TX TX - Elizabeth Barraza, 29, murdered setting up garage sale, Harris Co, Jan 2019 #5

[arielilane]

Wow! This just muddies the water even more for LE.

It does. Curious if LE were able to obtain any vehicle tire tracks IF the vehicle went off road down a dead end cul-de-sac. That had a driveway style curb in cul-de-sac and drove up onto a Greenbelt and exited onto Kuykendahl far down the road from where police were coming in at main entrance to Princeton Pl.

Speculation post!

 

[arielilane]

I can't remember - are the Texas Rangers or FBI involved here?

I don't believe the FBI were ever involved and Texas Rangers were involved for a short period early on.

Please someone correct this if it's wrong as this is by memory only.

matter of opinion.

 

[FromGermany1]

It does. Curious if LE were able to obtain any vehicle tire tracks IF the vehicle went off road down a dead end cul-de-sac. That had a driveway style curb in cul-de-sac and drove up onto a Greenbelt and exited onto Kuykendahl far down the road from where police were coming in at main entrance to Princeton Pl.

Speculation post!

bbm
Just like the murderer/kidnapper in case Jamie Closs:

He dragged Jayme outside, almost slipping on blood,[12] placed her in the trunk of his car, and drove away.[13] The police arrived four minutes after the 911 call.[18] Patterson later told investigators that he pulled over 20 seconds down the road from the house.[13] Deputies sped by with emergency lights and sirens on.[19

Kidnapping of Jayme Closs - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[JnRyan]

bbm
Just like the murderer/kidnapper in case Jamie Closs:

He dragged Jayme outside, almost slipping on blood,[12] placed her in the trunk of his car, and drove away.[13] The police arrived four minutes after the 911 call.[18] Patterson later told investigators that he pulled over 20 seconds down the road from the house.[13] Deputies sped by with emergency lights and sirens on.[19

Kidnapping of Jayme Closs - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Excellent example. Jayme's abductor had seen her near her house (school bus stop?). He had a 'connection' to Jayme - BUT only in his mind. I don't believe Jayme or her parents were even aware of his existence.

Could Elizabeth's killer have a similar 'connection' to Elizabeth? That is, he is well aware of her, but Sergio and family wouldn't know him (or her?) if they saw him/her on the street. Could the killer have heard her speak at a cosplay event and became obsessed? Or a similar sighting of Elizabeth? If this is the case then it is almost a murder committed by a stranger. Add to that the possibility the killer could be from outside the area and this makes it very difficult to solve.

Even considering the above theory, I still that the whole Star Wars cosplay scenario likely holds a key. Where else is there for a personal connection? Work? LE has probably done a deep dive into her co-workers. A past boy friend or even a friend from high school or before she met Sergio in college? I believe she switched colleges and met Sergio at the 2nd college. A classmate at that 1st college? From visiting young patients in hospital wards? No, I still think the highest probability lies in the cosplay.

 

[JnRyan]

I believe this killer made a recon visit or visits much earlier in the morning. I don't believe that is the first time they were in the neighborhood. I wonder what Elizabeth and Sergio's neighborhood was like prior to Christmas. A lot of homes well adorned? It's not unusual for some to drive through such neighborhoods. We had one where I grew up known as "Christmas Card Lane" and it drew a LOT of traffic. I can imagine this killer driving through - but in another vehicle, not the truck - during this time to see the house and familiarize themself with the area. A strange car driving under the speed limit might not draw the undue attention it would at another time. They could have made more than one pass through the area. Especially, if they are not from the Tomball or Houston area. However, by the time of the murder LE would be digging through massive amounts of video - if there was any footage left - with NO idea of what to look for.

 

[arielilane]

I believe this killer made a recon visit or visits much earlier in the morning. I don't believe that is the first time they were in the neighborhood. I wonder what Elizabeth and Sergio's neighborhood was like prior to Christmas. A lot of homes well adorned? It's not unusual for some to drive through such neighborhoods. We had one where I grew up known as "Christmas Card Lane" and it drew a LOT of traffic. I can imagine this killer driving through - but in another vehicle, not the truck - during this time to see the house and familiarize themself with the area. A strange car driving under the speed limit might not draw the undue attention it would at another time. They could have made more than one pass through the area. Especially, if they are not from the Tomball or Houston area. However, by the time of the murder LE would be digging through massive amounts of video - if there was any footage left - with NO idea of what to look for.

We had one where I grew up called Candy-Candy Lane. I believe as well another type of vehicle was used to stake out the neighborhood (prior to the killing) and get familiar with where Liz lived and the ends and outs of the neighborhood. Also, there's got to be some valuable videos on the day of the homicide/execution. moo and speculation.

 

[FromGermany1]

I wonder, whether Liz and Sergio went on a trip to Disney World each year since their wedding and whether they always had a garage sale days before that yearly trip.
If it was like that, it needs someone, who knew it and was able to make his plan for murder.
The person in turn needed info about the exact date, when the garage sale would happen in 2019 again.
Because Liz didn't announce the garage sale publicly, it needed another person, who would inform the future killer of posted signs for the garage sale.
Theoretically the killer could have been there at Liz' address the year before already (2018), played an interested buyer (for Star Wars equipments perhaps), talked casually to neighbors and asked a neighbor to be secretly notified, when the next garage sale would take place. Then the killer had time to plan his evil murder, which car he would use, which weapon he would have to organize, who would give him a strong alibi and how the timing of his "project" would have to be.

