TX - Elizabeth Barraza, 29, murdered setting up garage sale, Harris Co, Jan 2019 #4

[Ajs1004]

Why didn’t Sergio get to the ICU until the afternoon?

Wasn’t he detained by the police and questioned?

 

[HousewaresAisle3]

Wasn’t he detained by the police and questioned?

Yes - but look at the timeline. He arrives at the house just before 8am and doesn’t arrive at the hospital ICU until afternoon.

 

[ilovewings]

I have been thinking about this case with great frustration: you talk about a cold case? this one is encased in ice! it really bothers me that they have the murder on video and the vehicle as well. I can't help but think there is just something wrong with this picture as far as the investigation goes. Perhaps my expectation is unrealistic, I don't know-- I know that some cases (Bevers for example) shows the killer on video and yet the case goes unsolved. But I really think they should be able to get a lead on that vehicle, which is the key to this case. I hate that this innocent woman was murdered in cold blood and almost four years later there is no movement in this case.

 

[iamnotagolem]

Yes - but look at the timeline. He arrives at the house just before 8am and doesn’t arrive at the hospital ICU until afternoon.

In the interview with Paula the detective talked about Sergio sticking around the house after they questioned and released him.

 

[santacruztodd]

Coincidence? As they say in LE-There ARE no coincidences!

• 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.

 

[santacruztodd]

I have been thinking about this case with great frustration: you talk about a cold case? this one is encased in ice! it really bothers me that they have the murder on video and the vehicle as well. I can't help but think there is just something wrong with this picture as far as the investigation goes. Perhaps my expectation is unrealistic, I don't know-- I know that some cases (Bevers for example) shows the killer on video and yet the case goes unsolved. But I really think they should be able to get a lead on that vehicle, which is the key to this case. I hate that this innocent woman was murdered in cold blood and almost four years later there is no movement in this case.

I am sure that if the victim was a public official they would have it solved. You are spot on-the killer's biggest mistake that I can see is the use of a highly specific vehicle in the commission of the crime. Between that and geofence they should have had this solved long ago.

 

[santacruztodd]

I wanted to say this in response to some of the later posts on the last thread, but it wouldn't allow me to reply. Something to consider is that Liz left that morning to get coffee. If we are to assume this was a person that had no knowledge of the garage sale, how could we explain the killer not thinking Liz was leaving for work at that time and taking his/her shot then? IMO there are a couple things we can deduce from this...1. The killer/s absolutely knew about the garage sale and knew that Liz would be back. We can also deduce that for whatever reason, killing her while hubby was home wasn't an option. IMO the shooting was intended to look like a robbery and had to be done in the short window between SB departure and any other potential garage sale shoppers showed up.

I noted before something along your lines. Let's suppose that Sergio WAS home, OK? He would have heard the shots and ran outside, which would have been normal-or, he would have not responded, which would have looked highly suspicious. Had he run outside, he would have seen the truck as it returned to the crime and possibly noted the plate number or partial. Either way, it is a big issue. In my opinion, ONLY if the killer knew that Sergio was gone could he/she have known that returning to the scene would be non-confrontational. Now, there was 2 1/2 minutes between the murder and when the perp returned, so any of a number of residents could have seen the truck return as well, but we know that at the VERY same time that Sergio left for work the perp left the Goddard School parking lot to conceal on a different street.

Food for thought...

 

[ilovewings]

I am sure that if the victim was a public official they would have it solved. You are spot on-the killer's biggest mistake that I can see is the use of a highly specific vehicle in the commission of the crime. Between that and geofence they should have had this solved long ago.

Like any cold case that has languished about for some period of time, this case needs new eyes. We have all seen cold cases get solved with fresh eyes looking at it; so often a new set of eyes will see something that was missed---To me, because of that vehicle, this is a solvable case that is going unsolved and it is angering and sad.

 

[JnRyan]

Why did the killer want to kill Liz prior to the anniversary weekend? Why that day?

Why did the killer wait for S to leave for work that morning before killing Liz?

Why did the killer want to kill Liz at her own home in her driveway?

Why didn’t the killer kill S? Why wasn’t S killed?

Did the killer know about the anniversary weekend?

Did the killer know Liz’s & S’s work schedules? Did the killer know what time Liz & S left for work each morning? If so, how would they know that?

As far as the killer knowing their schedules....

I wonder if this isn't the first they'd been there, but they just drove a different vehicle and maybe a week or more earlier.
As far as why S wasn't killed that bothers me. To me it shows she was definitely targeted, but the reason why is a real question. Of course, if the reason was known we'd probably be talking about a trial and not an unsolved murder. It does bring up a 'what if' question and that is what if S called for a day off in the night before. I believe he worked for his father so I doubt it would not be difficult.

 

[iamnotagolem]

As far as the killer knowing their schedules....

I wonder if this isn't the first they'd been there, but they just drove a different vehicle and maybe a week or more earlier.
As far as why S wasn't killed that bothers me. To me it shows she was definitely targeted, but the reason why is a real question. Of course, if the reason was known we'd probably be talking about a trial and not an unsolved murder. It does bring up a 'what if' question and that is what if S called for a day off in the night before. I believe he worked for his father so I doubt it would not be difficult.

Bbm In the Paula zahn special it was mentioned that Liz typically would have already left before then and Sergio usually left an hour later. So to me it seems like it was very much targeted at Liz and the killer knew only Liz would be there at that time on that day.

