TX TX - Elizabeth Barraza, 29, murdered setting up garage sale, Harris Co, Jan 2019 #7

[somequestions]

Based on the known evidence in this case, it is very difficult to determine if Elizabeth Barraza knew her killer.
If this person knew about all the surveillance cameras, they took a big risk hoping none of the surveillance cameras were clear enough to recognize them or their truck. I think that could point to it being someone from outside the area who does not know the neighborhood. It is very difficult to determine if the killer was or was not from the neighborhood.

Motive is the big problem with this case. Someone took a lot of risks to commit murder. My profile of the murderer is speculation.

From the surveillance video, it looks like the murderer is only a few inches taller than the height of Elizabeth Barraza. As they walk it looks like they have a right foot drag that corrects itself like they sweep their right foot before straightening it out. This person looks to have good posture and stands up very straight. Their choice of using a more rugged vehicle to commit the crime could mean they like the outdoors or that they might have been in the police or military. The poor shooting might not reflect this. I think whoever it was knew Elizabeth was not going to be going into work that day due to the 2 am surveillance before any of the garage sale items were set up. The fact that they came back into the neighborhood at 6:48am only a few minutes before the actual murder could mean they already had a good idea about when either Elizabeth or Sergio left for work. At the time of the murder, they may have only recently moved to the Houston Tomball area as it did not seem like they knew the area too well. In my opinion, the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X may have been put in a storage unit after the crime and may have had expired license plates. I think a killer like this would eventually return to the scene of the crime.

 

[Charlot123]

I just got another question. Yesterday while doing a 3-point turn, I thought about a personal problem - I feel uncomfortable in large and wide cars. It is about not feeling the sides very well, so unless I know I have a wide space, I am not even going to park.

So considering how and where they parked and drove, and waited, having to turn and drive back, is it possible that the car was too large for them, that it was not their “usual” car and that in general, they are lousy drivers?

 

[somequestions]

I just got another question. Yesterday while doing a 3-point turn, I thought about a personal problem - I feel uncomfortable in large and wide cars. It is about not feeling the sides very well, so unless I know I have a wide space, I am not even going to park.

So considering how and where they parked and drove, and waited, having to turn and drive back, is it possible that the car was too large for them, that it was not their “usual” car and that in general, they are lousy drivers?

This is a perplexing case due to how each of us interprets the evidence, even when there is surveillance video evidence.

For example, if it was a conspiracy that somehow Elizabeth's husband was involved, he would have to make sure that this person was not seen on the Nest doorbell camera. When Elizabeth and Sergio are moving the garage sale items onto the driveway before the murder, is this why he put the treadmill where he did on the driveway so Elizabeth would not be standing in that area and this person would not be recorded on the Nest doorbell camera?

I want to state I do not think Sergio was involved in the crime. it definitely does not look like that is him in the neighbor's surveillance video of the murder.

Or am I looking at something so closely and trying to interpret a meaning from it when in reality it has no meaning? Maybe the simple answer is that is just where Elizabeth and Sergio placed the treadmill once they moved it out of the garage? The killer, who almost was seen in the Nest doorbell video, got lucky they were not seen on the Nest doorbell camera footage.

 

[CrimeTheorist]

I read here someone say she had decals on her car and also she and SB would sell them as well. I've often felt that the decal on the side of the truck was added to help disguise it. So I wonder if the person that did this either bought a decal from them (not necessarily the one that was on the truck) and were unhappy with the transaction or sold decals themselves and didn't like that they were taking some of their business away. JMO

 

[rosesfromangels]

Question. Did the husband and his new wife continúe living in the same house where Elizabeth did?

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Danniesix]

I agree!

was or is the husband a suspect in this case?

 

[Bounceycat]

Question. Did the husband and his new wife continúe living in the same house where Elizabeth did?

Amateur opinion and speculation

He listed it for sale in June 2019 and it sold two months later. His new wife never lived in it with him.

 

[rosesfromangels]

He listed it for sale in June 2019 and it sold two months later. His new wife never lived in it with him.

Good. I would have been afraid to stay there, given i dont think this was random. Strange case.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[poppyquiche]

This case is INFURIATING. How is there still no justice for Liz???

I don’t think the resolution to this case is going to be something crazy and way out of left field. She was clearly targeted. Given the circumstances with the yard sale it seems virtually impossible that she was executed by a hitman due to a case of mistaken identity.

I feel like it’s gotta be something that is going to fit right in alongside a million other similar cases here on WS.

No matter what, I hope whoever did this to her is not sleeping easy, and gets what’s coming to them soon.

 

[arielilane]

In the second video (at link) the decal on Liz’s car is visible. I supposed it’s Star Wars related but cant be sure, as I am not a SW/Harry Potter fan. Not sure if there are any other decals on Liz’s car.

Didnt know the Barraza's sold decals, anyone have a link to that information? Id be interested to know more. However, theres so much about them that I didnt know. Thank you in advance.


Justice for Liz Barraza

Reward increased to $50K for tips to solve 2019 murder of Tomball woman killed before garage sale

Three years ago today, the 29-year-old was gunned down in her own driveway while setting up for a garage sale. Her killer is still out there.

abc13.com

1/25/2022

 

[CrimeTheorist]

In the second video (at link) the decal on Liz’s car is visible. I supposed it’s Star Wars related but cant be sure, as I am not a SW/Harry Potter fan. Not sure if there are any other decals on Liz’s car.

