TX - Elizabeth Barraza, 29, murdered setting up garage sale, Harris Co, Jan 2019 #3

[DeDee]

• 01/24/2019 = Thursday
• Evening Liz and Sergio discuss the Garage Sale setup - Friday 01/25 and Saturday 01/26.
• Evening Sergio and Liz place garage sale signs in the neighborhood announcing the garage sale running from Friday 1/25 through Saturday 01/26.

Timeline

 

[stmarysmead]

• 01/24/2019 = Thursday
• Evening Liz and Sergio discuss the Garage Sale setup - Friday 01/25 and Saturday 01/26.
• Evening Sergio and Liz place garage sale signs in the neighborhood announcing the garage sale running from Friday 1/25 through Saturday 01/26.

Timeline

Thank you!

 

[girlhasnoname]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed; not an approved source>

What I find the hardest to understand is that the shooter arrived at their home just 3 minutes after SB left. This appears to be such a targeted hit towards Liz.

I hope there is some development here.

MOO

 

[Rtael]

<modsnip> What I find the hardest to understand is that the shooter arrived at their home just 3 minutes after SB left. This appears to be such a targeted hit towards Liz.

I hope there is some development here.

MOO

I wonder a lot about that myself. It wouldn't necessarily be hard to ascertain Sergio's schedule if there was more staking out than we necessarily know about. But even so no one's a robot and the timing's too close...I need to go back and look at it, but wonder if where the perp was parked would have offered a view of Sergio's route out of the neighborhood? Otherwise the timing is very...precise.

 

[floridafreshsqueez]

I wonder a lot about that myself. It wouldn't necessarily be hard to ascertain Sergio's schedule if there was more staking out than we necessarily know about. But even so no one's a robot and the timing's too close...I need to go back and look at it, but wonder if where the perp was parked would have offered a view of Sergio's route out of the neighborhood? Otherwise the timing is very...precise.

IMO waiting even three minutes (it was 3 right?) after Sergio left is a bit too small of a window...you'd think the killer would have wanted to put at least a 10-minute buffer between him leaving and the shooting to avoid suspicion for the very reason of it looking precise, IDK that's just me. I think that was quite risky IMO.

The fact that so few people knew about the garage sale leaves two possibilities in my opinion...either the killer is someone close to Liz or, is someone who is close to a family member/friend of hers. But it seems like if the few people who knew about the garage sale divulged that info to anyone else that Liz hadn't intended to tell, LE would know about it given that they've looked through the electronic records and phones. But as I type this, I don't think using burner phones to pull off this killing is out of the realm of possibility, given the level of planning.

Here's a random question we probably won't have answered for some time...did she tell the few people who knew about the garage sale individually or was it something she may have shared in a group text? If it was the latter, it'd seem that the pool of possible suspects is even smaller.

I feel like if this killing is related to unrequited love, let's say on the part of Liz, this could have been built up in the mind of the killer/accomplice over time without her even knowing. I think about a smitten co-worker, maybe a delivery person at either one of her jobs or a customer, some kind of sub-contractor or another vendor...I think someone who got their feelings hurt could have easily turned the situation into a whole other beast if they lied to a partner or spouse and instead made it seem as though Liz was the one who was coming on to them. If the accomplice is someone who would be jealous of Liz and convinced that she needed to be eliminated to save a relationship, I could see this being motive. Just because by all accounts it *seems* as though Liz didn't have any issues with co-workers (or customers at the costume shop) doesn't mean that a co-worker and/or their partner didn't harbor any resentment toward her. Imagine if this killing was all due to some imaginary scenario made up by someone's feelings of insecurity...scary.

Following this train of thought...could a creepy neighbor or local who felt they had a connection with Liz also be responsible? I don't see why not. It's not like there had to be a major incident to piss off the wrong person if they're not capable of handling rejection. It could have been as simple as Liz being very polite but firm that being hit on or propositioned that set someone off. Some people can't handle a 'no thank you, ' and as a woman who has been relentlessly harassed before, it can be a scary world to walk around in even when you're doing your best to be civil about a situation.