Idk, if it would be possible, that a cold-blooded killer is waiting for a whole year until the next garage sale. Usually a murder is carried out more spontaneously, I believe. BUT: who knows ....

I would now search for a neighbor, who was asked to inform an unknown person of the next garage sale. The neighbor would have at least a phone number or is still able to describe the person, who asked for this info (whether male/female would help also a bit). If the killer didn't plan his evil murder for 2018 already (but for the next sale), he certainly was there at Liz' place undisguised, showing his normal look. Maybe, even the/a future killer's car was noticed by the innocent neighbor.

 

[arielilane]

I can't remember - are the Texas Rangers or FBI involved here?

I don't believe the FBI were ever involved and Texas Rangers were involved for a short period early on.

Please someone correct this if it's wrong as this is by memory only.

matter of opinion.

Just remembered about LE going to FL, so in that case, it is possible since the investigation crossed state lines federal authorities would be brought into the equation, maybe ATF, or a FL investigation source?

Of course, amateur opinion, no fact to this post.

 

[charminglane]

Did Liz go to the same coffee shop on the regular?

 

[Betty P]

I don't believe the FBI were ever involved and Texas Rangers were involved for a short period early on.

Please someone correct this if it's wrong as this is by memory only.

matter of opinion.

Same here.
Texas Rangers were involved some at the beginning. FBI not at all. Perhaps they were in some obscure way if there was investigation into possible suspects who lived out of state.

 

[JnRyan]

Just remembered about LE going to FL, so in that case, it is possible since the investigation crossed state lines federal authorities would be brought into the equation, maybe ATF, or a FL investigation source?

Of course, amateur opinion, no fact to this post.

It's not unusual for a local LE investigator to contact the LE in the area and then make the visit. IN State Police and local LE did it in the Delphi Murders case when they went to CO to interview a potential POI.

 

[Moonstrawbs]

I'm late with joining in on this thread so I do apologise if what I'm saying has been said over and over. I heard of Elizabeth's murder when it happened then naively assumed it would have been solved early on due to having footage of the car and the actual murder itself. I'm very sad to see it's now deemed a cold case. IMO, there are a few coincidences that make me feel iffy. For someone to pull this off the way they have, they would need to know a lot about both Elizabeth and her husband or have luck on their side every step of the way which is just quite unlikely in this situation.
The one coincidence I can't get past is this timing...

• 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.

I also just wanted to add, that Elizabeth's parents, I think it may have been her mother, said they believe that the person who shot Elizabeth was not the person who wanted her dead and I agree. While watching the camera footage it seems so personal, angry even, to me it comes across as maybe not anger from the shooter against Elizabeth but more of a "get it done" because an unknown person wants/needs(?) her dead.

 

[Megnut]

Really "out there" but in keeping with the idea of a presto-chango skin/wrap, how about someone who had scheduled bodywork at 7am? Change the appearance of the vehicle before anyone realizes there's been a crime. Pre-scheduled so it just doesn't rise to anyone's consciousness. Hiding in plain sight?

 

[arielilane]

Did Liz go to the same coffee shop on the regular?

I've always wondered about this too. Liz's parents have not addressed this question to my understanding. It would be good to know. Many have wondered why Liz wasn't killed while getting her morning coffee. I suppose (moo) the killer wanted Liz to know why she was being killed and by who??? Speculation... But, what IF the killer wanted Liz simply out of the way, and it wasn't personal, it wasn't rage/revenge - Liz was in the way? But, why? s.p.e.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n. No fact, to amateur post.

 

[ConundrumPonderer]

I've always wondered about this too. Liz's parents have not addressed this question to my understanding. It would be good to know. Many have wondered why Liz wasn't killed while getting her morning coffee. I suppose (moo) the killer wanted Liz to know why she was being killed and by who??? Speculation... But, what IF the killer wanted Liz simply out of the way, and it wasn't personal, it wasn't rage/revenge - Liz was in the way? But, why? s.p.e.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n. No fact, to amateur post.

This may be to timing. If she was a regular at one Starbucks every morning for example, and didn’t show, that would be noticed, and in other cases that’s been a major investigation point.

 

[fridaybaker]

I've always wondered about this too. Liz's parents have not addressed this question to my understanding. It would be good to know. Many have wondered why Liz wasn't killed while getting her morning coffee. I suppose (moo) the killer wanted Liz to know why she was being killed and by who??? Speculation... But, what IF the killer wanted Liz simply out of the way, and it wasn't personal, it wasn't rage/revenge - Liz was in the way? But, why? s.p.e.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n. No fact, to amateur post.

I think she wasn’t killed then because Sergio was still at home. They waited until he left.

 

[Bounceycat]

I think she wasn’t killed then because Sergio was still at home. They waited until he left.

