TX TX - Elizabeth Barraza, 29, murdered setting up garage sale, Harris Co, Jan 2019 #6

[Sjöberg]

• Early Morning [06:55:08 AM] The truck is captured on her doorbell cam passing back by Liz’s house.
• Early Morning [06:58:52 AM] Harris County Precinct 4 Constables arrive to investigate and secure the scene.

Less than 4 minutes difference. This is so crazy. This is a residential neighbourhood with a complicated layout, not a highway, not so quick to get out.
But this is still too long of a difference to assume that they saw or heard the cop cars arriving, IMO. So why turn back...

 

[lonewanderer]

Some things I have developed a mild opinion on over the last year (meaning it could easily not be the case, but atm it feels ever so slightly more likely to be like that).
1. The killer is more likely to be the person who wanted her dead (or one of the people), the motive was personal
2. The killer was searching Liz on google for at least some time before the crime
3. The killer is more likely to not be very local (arrived from at least somewhat elsewhere, might have had that Friday off)
4. Liz did not recognize the killer initially - she might have later (so someone she did not expect at that time and place)
5. While the crime was planned, the killer was not super smart nor organized, that might point to someone "not fluent in crime", someone "high in emotion", someone "with poor executive function" or all of the above.
6. While the killer might be a loner, he or she did have some obligations back at home (not necessarily in the sense of house/family) - the whole thing seems a bit rushed.

Questions:
a) Why drive quickly by the house in the dark at 2AM?
b) Where was the car between the drive and the attack?
c) Why turn into the school parking lot?
d) What was the purpose of the school parking lot break and the following "concealing on a different street"?
e) When arriving, why does the car initially pass Liz (at a rather high speed) and turn around?
f) Why speak to Liz before killing her?
g) Why turn back to the crime scene after the initial escape?
h) Did anything noteworthy happen in Liz's life during the past year? Was she somehow mentioned in some sort of media that the killer might have seen? Did she attend any events where she might have met or re-met someone? (still kinda interested in early August, though I don't really believe the search data any more)

I'm assuming Liz did not marry her first bf ever. Are there people around who know about her previous relationships (including short-term informal ones) and has such information been forwarded to the police?
Was the earlier odd burglary at Liz's and S's home a coincidence or part of something?
Was the gun "borrowed"/purchased for just that crime (I think that's likely re: shot locations and video) and does the gun owner/seller know about the death of Liz?
Was the car borrowed/purchased for just that crime (I think that's somewhat likely re: three-point-turn) and does the car owner/seller know about the death of Liz?

As for the 2am drive by, I wonder if its possible the shooter simply had nowhere else to go. If this person was lying to their roommate/partner/spouse about their whereabouts and couldn't go home, what else would they do while they waited?

As for the gun, I theorize that it was either a very specific choice to use that gun, as a revolver does not leave casings and is extremely unlikely to malfunction. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I theorize the gun was a spur of the moment or simply the only gun the shooter could get their hands on (an old gun on top of grandpa's safe, their gunnut boyfriend having a surplus and not noticing that one was missing).

I speculate the truck belonged to an out of town/state visitor, and was borrowed, with or without the owner's knowledge. I think the shooter made a compelling excuse to use the truck that early in the morning (baby won't sleep, out of formula, out of tampons) or just straight up nagged the owner until they gave in to keep from hearing any more of it. One of those, or simply took the keys while the owner was sleeping (could explain the 2am drive by and the quick getaway trying to return it before the owner woke up). Yes, I believe the shooter is female and this (in my mind) is a similar mindset of a rotten person that would walk up to another woman and shoot them point blank.

Why speak to Liz? I speculate they were confirming or confronting. Some fictional example of this is if Liz had acted as a witness against them in something. I imagine them holding up a memo or document to confront them with. I also speculate it could have been a screenshot of text exchange or a picture. One highly unlikely theory is that Liz's pictures were being used to catfish someone, another fairly unlikely scenario is the shooter was deaf and could not speak so had a written message, which makes a little sense because the shooter does not seem to flinch AT ALL when they shoot the gun, and why the voices heard on the ring doorbell audio are unintelligible.

One bothersome thing is that Liz is shot before we see her reaction. She does take a HUGE panicked step back before the left arm is extended and leans in very slightly before she is shot. We do not get to see her make a face like "whoa whoa whoa! Thats not me! I can explain!" or like "Seriously? You are upset about that? Grow up."

 

[Sillybilly]

Could someone please link a copy of the police report if we have one.

Thanks very much !!

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

One thought I had is if I wonder if it is possible that one reason the killer drove back pass the house is because they already had an escape route planned/route to abandon, hide or return return the Nissan Frontier that they needed to stick to it? Perhaps in their adrenaline rush they took off after the shooting and then realized they were going in the wrong direction, thus the U-turn?

Perhaps that was also another reason for the 2 AM drive-by? The killer had to scope the Barraza household and the escape route ahead of time?