<modsnip> I wonder if there is an old ex-boyfriend, or even an acquaintance who has harbored resentment toward her for quite some time, years possibly, that's been watching her since she married Sergio. Is it possible that her killer has been following her relationship and casing her neighborhood for months, maybe even years? We don't know of any alleged stalkers, but that doesn't mean someone wasn't dutifully following her every move that may have been completely unbeknownst to her. Or Sergio, perhaps Liz got in the way of an old flame that never got the chance at love with him because she got to him first.

 

[MntnHiker]

The timing of when Sergio leaves and the killer pulls in IS incredibly precise. Unless the killer had a viewpoint where he could see Sergio leave in the neighborhood, you almost start to a wonder about a lookout. Or someone who lives close enough to her house that they can see when he leaves and communicate with the killer. I am NOT casting blame on any neighbor - just saying it is a possibility that I am sure LE has looked into. But that would be one way to get the timing so close. For instance, the days I go into the office, I leave around 715. But one day I may be running ahead and leave at 709. Another day, I couldn't decide on my outfit and it was 7:20. It would be hard to know the precise moment he would leave even if they did watch his routine previously. IMO

 

[JnRyan]

In the last year I've become more of the planning this killer put into this. They hit less than 5 minutes after Sergio left. I don't believe that kind of planning happens with one or two trips to check out routines. I'm betting there are more trips to the neighborhood in the days and weeks prior. They just didn't use that truck. If the speculation that the killer wasn't the owner of that truck - such as an employee of an auto repair shop, rental agency, dealership, etc. - the killer could have made previous trips in two or three other vehicles. As long as they don't do anything to draw attention to themself who would make the connection between the beginning of, say, December and the week before the murder.

 

[DeDee]

The truck's occupants could have been their own lookouts. They exit the school and head toward Kuykendall Rd at the same time Sergio leaves home @ 6:48

From the Barazza Timeline

• Early Morning [06:47:50 AM] The Nissan Frontier arrives and pulls into the neighborhood Princeton Place Drive from Kuykendahl Road and then drives into the Goddard School parking lot.
• Early Morning [06:48:00 AM] The Nissan Frontier leaves the Goddard School parking lot to conceal on a different street.
• Early Morning [06:48:00 AM] Sergio leaves the property to go to work, in a white panel van.
• Early Morning [06:51:40 AM] The Nissan Frontier comes back into view and heads towards the Barraza home.

 

[iamnotagolem]

Someone mentioned upthread the possibility that the killer had access to the Barraza’s ring camera either hacked or were close enough to the family to have obtained access. This would explain how the killer had such precision in arriving after Sergio left.

 

[stmarysmead]

Wild speculation alert. Aside from an obsessive romantic motive, Ive been trying to imagine if there were any other areas of Liz’s life where she might encounter raw and abiding emotion. The kind of emotion that would not dissipate over time….and could turn into hate.

It has been reported that she was the event coordinator for the Cosplay group, scheduling hospital visits. She also volunteered with the Make-a-wish foundation. In bith situations, there are opportunities to interact with people dealing with enormous stress, loss and despair.

I hope LE has looked deeply into her encounters and activities in those specific activities. Were there, for example, parents of a dying child or family members of a dying relative…who somehow were unknowingly offended or slighted?

i can imagine a situation where grief triggers months of planning to even a score for a lost loved one. That would explain the ‘insigator’riding along for the satisfaction of seeing it happen.

Just my imagination at work…but whatever triggered this murder…in my opinion, has its basis in that kind of smoldering rage. .

 

[MachinaCollecta]

In the last year I've become more of the planning this killer put into this. They hit less than 5 minutes after Sergio left. I don't believe that kind of planning happens with one or two trips to check out routines. I'm betting there are more trips to the neighborhood in the days and weeks prior. They just didn't use that truck. If the speculation that the killer wasn't the owner of that truck - such as an employee of an auto repair shop, rental agency, dealership, etc. - the killer could have made previous trips in two or three other vehicles. As long as they don't do anything to draw attention to themself who would make the connection between the beginning of, say, December and the week before the murder.

