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

[FromGermany1]

Even easier - if they drive by at 2am and the lights are on, there is a chance that the sales will not start too early because people will be asleep in the morning.
If everyone is asleep, there is a chance that the sales will start early when it is dark.
This person might be more aware of SB’s morning routine, but not that of Liz. They need Liz to be alone, Sergio, not super close to the home and also, they need it to be dark outside.

Afaik, Liz' father planned to help his daughter with the garage sale, but he was unforeseen unable to attend.
Did the killer know, her father would be there at a certain time (which then didn't apply)? Did the murderer have to kill Liz, before her father would have appeared at the address?
Or did the murderer even know, that Liz' father had an urgent appointment and couldn't come for helping during sale?
What would have happened, if the killer didn't know of the possibility, her father would also arrive at the home? Had he murdered both Liz and her father?

 

[Ajs1004]

Now this is totally far fetched (and I personally don't think this is what happened), but it just had never crossed my mind before: maybe it was not the aim to kill Liz? Everyone assumes that automatically, but maybe the case does not make sense because it was not the real reason for what happened.

For example: we know the killer said something and that Liz replied something, even though it is not possible to understand what was said. Maybe this was the aim. Maybe they needed some sort of information from Liz, and only killed her so that she could not speak of the interaction. It was not the real point to kill her, but to get that info. I have no idea what it could have been and I think in that case it would be highly likely that Liz could have been unaware of the relevance, too. But someone around her could have been involved in something shady. The anti-gang unit made me think of possible narratives like that.

No, I think it was pretty personal and intentional. She was shot in the mouth after all.

 

[lonewanderer]

No, I think it was pretty personal and intentional. She was shot in the mouth after all.

Yep, shot in the face and a risky drive by afterwards to confirm.

I think this person needed to insure she was dead, because Liz knew her really well <modsnip> and could identify her with the entire plot easily unfolding if Liz lived.

 

[Charlot123]

Afaik, Liz' father planned to help his daughter with the garage sale, but he was unforeseen unable to attend.
Did the killer know, her father would be there at a certain time (which then didn't apply)? Did the murderer have to kill Liz, before her father would have appeared at the address?
Or did the murderer even know, that Liz' father had an urgent appointment and couldn't come for helping during sale?
What would have happened, if the killer didn't know of the possibility, her father would also arrive at the home? Had he murdered both Liz and her father?

It is not impossible. Another version, the target could have been the father or the whole family.

I feel that the anti-gang unit might be involved because the murder has the traits of being "ordered". The assassins know the house, the person, but they have no connection to the person. "Ordered" kills are usually difficult to deal with unless there is a clear motive, or there is a specific murder style that is known.

 

[arielilane]

KPRC 2 reporter Corley asked Sergio if he had anything to do with Liz’s murder.

“No, ma’am. I would never do anything like that. We had the best relationship. Why would I ruin that?” said Sergio.

Now, nearly five years later, The Texas Rangers, the FBI, and the Texas Anti-Gang Unit have joined in on the case.

Sgt. Thomas said the added agencies’ expertise and resources allow them to further examine evidence and jump on new leads. He feels they are closer than ever to solving the case.

“It’s going to take that one person who’s not nervous about talking about it anymore. Relationships change. Someone knows something,” said Sgt. Thomas.

Over the years, detectives said they have gathered new evidence. They could not go into detail about what they have found, because the case is an ongoing investigation. However, they are following up on leads nationwide.

“They may have succeeded in killing her, but she’s still a force to be reckoned with, and continues to do good throughout this world,” said Bob.

A $50,000 reward is being offered for any information that could lead to an arrest. If you have a tip, contact Crimestoppers at (713) 222-TIPS or the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at (713) 221-6000.

FBI, Texas Rangers join investigation into Tomball woman killed while setting up for garage sale

Updated: December 8, 2023 at 2:19 PM

 

[arielilane]

Nearly 5 years later and no suspect: A timeline of the Tomball woman killed while setting up for garage sale

It was a shooting that shocked most Houstonians. Not only was it bizarre, but it seemed to be random.

www.click2houston.com

Updated: December 7, 2023 at 10:20 PM

 

[Charlot123]

No, I think it was pretty personal and intentional. She was shot in the mouth after all.

Not only anatomically it should work better than a shot in the temple because the bullet is going to travel through medulla oblongata and destroy the vital centers, but it might be a message. I wouldn't be surprised if in different criminal societies it means different things. I vaguely remembered something about Sicilian mafia. Don Corleone killing the local extortionate, Don Fanucci.

"He grabbed a gun he'd hidden in a chimney, wrapped in a towel as a makeshift silencer to muffle its report. When Fanucci arrived, Vito shot him once in the chest. Before Fanucci could react, Vito shot him in the cheek, terribly wounding him. He then fired a killshot into Fanucci's mouth."

(That was meant to kill, but also a sign of power.)

 

[Trublue21]

SB was probably easier to take advantage of,manipulate/manage, before he married LB. This was definitely a paid hit. Just like the Dan Markel case. JMHO.