I remember a comment from earlier last year that implied the killer may have intentionally avoided the incoming first responders and buses based on the route they took to get away from the crime scene? I wonder if this means that the killer was familiar enough with the neighborhood that they knew which direction both the firehouses, EMTs and buses would come from? This does make me wonder how familiar were they with the Barrazas and if they had witnessed an emergency or police response before and thus used that to design their escape plans?

Just my own speculation

 

[arielilane]

It appears the killer was very familiar with the neighborhood? The planning of the crime appeared precise -- the time impeccable -- knew not only the Barraza’s schedule, but the logistics of the neighborhood -- did they know that a neighbor would usually return home early morning after a night of work? Did they know the usual time a school bus would drive by the Barraza's street?

And what about the usual cars that would drive by the house each morning? Or a neighbor walking his dog?
Typical everyday things, which it appears the killer may have known about. Killer appeared to know the crime had to be executed at that precise moment.

Who would know all of that? Who is the mastermind behind the horrific execution of Liz Barraza?

All speculation -- no facts

 

[fridaybaker]

Just want to say thank you to Arielilane for working so hard to keep interest going in this case. Always posting something, be it specific questions, updates, reposting reward, etc. You have really worked tirelessly to keep people thinking about it!

 

[cckp72]

It appears the killer was very familiar with the neighborhood? The planning of the crime appeared precise -- the time impeccable -- knew not only the Barraza’s schedule, but the logistics of the neighborhood -- did they know that a neighbor would usually return home early morning after a night of work? Did they know the usual time a school bus would drive by the Barraza's street?

And what about the usual cars that would drive by the house each morning? Or a neighbor walking his dog?
Typical everyday things, which it appears the killer may have known about. Killer appeared to know the crime had to be executed at that precise moment.

Who would know all of that? Who is the mastermind behind the horrific execution of Liz Barraza?

All speculation -- no facts

Who other than Liz and Sergio had access to the Barazza's ring camera ?

On one YT video I watched, it was speculated that a 3rd party had access to programming, watching the videos, talking through it etc.

If that is true, then a 3rd party would have been able to monitor the neighbourhood to know all these particulars you mentioned. The 3rd party would also likely be a close friend or relative who would likely also have known about the garage sale ahead of time.

 

[skoogmagoo]

Well, I wonder if the sale was a great opportunity, but the rush was about killing Liz before she and Sergio would depart for the anniversary trip.

If so, why could it matter? What happens when people are on an anniversary vacation? One though is obvious. A young couple, 5 years together, vacation, she is close to 30, the perfect situation for, say, family planning. And if they, indeed, return pregnant, and the person is vested into killing Liz, it would be a different kind of killing in the state of TX.
(I am not thinking this is what the Bs were thinking of, but it is what often happens, and hence, it could explain the fear and the haste of the killer).

Otherwise, why else could it be important to do it before their 5-year anniversary? What changes after 5 years of marriage? Any ideas?

What happens after 5 years of marriage? A possible change in the pre-nup?

 

[Sjöberg]

Otherwise, why else could it be important to do it before their 5-year anniversary? What changes after 5 years of marriage? Any ideas?

The only kinda stupid thought I had is if that was an ex of either S or E who had been together with them for 4 years (at least in their head), then they might have simply wanted to kill her before they become "the longest" partner.
But I don't really think it's anything like that - IMO the timing was probably not connected to the trip and probably even not connected to the garage sale, but stemmed from the schedule of the culprit moreso than the schedule of the victim.

 

[FromGermany1]

What happens after 5 years of marriage? A possible change in the pre-nup?

Do we know, when the break-in into the B's appartment took place and when the shooting into the window (?) of Liz' workplace happened? Did these incidents have anything to do with the anniversary of their wedding?

 

[arielilane]

Who other than Liz and Sergio had access to the Barazza's ring camera ?

On one YT video I watched, it was speculated that a 3rd party had access to programming, watching the videos, talking through it etc.

If that is true, then a 3rd party would have been able to monitor the neighbourhood to know all these particulars you mentioned. The 3rd party would also likely be a close friend or relative who would likely also have known about the garage sale ahead of time.

I've been curious about this too, it's something to think about if someone else had access to the Barraza's Nest cam. moo

 

[ilovewings]

Just want to say thank you to Arielilane for working so hard to keep interest going in this case. Always posting something, be it specific questions, updates, reposting reward, etc. You have really worked tirelessly to keep people thinking about it!

Ditto- Thank you for keeping this thread alive with information---

 

[arielilane]

This has weighed on me for some time. I believe I’ve mentioned it before, however, I dont recall if I've already said it or not.

Regarding AS video -- bonus footage (posted on page one of this thread) It appears Liz nonchalantly leaves her home and gets in her car, places the Starbucks order (?) backs out of the driveway and drives away… heads to Starbucks. She returns home about 7 minutes later, drives back by the house, and then parks on the street in front of her house.

It’s speculative, that Liz’s doesnt park her car on the driveway because of the garage sale, in addition, she is unable to get in the garage because the sale is being (already) set up. Treadmill, table, etc have their places already.

(How is it that this video was obtained by AS???)

