Child sexual abuse material was reportedly found on a phone linked to Raul Meza, a development that could trigger a fresh criminal charge against the Austin man already at the center of multiple murder investigations. The detail surfaced late Thursday and adds yet another layer to a case that has already drawn attention across Texas. It remains unclear whether prosecutors have formally filed any new charges.
According to FOX 7 Austin, a source told reporter Meredith Aldis that child sexual abuse material, often shortened to CSAM, was located on Meza’s phone and that investigators are weighing an additional charge. The station’s report relied on an unnamed source and did not include any charging documents.
Case background
According to the Associated Press, Meza has a criminal record that stretches back decades. He was convicted in 1982 of the sexual assault and murder of an 8-year-old and was later charged in the deaths of Gloria Lofton in 2019 and Jesse Fraga in 2023. The Associated Press reported that Meza ultimately pleaded guilty in those more recent cases and accepted life sentences, which left him already in custody while investigators continued to pursue other leads.
How investigators built the cases
Investigators say Meza called Austin’s non-emergency line in May 2023 and, once connected with homicide detectives, shared details that helped link him to other deaths. Court TV reported that police later confirmed DNA and digital evidence tying Meza to the crimes while building their cases. According to that report, Meza told detectives he was “ready and prepared” to kill again.
Possible legal consequences
Possession or promotion of child sexual abuse material is a crime under Texas law and can also be charged in federal court, depending on the facts. The Texas Penal Code prohibits the possession or promotion of child pornography. At the federal level, the Department of Justice notes that statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 2252 criminalize possession, receipt, and distribution of CSAM and carry potentially lengthy prison sentences and significant fines.
What happens next
The FOX 7 Austin report is based on an unnamed source and, as of that outlet’s latest coverage, prosecutors had not publicly confirmed the discovery or announced any new charge. If formal charges are filed, they would be reflected in court records and on case dockets. Until that happens, officials are likely to stay quiet in public while investigators continue reviewing the phone and any related evidence.