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

Sometimes, detectives can be SUPER annoying with their manipulation type speech. I am sure they are just used to using it in interrogations, but they aren't experts at everything, not in human behavior and psychoanalysis.

I remember one case where a man claimed a pipe went through his window and killed his wife. The detective said "physics tells me that's impossible". UMMMMM sorry, but show me your PHD???

I think I also remember SB mentioning that neighbors approached him after he talked to the police and that he was in constant contact with Liz’s parents who were at the hospital with her. It sounded like as long as he could keep in touch with them, he wanted to get as much information about the shooting as possible before he left, which I guess could make same sense because nothing about Liz getting shot made sense. As many of her loved ones and LE have mentioned, there was nothing about Liz’s known personal history that would make her a target so SB might have been dealing with feelings of disbelief, shock and his brain just trying to make sense of something so unbelievable happen to Liz.

Also, to be fair, I wonder if he was truly aware how dire Liz’s situation was before he had reached the hospital. Even though he heard the gunshots on the video cam he might not have understood how many time she was unfortunately shot or that she tragically wasn’t going to make a full recovery. I only recommend this because my brother’s doctors’ and friends didn’t tell my mother that my brother was brain dead from a gunshot wound until she after arrived to the hospital so this could just be my own bias speaking.

 

[x_files]

this was posted in this or previous thread

This being said: when something happens, I change my routine. Example: in Seattle, driving virtually 5mph near a hospital, I was scared by a homeless woman who almost stepped under my car. I hit the brakes and avoided hitting her but what scared me was that she continued walking not even paying attention that she could have been hit. I don’t know whether she was high or desperate, but as the result, i only Uber to Seattle now.

So: Liz was burglarized. Then, that “festive” shot. And sorry, she does yard sale alone, in darkness, seems that she had not changed the routine that much? Or if her family planned to join later, who persuaded her to start so early? Did someone talk her into it?

I bet she was told it was all coincidence.
Because, most likely perhaps they were. I honestly do not know, but in hindsight, it looks questionable, doesn't it?
If this all happened within six months I'd be on edge, but I think it was over a span of years. I cannot find the dates of the "festive" shot. I would LOVE to know how the police determined that!

 

[x_files]

this was posted in this or previous thread

This being said: when something happens, I change my routine. Example: in Seattle, driving virtually 5mph near a hospital, I was scared by a homeless woman who almost stepped under my car. I hit the brakes and avoided hitting her but what scared me was that she continued walking not even paying attention that she could have been hit. I don’t know whether she was high or desperate, but as the result, i only Uber to Seattle now.

So: Liz was burglarized. Then, that “festive” shot. And sorry, she does yard sale alone, in darkness, seems that she had not changed the routine that much? Or if her family planned to join later, who persuaded her to start so early? Did someone talk her into it?

Also, I had to deal with a stalker, I documented everything every time a cop would disregard it as not important. That he managed to show up everywhere I went even traveling four state lines to follow me.
So maybe EB was worried or concerned but everyone told her NOT to worry.
I've seen it firsthand.

 

[Charlot123]

Also, I had to deal with a stalker, I documented everything every time a cop would disregard it as not important. That he managed to show up everywhere I went even traveling four state lines to follow me.
So maybe EB was worried or concerned but everyone told her NOT to worry.
I've seen it firsthand.

Very sorry about your experience, but what a smart thing to do!

Yes, I agree. Everyone told her not to worry and that maybe a nest camera was enough?

The thing is, there are probably plausible explanations for everything including the “festive” bullet at her work, but she is dead, so I am not sure I believe the explanations.

 

[x_files]

Very sorry about your experience, but what a smart thing to do!

Yes, I agree. Everyone told her not to worry and that maybe a nest camera was enough?

The thing is, there are probably plausible explanations for everything including the “festive” bullet at her work, but she is dead, so I am not sure I believe the explanations.

I mean I cannot speak for her friends, family or husband, but I see women told they are overreacting constantly even when it's obviously a serious RED FLAG!
Not sure why people do it. Maybe trying to calm the victim?

These series of events I wish I knew the exact timeline, if separated by years or all within the same year.

 

[Rosydecember]

I mean I cannot speak for her friends, family or husband, but I see women told they are overreacting constantly even when it's obviously a serious RED FLAG!
Not sure why people do it. Maybe trying to calm the victim?

These series of events I wish I knew the exact timeline, if separated by years or all within the same year.

I have a feeling the apt break in was at least a year or more prior. How long were they in their house for?

 

[x_files]

I have a feeling the apt break in was at least a year or more prior. How long were they in their house for?

It's quite possible she had a long-term stalker. EB may NOT have been aware she had one.
I am really curious about the Texas Gang Unit being involved now. Is it possible it was a gang initiation just to shoot a random target?

 

[arielilane]

At around 16:45 mark: Liz's parents speak about Barraza apartment burglarized (third story walk-up) in the year prior to purchasing their home in 2016.

 

[Diddian]

At around 16:45 mark: Liz's parents speak about Barraza apartment burglarized (third story walk-up) in the year prior to purchasing their home in 2016.