I know Apple air tags weren't released for another two years, but is it possible the shooter had some kind of GPS enabled device on his work van (truck?) so they knew when Sergio left?

 

[Ajs1004]

A couple things caught my attention from re-reading the timeline again on Liz's parents site. (Thanks for the link @arielilane !)

First, I've heard conflicting statements on the timing of the placement of the yard sale signs. The fact that this official timeline indicates that they were up on Thursday night finally settles that for me

Next, this level of precaution and rapid response by her parents (and Sergio) is curious to me:

• Early Morning [07:19:45 AM] Harris County Precinct 4 Constables enter the house to clear and secure the home. This set off the alarm that Liz had set to instantly trigger if a door was opened. She had the door inside the garage unlocked for her safety, as a precaution.
• Early Morning [Unknown] Liz’s parents are notified by her alarm company that the alarm has been triggered and they cannot reach Liz. We left immediately for her home
• Early Morning [07:37 AM] Rosemary and Bob Nuelle arrive on scene minutes after her transport by Life Flight.

So not only do Liz and Sergio have an alarm, but it's a monitored alarm, with her parents listed as contacts, which Liz activated while at home - for her safety, and within 18 minutes of it going off, her parents have arrived at her house to check on her.

I don't recall how far away they live, but even if it's just a few minutes that is a surprisingly urgent response to an alarm when there are so many mundane explanations for why it might have gone off and why she wouldn't be reachable for a few minutes. Within that 18 minutes is Liz's alarm company getting the alert, trying to reach liz, failing (how many attempts?) and then reaching out to her parents. And I would assume the first thing they would do would be to try to reach her themselves (I believe this has been stated in interviews) and then after some amount of failed attempts, getting in the car.

I haven't gotten the impression this is a dangerous neighborhood.. this just reinforces my suspicion that Liz's murder seems more 'out of the blue' to us than maybe it does to people closest to the situation. There's just a level of worry (and in this instance, justified) that wouldn't seem warranted from what we know about events and a relatively peaceful life leading up to her murder.

I'm just thinking - how long would I wait to get a response from my adult daughter before assuming something catastrophic was going on and rushing to her house (is she in the bathroom? dealing with a customer? moving some stuff? bringing the dog out to potty?.. etc.. etc..)... and that number is more than 15 minutes.. what would bring the number down for me would be some lingering background tension/wariness/suspicion of danger.. even if mild, that would put me on extra alert.

I'm not sure Liz's parents and Sergio would be at liberty to say what the source of that suspicion/wariness might be to the public, or even if that sense of danger existed - especially if the root of said danger is who many of us suspect, but its just another question in my mind...

Anyway I hope this doesn't come across with any hint of victim blaming or anything of the sort - it's just a suspicion that there may be some risks/people that the family was worried about that they are justifiably not at liberty to discuss.

All very much MOO.

I've always wondered about this too. Liz's parents have not addressed this question to my understanding. It would be good to know. Many have wondered why Liz wasn't killed while getting her morning coffee. I suppose (moo) the killer wanted Liz to know why she was being killed and by who??? Speculation... But, what IF the killer wanted Liz simply out of the way, and it wasn't personal, it wasn't rage/revenge - Liz was in the way? But, why? s.p.e.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n. No fact, to amateur post.

Killing her at home mostly controlled environment for them. Doing it in public like at a Starbucks you never know who’s going to see, or dash cams, or if there’s cops around.

 

[NeverPersonal]

I'm late with joining in on this thread so I do apologise if what I'm saying has been said over and over. I heard of Elizabeth's murder when it happened then naively assumed it would have been solved early on due to having footage of the car and the actual murder itself. I'm very sad to see it's now deemed a cold case. IMO, there are a few coincidences that make me feel iffy. For someone to pull this off the way they have, they would need to know a lot about both Elizabeth and her husband or have luck on their side every step of the way which is just quite unlikely in this situation.
The one coincidence I can't get past is this timing...

• 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.

I also just wanted to add, that Elizabeth's parents, I think it may have been her mother, said they believe that the person who shot Elizabeth was not the person who wanted her dead and I agree. While watching the camera footage it seems so personal, angry even, to me it comes across as maybe not anger from the shooter against Elizabeth but more of a "get it done" because an unknown person wants/needs(?) her dead.

exactly... i can't get myself to believe that that timing is a coinky dink tbh

 

[charminglane]

I've always wondered about this too. Liz's parents have not addressed this question to my understanding. It would be good to know. Many have wondered why Liz wasn't killed while getting her morning coffee. I suppose (moo) the killer wanted Liz to know why she was being killed and by who??? Speculation... But, what IF the killer wanted Liz simply out of the way, and it wasn't personal, it wasn't rage/revenge - Liz was in the way? But, why? s.p.e.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n. No fact, to amateur post.

@arielilane, thank you for the response.
My thinking is that the garage sale could have casually been mentioned at some point to some unknown(to us) person that may have been obsessed with Liz. That she would have casual contact with in daily life. Someone way out of the periphery.
Maybe they didn’t know Liz was married. In their mind, they had a “relationship.” Man or Woman.