 

[JnRyan]

Bbm In the Paula zahn special it was mentioned that Liz typically would have already left before then and Sergio usually left an hour later. So to me it seems like it was very much targeted at Liz and the killer knew only Liz would be there at that time on that day.

Now that makes the timing very odd, if the killer did their recon in the weeks prior. If the killer didn't find out about the garage sale the night before (from the signs) how would they know S wasn't going to be there as well. That one day S leaves first and they know they have her alone. OR had the killer been there in the past in the school lot hoping S left first and this was finally their chance? But even that doesn't sound likely.

 

[JnRyan]

Following the Idaho murders of 4 students LE is looking at a list of 22,000 white Hyundai Elantras, model years 2011-2018. The murder or just a person in the area? LE hasn't said.

So I wonder if LE has compiled a list of this model and color Nissan truck from TX and LA registrations? Yes, the population of TX is MUCH larger than ID. But if this was started even 2 years ago I wonder where LE would be. Of course, they may have done this and nothing came of it.

I just have a feeling that the owner of this truck wasn't the killer and may not even know it was the truck involved. Maybe the owner doesn't follow crimes. That last part may not be likely since even if they don't follow crimes a co-worker or neighbor may have joked with them about being involved. On that note I do wonder how many others may have said the same to a neighbor or co-worker as a joke. Not out of the realm of possibility. When a composite sketch of Morgan Harrington's killer came out Jesse Matthew's co-workers made fun of him looking like the sketch. Apparently no one took it to LE and he would kill again before being caught.

 

[Ajs1004]

Following the Idaho murders of 4 students LE is looking at a list of 22,000 white Hyundai Elantras, model years 2011-2018. The murder or just a person in the area? LE hasn't said.

So I wonder if LE has compiled a list of this model and color Nissan truck from TX and LA registrations? Yes, the population of TX is MUCH larger than ID. But if this was started even 2 years ago I wonder where LE would be. Of course, they may have done this and nothing came of it.

I just have a feeling that the owner of this truck wasn't the killer and may not even know it was the truck involved. Maybe the owner doesn't follow crimes. That last part may not be likely since even if they don't follow crimes a co-worker or neighbor may have joked with them about being involved. On that note I do wonder how many others may have said the same to a neighbor or co-worker as a joke. Not out of the realm of possibility. When a composite sketch of Morgan Harrington's killer came out Jesse Matthew's co-workers made fun of him looking like the sketch. Apparently no one took it to LE and he would kill again before being caught.

I often wonder if it was a rental or stolen truck.

 

[ilovewings]

I often wonder if it was a rental or stolen truck.

That certainly is a possibility

 

[scruffydog]

Coincidence? As they say in LE-There ARE no coincidences!

• 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.

No coincidence at all

 

[dulcinea]

On the family's website it says the killer appeared to be a woman. Does anyone know why they came to that conclusion? I can certainly guess why, but I'd like to know what they specifically saw that made them come to that conclusion. If indeed the perpetrator was a woman, it seems like this case would be easier to solve. Off the top of my head I don't recall any contracted killers being a woman (I am sure there are some). Most female killers that I've read about have a very specific motive.

 

[HousewaresAisle3]

In the interview with Paula the detective talked about Sergio sticking around the house after they questioned and released him.

I have not seen this show. Thanks for the info.

 

[arielilane]

Why didn’t Sergio get to the ICU until the afternoon?

Wasn’t he detained by the police and questioned?

Yes, SB was detained by LE that morning. Sad that he wasn't allowed to leave and be with Liz @hospital. Wonder if he asked about that? MOO, <modsnip - not victim friendly>

However, On the Case with Paula Zahn, S said, "he raced back home from work because he knew something was wrong."
Paula is quoted as: "SB listened to the video over and over again as he raced home. He immediately shared the critical evidence with police but didn't show investigators the most important detail who was Liz Barraza saying hello to just before the barrage of gunshots were fired."

IMO, he listened to the video over and over again. Wow...

All in a matter of opinion other than quotes from PZ show.

 

[arielilane]

• Early Morning [06:48:00 AM] Sergio leaves the property to go to work, in a white panel van.

• Early Morning [07:51:55 AM] Sergio Barraza arrives back at the house and is detained by Law Enforcement for questioning.
• Afternoon Sergio and his mother arrive at the STICU.
• Afternoon Sergio and Liz’s dad speak with LifeGift about organ donation options. The donation is set up.

Timeline

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whokilledlizbarraza.com

 

[arielilane]

As far as the killer knowing their schedules....

I wonder if this isn't the first they'd been there, but they just drove a different vehicle and maybe a week or more earlier.
As far as why S wasn't killed that bothers me. To me it shows she was definitely targeted, but the reason why is a real question. Of course, if the reason was known we'd probably be talking about a trial and not an unsolved murder. It does bring up a 'what if' question and that is what if S called for a day off in the night before. I believe he worked for his father so I doubt it would not be difficult.

100%, Agree that killer drove different vehicle through neighborhood a week or so prior to killing Liz. I've wondered if cameras of neighboring homes' and businesses' were ever checked for out of place vehicle?

Interesting that S didn't take the day off to help with the garage sale. According to S (Paula Z show) "Liz's decision being the garage sale was ultimately Liz wanted to just raise a little extra cash for the anniversary trip we were taking."

MOO