1][2] who was convicted of murdering 8-year-old Kendra Page in Austin, Texas, in January 1982. Meza had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1973 and, prior to his final incarceration, had spent a total of 20 years behind bars for various crimes.[3]
Raul Meza Jr. | |
|---|---|
 May 2023 mugshot of Meza | |
| Born | October 14, 1960 Travis County, Texas, U.S. |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3–13+[1] |
Span of crimes | 1973–2023 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Texas |
Date apprehended | May 29, 2023 |
In September 2024, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 65-year-old Gloria Lofton in May 2019 and 80-year-old Jesse Fraga in May 2023. He is suspected of being involved in as many as ten other homicides.[4]
Early life
editRaul Meza Jr. was born on October 14, 1960, in Travis County, Texas, to Raul Meza Sr. (d. unknown) and Elvia Ortiz (d. 2020). Records show that he had at least three different stepfathers and three half-siblings by the time he was 15 years old.[5] Meza began using drugs at age eight and was first arrested in 1973 on shoplifting and burglary charges; the following year, he was accused of arson.[5][6]
His first major arrest came on December 31, 1975, when he robbed a convenience store on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas. During the robbery, he shot store attendant Derly Ramirez, who survived. Meza was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crime but was released early on parole in February 1981.[3][7]
A 1982 examination by psychologist David Poole read: "He doesn't appear to expect much of himself or his life, and seems a strong candidate at this point for a life of recidivism or... suicidal inclinations."[5]
Murder of Kendra Page
edit
On January 3, 1982,[8] Meza sexually assaulted and strangled 8-year-old Kendra Page. She was last seen riding her bicycle around Langford Elementary School in Austin and was later found dead in a dumpster at the school, naked and covered in bruises.[3][9]
Three days later, Meza walked into the Austin Police Department headquarters and confessed to her murder.[10] To avoid trial and a possible death sentence, a deal was struck between Meza's attorneys and the Travis County District Attorney's Office, and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.[10]
After serving 11 years, he was released on parole due to good behavior in 1993.[3] Meza called a news conference to tell the public: "I can only tell you that in my heart, I know that I will not willfully bring harm to anyone again."[10] He was subsequently driven out of several communities by angry residents, though he claimed to be a born-again Christian who paid his debt to society.[11] The following year, he was returned to prison for violating a midnight curfew and remained incarcerated until 2002.[10]
Murder of Gloria Lofton
editOn May 9, 2019, 65-year-old Gloria Lofton was discovered dead in her home by her daughter.[12] Blood was present in the hallway and on her pillow, and a used condom was found in her kitchen.[13] The initial autopsy was inconclusive, and although there was evidence she may have been strangled, it was determined that she had died from an alcohol-related accident, as there was no solid evidence of murder, and she was known to have an alcohol addiction.[14]
After Meza confessed to her murder in 2023, the cause of death was changed to homicide by strangulation. A sexual assault kit used on Lofton during her autopsy provided a match to Meza's DNA in 2020, but nothing was done with this information, and no explanation as to why was provided by police.[14]
In May 2023, following Meza's arrest, Lofton's daughter recalled a note she found in the home six days after her death, which read, "I Gloria Elizabeth Lofton give permission to Raul Meza Jr to request a certificate of authority on my behalf for the purpose of—". Meza would later tell a homicide detective that he was promised 25% of an inheritance, with the rest supposedly going to Lofton's nephew. According to Lofton's daughter, she did not have a nephew; it is unclear whether this was a fabrication by Meza or whether he was promised money by one of Lofton's relatives.[14]
Murder of Jesse Fraga
edit80-year-old Jesse Fraga was a retired Travis County probation officer who had befriended Meza after his release from prison in 1993. The Fraga family, guided by "intense religious motivation," invited Meza to Bible studies and helped him find housing and employment.[7][15] In 2021, Meza moved in with the Fragas, and soon after, Jesse's wife and son both died of COVID-19.[16] Meza agreed to move out on May 12, 2023.[7]