At 10:10 in that video interview, Liz's mother says that when Liz had garage sales in the past, she would typically join Liz at around 10 am, bringing coffee with her. However, the original plan for this particular garage sale was that Liz's parents would both be joining her at the beginning, but they changed those plans the night before the garage sale.

There is a very limited universe of people who would gain awareness of that change in plans which left Liz alone in the early morning hours before the sale began, although it is possible that the perpetrator(s) relied on the more "typical" arrangement, where Liz's parents would not arrive until 10 am.

IMO, for this to involve a hired hit, it must have been prearranged, but the perpetrator(s) were awaiting the perfect opportunity to activate the plan when they could be certain Liz would be alone with few people up and about to witness or intervene. So, any "hired" hit person would essentially have to be on call and living (or visiting) close enough to activate for this very risky move without much notice. They'd likely have to be close enough to make it for the 2 am drive-by after learning of Liz's parents' change in plans just the night before.

 

[x_files]

At 10:10 in that video interview, Liz's mother says that when Liz had garage sales in the past, she would typically join Liz at around 10 am, bringing coffee with her. However, the original plan for this particular garage sale was that Liz's parents would both be joining her at the beginning, but they changed those plans the night before the garage sale.

There is a very limited universe of people who would gain awareness of that change in plans which left Liz alone in the early morning hours before the sale began, although it is possible that the perpetrator(s) relied on the more "typical" arrangement, where Liz's parents would not arrive until 10 am.

IMO, for this to involve a hired hit, it must have been prearranged, but the perpetrator(s) were awaiting the perfect opportunity to activate the plan when they could be certain Liz would be alone with few people up and about to witness or intervene. So, any "hired" hit person would essentially have to be on call and living (or visiting) close enough to activate for this very risky move without much notice. They'd likely have to be close enough to make it for the 2 am drive-by after learning of Liz's parents' change in plans just the night before.

The timing is so crazy....

 

[Sjöberg]

There is a very limited universe of people who would gain awareness of that change in plans which left Liz alone in the early morning hours before the sale began, although it is possible that the perpetrator(s) relied on the more "typical" arrangement, where Liz's parents would not arrive until 10 am.

Yeah, this complicates stuff.
Though I am not sure that the killer actually knew (/details) about the garage sale - it could be either way. Connected to this, I am not sure why the first fast drive by, then the 3-point-turn. Were they surprised to see her out there? Were they unsure about where/how she would be or did they know about the garage sale but were unsure about the start time and were looking for a sign or the state of things? Or was it because they have to scout the surroundings without stopping the car and alerting Liz to their presence? If that's the case, why were they more worried about Liz spotting them early than about all the extra cameras and windows they were exposed to?

Also - where was the shooter while Liz went for Starbucks and returned home?
Or at any point between 2AM and ~6.45 AM?

 

[Diddian]

The timing is so crazy....

IMO, the timing is highly precise and, even though many steps were taken to avoid detection, the acts taken by the murderer were highly risky. Someone was very motivated to kill EB and was comfortable with those risks.

Examples:

• The murderer parked far enough from the Barraza's driveway that the murderer had to run to it after shooting. Had neighbors actually happened to have been watching and seen the shooting (rather than merely heard it), that opened up the possibility the shooter would himself/herself be shot by or his/her truck disabled by a neighbor-witness.
• The truck was captured on video and its drive-by after the murder was witnessed by a neighbor. So LE knows color, make, and model of the truck as well as some of its features.
• Even if in disguise, the murderer was captured on neighbor's video, which might not provide details, but does provide general information (size - height and girth, gait, how the murderer moves when carefully and quickly approaching as well as when moving quickly and climbing into/out of truck). You can't fake height and when in a hurry, it is difficult to fake gait.
• Even though speaking quietly, the murderer's voice was captured on the nest cam and the murderer kept his/her voice quiet (indicating they knew the nest camera was there - valuable information).
• Given how quickly neighbors responded (IIRC, 3 heard and reported the shots) and the fact that the truck drove by again after the murderer, the departing truck and its driver could have been witnessed by dash cams of authorities as they approached the scene.

ETA: Initially, I figured the murderer was willing to take those risks because they knew it would be difficult to make a connection between them and EB - assuming they were third or fourth party, hired directly or through another person for the hit and otherwise having no connection to EB. However, IF the late change in plans was a factor in choosing this particular opportunity to carry out the hit when EB would be out there early and alone, then I have to believe the murderer(s) hired for the hit are local, so connections would be easier to track down than if they were from some distance away. (ETA: Although if they were "fourth party" rather than "third party," detection would still be difficult... but at the same time, the more parties involved, the more likely one of them talks or slips up in some way.)

I expect LE probably had to approach this from two angles - following the evidence that could be gathered from the scene and video evidence AND consideration of theorized motives of anyone who does have connections to EB, starting first with those closest to her and moving out from there, with particular attention to anyone who has demonstrated character flaws (such as abusing or using others for personal gain).