They also seemed to know where EB’s Ring camera was because they placed themselves just out of view of it. Not only that but presumably knew the neighbourhood itself had many cameras, hence the disguise. There has to have been a lot of planning in advance for this.

 

[girlhasnoname]

They also seemed to know where EB’s Ring camera was because they placed themselves just out of view of it. Not only that but presumably knew the neighbourhood itself had many cameras, hence the disguise. There has to have been a lot of planning in advance for this.

Yes, or done by someone very familiar with the neighborhood.

 

[arielilane]

IMO, someone is very familiar with the neighborhood and may have lived there previously. <modsnip> Very cold and calculated killing, much rage and a coward. The killer needs to be found and removed from society. Of course this is all speculation and opinion.

 

[JnRyan]

Yes, or done by someone very familiar with the neighborhood.

"Familiar" this day in age is a term I struggle with here. 20 years ago, I would have said that they lived there, had lived there, visited someone there OR did a number of drive-throughs. Now with Google Maps and the ability to search neighborhoods we have something akin to what specops groups were doing 20-30 years ago using aerial photography. This killer could well have gone to Google and studied the area before even driving through. I still believe this required a few trips to the area in daytime and at night, but they can minimize their exposure through Google.

I still don't believe that 0200 drive through before the murders is their only drive through. I''m of the opinion they went through there earlier. Probably 1-2 weeks before and with a different vehicle so LE and the locals would make the connection. Following the timeline before the murders they just seemed to have a precise laser focus on how to get in there and how to get out.

 

[CocoChanel]

IMPORTANT ADMIN NOTE:
Too many posts in Liz’s thread have been removed for violating the Websleuths’ Terms of Service. Websleuths is fact-based & victim/family-friendly, which allows WS to be the gold standard of true crime discussion forums. Please review the following to help you post successfully on this thread…..

• family members are OFF LIMITS to accusations and speculations and sleuthing because WS is FAMILY-FRIENDLY. ONLY IF a family member is stated by LE to be a suspect or POI may they be spoken of in those terms.
• YT Videos and random websites MUST BE APPROVED before you post or refer to them. ASK A MOD IN A PM BEFORE YOU POST. There are very few YT video or blogs/websites allowed because there are thousands and WS cannot guarantee their content to be factual. **WS is aware of the video linked on the approved family website and recently posted and removed in this thread. We are reviewing it, but it is not approved at this time. If that changes you’ll be the first to know here.
• Speculation and opinion is allowed IF it is based in FACT as published by MSM or stated by LE.
• Enhancement of pictures or video from MSM and LE is NOT ALLOWED because we cannot verify the content once it is enhanced.
• RUMORS are not allowed. It is considered RUMOR if it can’t be directly linked to MSM or LE.
• Anything you post as a fact MUST a be linked to MSM or LE. IF YOU CAN’T LINK IT TO AN APPROVED SITE, YOU CAN’T POST IT.

Posts that violate any of the rules stated above, or any of the Terms of Service (linked in my signature below) may be removed by WS staff at any time. If you REPLY to a post that violates the rules, your post may be removed also. Violators may temporarily or permanently lose their posting privileges on WS.

Please REPORT any posts you see that are in violation of the TOS. ASK in a PM to a mod or admin if you have any questions about the TOS. We are happy to help!

PLEASE KEEP THE WEBSLEUTHS TOS IN MIND (linked in my signature below) WHEN YOU POST.

Thank you for your efforts to participate on the WS forums in accordance with the TOS that we ALL agreed to follow when we joined. Liz and those who loved her deserve that.

Faithfully,
CocoChanel
Admin/Moderator

 

[CocoChanel]

ADMIN UPDATE


ADMIN UPDATE:

The YT video from Arrin Stoner has NOW been approved for posting on Websleuths. Link is below. This is a single episode approval for this case only.