On May 20, the body of Jesse Fraga was discovered in the bathroom closet of his home by Pflugerville police officers after they received a call from his niece to conduct a welfare check, as she had not heard from him in nine days.[1] In the home were large amounts of dried blood in several rooms and a bloody kitchen knife. Ring doorbell video from May 13 showed Meza getting into Fraga's truck, which was found abandoned off I-35 nine days later. Inside the truck were boots covered in what appeared to be blood.[17] Meza's own car was found parked in the driveway of the Fraga residence with a hammer, hatchet, duct tape, and gloves inside.[1][7]
Final arrest, conviction, and other possible murders
editOn May 26, Meza called Austin Police, demanding to speak to a homicide detective. During the call he confessed to the murder of Lofton, claiming he was promised financial compensation for the murder, as well as to the murder of Fraga, due to supposed sexual activity between the two "[getting] out of hand," and a double homicide in San Antonio, of which he has not been convicted. Meza was arrested three days later while carrying a bag that contained a handgun, nylon rope, duct tape, zipties, a flashlight, and a condom.[15][17][18] After his arrest, Meza told police that he was "ready and prepared to kill again."[1]
In September 2024, Meza pleaded guilty to the murder of Fraga and guilty to capital murder with the intent to commit sexual assault for the murder of Lofton. He waived his right to appeal and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Judge Julie Kocurek asked him if he was apologetic, to which Meza replied, "I think it's too late. What's the use if a person will not accept it?"[2]
In addition to the three murders he was convicted of, police suspect Meza of being responsible for as many as ten other homicides,[2] two of which occurred in 2018 and one in the beginning of 2019. According to a search warrant, he was also responsible for several sexual assaults after his supervised release ended in 2016.[18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Jones, Abigail; Stark, Sam (May 31, 2023). "Court documents detail what led to 80 year old's death, 'serial killer' arrest". KXAN-TV. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Seipp, Skye (September 30, 2024). "Austin-area serial killer Raul Meza Jr. to serve life in prison after accepting plea". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Maxin, Ryan (May 31, 2023). "Who is convicted murderer Raul Meza Jr.? Here's what we know". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Boyette, Chris (June 3, 2023). "Austin police say suspect in 2 killings may be involved in nearly a dozen more". CNN. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Huey, Dalton; Hollis, Brianna (June 20, 2023). "In-depth history of Austin's accused 'serial killer' Raul Meza". KXAN-TV. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ "Meza v. State, 543 S.W.2d 189". Casetext.
- ^ a b c d Osborn, Claire; Plohetski, Tony (May 25, 2023). "Raul Meza, who killed girl in 1982, sought in slaying of 80-year-old man in Pflugerville". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Martinez, Aaron (June 4, 2023). "Tracy Page fights for her slain sister four decades later". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Cavallier, Andrea (October 6, 2024). "A child killer was set free in the 90s for good behavior. Decades later he murdered two more people". The Independent. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Timeline: Raul Meza Jr.'s lifetime of violent crime". KVUE. May 30, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ ""I will not hold my head down in shame anymore"". Tampa Bay Times. October 13, 1993. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Hubbard, Paige (June 5, 2023). "Daughter of Gloria Lofton questions handling of investigation after new details emerge". KEYE-TV. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Stelloh, Tim (June 2, 2023). "She thought her mom's drinking may have killed her — then a convicted murderer confessed, Austin police say". NBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Goode, Justine (April 16, 2024). "A DNA error and an overlooked note: Family express outrage over police investigation of Texas woman's killing". NBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Barer, David; Travis, Avery (June 2, 2023). "Lawsuit shows how murdered man came to live with his alleged killer, Raul Meza Jr". KXAN-TV. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Aldis, Meredith (July 3, 2023). "Nephew of victim speaks out after arrest of Texas man described as serial killer". KTBC. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Austin 'serial killer' accused of stabbing, killing elderly Pflugerville man". KTBC. May 31, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Osborn, Claire (January 3, 2024). "Austin police seeking Raul Meza's Google info to link him to 2018 cold case killing". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.