The whole point of this long boring post is “security” … I too am also a cautious person, I pay attention to my surroundings-- I wouldn’t have been as brave as LB was leaving the house early morning when it’s still dark, going to any shop, getting out of car from the street and walking up to the front door! Everyone is different, but it bothers me since she supposedly so cautious. That is why my automatic garage door opener is perfect, and I always park in the garage, so I can come and go via the garage (just like it was stated about Liz)… I supposed the garage sale was the exception...

I know there are things that we will change... up

So what changed? Other than the garage sale already being set up on the driveway?
Why was the garage sale important to have that day and the subsequent day? Or was it?

Did someone talk her into having the last minute garage sale?
It didn’t appear that there was anything of value that would amount to much money being made in a day or two? Of course, items sold will add up.

Speculation post, my thoughts only

 

[fridaybaker]

Well, this is the problem I have about SB and LB being very "cautious" and "security conscious". Liz was going to be outside alone, albeit for a very short time but, still, outside alone before light. Yes, people are getting up to go to work, but it can be reasonably assumed that most everyone will know that the neighborhood will be very quiet at that hour, and very likely that absolutely no one would be near her.

Perhaps life experience colors our perceptions, but I walk very, very quickly the few steps to my vehicle in those hours. And still don't like it. Liz, though, was going to be all alone, starting her garage sale. She was so vulnerable. I would have felt it. And I wouldn't have done it. If my husband REALLY couldn't wait an extra half hour to go into work, I'd simply wait inside the house until full light and the neighborhood was abuz with activity to get the sale going.

 

[Sjöberg]

The whole point of this long boring post is “security” … I too am also a cautious person, I pay attention to my surroundings-- I wouldn’t have been as brave as LB was leaving the house early morning when it’s still dark, going to any shop, getting out of car from the street and walking up to the front door! Everyone is different, but it bothers me since she supposedly so cautious.

Almost any female who is not very negligent is called cautious by some family or friends, imo. We have to be to stay alive. It hardy means anything more than "not taking more risks than generally approved in her social class" - be it "locking the doors" or "not hanging out with drug addicts" or "practising safe sex when engaged in escort work". Meaning "not the person these things happen to".

Especially the parents. Is there any "good girl" who tells her parents about the unsafe things you do? "Yeah, mum, I sometimes jog in the dark alone, thanks for asking, no biggie?", "Yes, mum, I actually once did drugs with strangers at that college party?". I never take family comments about anyones character at face value, especially if they are not living together with the kid in question any more. For all my mum knows I sleep 8 hours every night and never forget my meds.

 

[CrimeTheorist]

Were any of the garage sale items really heavy? She might not have been able to get them outside by herself and then didn't want to leave them there for someone to take after SB put them out. I would have preferred to wait until it was light out to put the items out and if anything was too heavy I would just not sell it.

 

[Ajs1004]

Were any of the garage sale items really heavy? She might not have been able to get them outside by herself and then didn't want to leave them there for someone to take after SB put them out. I would have preferred to wait until it was light out to put the items out and if anything was too heavy I would just not sell it.

Yeah there was a treadmill.

 

[arielilane]

Almost any female who is not very negligent is called cautious by some family or friends, imo. We have to be to stay alive. It hardy means anything more than "not taking more risks than generally approved in her social class" - be it "locking the doors" or "not hanging out with drug addicts" or "practising safe sex when engaged in escort work". Meaning "not the person these things happen to".

Especially the parents. Is there any "good girl" who tells her parents about the unsafe things you do? "Yeah, mum, I sometimes jog in the dark alone, thanks for asking, no biggie?", "Yes, mum, I actually once did drugs with strangers at that college party?". I never take family comments about anyones character at face value, especially if they are not living together with the kid in question any more. For all my mum knows I sleep 8 hours every night and never forget my meds.

I get it, cautious person here has been known on more than one occasion to be on secluded trails but anyway again, I get it.

 

[Notascreenname]

If their trip was preplanned then why the urgent, sudden, last minute need for extra cash? Liz was a very sensible person, if she didn't have enough spending money she surely would have cancelled the trip so close to departing for it.

Or maybe that's the point of garage sales? I'm not American therefore am not accustomed. Do people usually hold spur of the moment garage sales? Don't you need time to sort out what to sell?

 

[iamnotagolem]

If their trip was preplanned then why the urgent, sudden, last minute need for extra cash? Liz was a very sensible person, if she didn't have enough spending money she surely would have cancelled the trip so close to departing for it.

Or maybe that's the point of garage sales? I'm not American therefore am not accustomed. Do people usually hold spur of the moment garage sales? Don't you need time to sort out what to sell?

Her mom said in an interview that all of their trips were pre-paid and she already had a lot of spending money set aside for this trip. I agree, the last minute garage sale seems quite odd.

I am not someone who loves garage sales, but when I do have one it's to get rid of a lot of stuff at once. But it is much more effective to host the garage sale AND post any big ticket items on Facebook. I think 90% of the big stuff I sold was from people seeing it on FB then coming to the sale or buying it from FB and asking me to hold it.