Raul Meza Jr., sits behind bars once more, with law enforcement suspecting his bloody hand in a chilling series of unsolved murders. On Tuesday, a 2018 cold-case homicide resurfaced as potentially the latest addition to Meza's gruesome portfolio, according to a search warrant affidavit that Austin Police hope will gain them access to his Google account. According to KXAN, detectives believe that delving into his digital trail will help piece together the puzzle of Meza's alleged multidecade reign of terror.
Arrested in May, the 63-year-old Meza shocked police when he confessed to the murder of 80-year-old Jesse Fraga, and then also implicated himself in the 2019 killing of his ex-neighbor, Gloria Lofton, 65. This admission sparked officials to label him a "serial killer" during a May 2023 press conference. Notably, after his arrest, police mentioned Meza's potential connection to up to ten additional cold cases, KXAN reported.
Not a stranger to the criminal justice system, Meza's rap sheet dates back nearly five decades, including a brutality that began when he was just 15 years old. He was sentenced to 20 years after a 1975 robbery and shooting but was released in only five. The cycle of violence continued when Meza was convicted for the rape and murder of 8-year-old Kendra Page in 1982, yet he served just over 11 of his 30-year sentence.
As court proceedings drag on, the families of his victims find themselves entangled in a painful wait for justice. With Meza’s attorney pushing to potentially stay out of prison, the distressed kin of the slain are calling for the ultimate retribution. "No plea deal and definitely the death penalty," Gloria Lofton's daughter, Christina Fultz, fiercely declared in a statement obtained by KVUE. Fultz added, "This man's been ruining generations of lives for decades. So we're going to hopefully make it stop soon." The families' resolve seems unwavering as Fultz also made it clear they will attend every hearing "until justice is served."
Meanwhile, a delay in the discovery phase of Meza's case saw his court date reset to January 17, 2024. When he appeared before the Travis County judge on Monday, Meza remained silent — an act that further incensed those who have endured his brutal legacy. "He couldn't even look up at us or anyone in the room," Fultz said as she stood united with other bereaved families in the courtroom, according to a KVUE interview.