Please remember the Terms of Service in regards to this video analysis. You may discuss the contents of the video as long as it does not violate TOS. Keep in mind that this video is SPECULATION and not outright fact. Do not state that what is in the video is fact, but merely educated guesses about what MIGHT have happened. If you have a question about what you can talk about and what is a violation, please ask in a PM to a staff member, or a REPORT. We will help clarify.


Arrin Stoner video analysis of Liz Barraza’s murder:

Family website:
Who Killed Liz Barraza
Please note that only MSM and LE links on this site are approved for discussion here unless specific approval is given, as has been done for the Arrin Stoner YT episode.
Questions? Please ask, not in this thread, but in a PM or Report.

THANK YOU!

 

[Betty P]

ADMIN UPDATE


ADMIN UPDATE:

The YT video from Arrin Stoner has NOW been approved for posting on Websleuths. Link is below. This is a single episode approval for this case only.

Please remember the Terms of Service in regards to this video analysis. You may discuss the contents of the video as long as it does not violate TOS. Keep in mind that this video is SPECULATION and not outright fact. Do not state that what is in the video is fact, but merely educated guesses about what MIGHT have happened. If you have a question about what you can talk about and what is a violation, please ask in a PM to a staff member, or a REPORT. We will help clarify.


Arrin Stoner video analysis of Liz Barraza’s murder:

Family website:
Who Killed Liz Barraza
Please note that only MSM and LE links on this site are approved for discussion here unless specific approval is given, as has been done for the Arrin Stoner YT episode.
Questions? Please ask, not in this thread, but in a PM or Report.

THANK YOU!

Thank you CoCoChanel!

It's good to know WS checked this out and feels its a good video. It seems very informative.

 

[Rtael]

I'm not sure it really takes us anywhere, but I do wonder if maybe the apparent get-up/disguise the killer was wearing wasn't actually a *dig* at Elizabeth and her cosplay enthusiasm. If someone hated her for unrelated reasons, it might have seemed very fitting to murder her whilst 'playing her own game'. (this might even have already been brought up before? can't remember)

 

[stmarysmead]

i do believe that the videos show 2 people in the car. I do believe there was a lengthy period of planning. That is just why this is such a confounding case!

A calculated murder like this usually involves, IMO…passion or money. Im thinking of the long planning period of Chris Coleman’s murder of his wife. But it did not take long to find the motive of his passion…the girlfriend.Nothing like that emerged here and years have passed. There was no large inheritance…no uncovered feud…the victim seemed like a lovely uncomplicated person.

What had she done…that the rage did not dissipate? What did she have, the others would go to this length to take for themselves.

The ‘watcher’ in the car is interesting because he/she seemed to provide no specific service…didn’t walk up with t-he shooter, didn’t move the car closer so the shooter would not have to run back. So why be there?

i have an eerie feeling the Watcher was the instigator. Wanted to see the murder. Had the shooter drive back by…just for another look. This motive ran deep whatever it was.

 

[JosieMae]

i do believe that the videos show 2 people in the car. I do believe there was a lengthy period of planning. That is just why this is such a confounding case!

A calculated murder like this usually involves, IMO…passion or money. Im thinking of the long planning period of Chris Coleman’s murder of his wife. But it did not take long to find the motive of his passion…the girlfriend.Nothing like that emerged here and years have passed. There was no large inheritance…no uncovered feud…the victim seemed like a lovely uncomplicated person.

What had she done…that the rage did not dissipate? What did she have, the others would go to this length to take for themselves.

The ‘watcher’ in the car is interesting because he/she seemed to provide no specific service…didn’t walk up with t-he shooter, didn’t move the car closer so the shooter would not have to run back. So why be there?

i have an eerie feeling the Watcher was the instigator. Wanted to see the murder. Had the shooter drive back by…just for another look. This motive ran deep whatever it was.

Yes, the motive is the answer. Two common motives for murder: greed and/or hatred. Since the perp hasn't benefitted financially (that we know of), one motive remains.