Didnt know the Barraza's sold decals, anyone have a link to that information? Id be interested to know more. However, theres so much about them that I didnt know. Thank you in advance.


Justice for Liz Barraza

Reward increased to $50K for tips to solve 2019 murder of Tomball woman killed before garage sale

Three years ago today, the 29-year-old was gunned down in her own driveway while setting up for a garage sale. Her killer is still out there.

abc13.com

1/25/2022

On the previous page (February 27) a poster named Sunrise-at-9pm posted that they knew them and they sold decals.

 

[somequestions]

On the previous page (February 27) a poster named Sunrise-at-9pm posted that they knew them and they sold decals.

I do not think one person murders another over decals. The video surveillance was so short in length that I do not even think Elizabeth Barraza would have had time to read even a short note. If she was given or shown something by the killer, it had to be a picture. The other possibility is she either knew her killer personally but had no time to react to recognize them or did not know her killer at all.

From when the killer pulls the gun from their robe and Elizabeth recognizes they have a gun to when the killer fires the first shot, I counted 6 seconds. I think whoever the killer was had determined she was going to be murdered even if it meant they might get seen.

The only real clue seems to be the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X truck. I was surprised police were never able to narrow down an owner who had some sort of association with Elizabeth Barraza. I think the killer is probably a woman who likes to go camping and visit state and national parks.

 

[CrimeTheorist]

I do not think one person murders another over decals. The video surveillance was so short in length that I do not even think Elizabeth Barraza would have had time to read even a short note. If she was given or shown something by the killer, it had to be a picture. The other possibility is she either knew her killer personally but had no time to react to recognize them or did not know her killer at all.

From when the killer pulls the gun from their robe and Elizabeth recognizes they have a gun to when the killer fires the first shot, I counted 6 seconds. I think whoever the killer was had determined she was going to be murdered even if it meant they might get seen.

The only real clue seems to be the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X truck. I was surprised police were never able to narrow down an owner who had some sort of association with Elizabeth Barraza. I think the killer is probably a woman who likes to go camping and visit state and national parks.

People have murderer people for less, obviously the real reason would be because the person is evil or severely mentally ill but in their head that possible transaction or scenario could be the motive.

Personally, I don't believe she was given a note or shown anything.

The thing with the Nissan Pro-4X truck is that this murder seemed so calculated in terms of the earlier stakeout, the timing and the revolver being used that I've always felt that the killer wasn't going to let police know the make of the truck they used so they disguised it, even a Nissan dealer said they weren't sure if it was a Frontier or a Desert Runner. So could it have been a Desert Runner with a Pro-4X decal on the side? I don't know but if the truck was a Pro-4X than I think it must have either been borrowed or stolen so there was no connection to the killer. JMO

 

[CrimeTheorist]

I just listened to EB's father on a podcast called The Force Within You by John Shadle, it was from a few years ago. I feel like everyone should check it out, (it's on YouTube) he's such a good storyteller and it's very inspiring. I will feel awful if it turns out her killer was a member of the 501st legion, with what it means to him now and how he talks of them. SB also did an interview on the podcast around the same time but he didn't talk much about Liz. He seems like a really good guy and I'd be really surprised if he had anything to do with it. I thought he might have been involved earlier on but I no longer think so.

 

[arielilane]

I just listened to EB's father on a podcast called The Force Within You by John Shadle, it was from a few years ago. I feel like everyone should check it out, (it's on YouTube) he's such a good storyteller and it's very inspiring. I will feel awful if it turns out her killer was a member of the 501st legion, with what it means to him now and how he talks of them. SB also did an interview on the podcast around the same time but he didn't talk much about Liz. He seems like a really good guy and I'd be really surprised if he had anything to do with it. I thought he might have been involved earlier on but I no longer think so.

Thank you, @CrimeTheorist for the heads up. Im going to check out both of them. Looks like there are two separate videos that were done three years ago. Interesting, you say that SB, doesnt talk much about Liz, but he did move on fairly quickly. jmo

 

[Marzipan]

I do not think one person murders another over decals. The video surveillance was so short in length that I do not even think Elizabeth Barraza would have had time to read even a short note. If she was given or shown something by the killer, it had to be a picture. The other possibility is she either knew her killer personally but had no time to react to recognize them or did not know her killer at all.

From when the killer pulls the gun from their robe and Elizabeth recognizes they have a gun to when the killer fires the first shot, I counted 6 seconds. I think whoever the killer was had determined she was going to be murdered even if it meant they might get seen.

The only real clue seems to be the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X truck. I was surprised police were never able to narrow down an owner who had some sort of association with Elizabeth Barraza. I think the killer is probably a woman who likes to go camping and visit state and national parks.

I may be reading I to this bolded (by me) part but it seems to bring up the possibility that the shooter acted under duress. I agree he or she did it at great risk. I wonder if the motivation is their own or if they were made to do it under some sort of threat. Not my primary thought here — just an idea that hasn’t been discussed much recently.
Also curious about why you mention camping and state parks.

 

[Sunrise-at-9pm]

You say a .380 revolver. In a revolver, .380 would be exceptionally rare, as the .380 caliber, also know as .380.acp or the 9mm short/kurz, was designed strictly for semiautomatic pistols. Firearms designed for .380 are usually semiautomatic pistols. In a revolver, a .38 caliber cartridge is very common. The .38 is a longer cartridge of similar diameter to the .380. If a revolver that fired .380 was used, it was a very unusual firearm that might be identifiable. If a semiautomatic was used, there would likely be empty ejected cases on the ground. If it was a revolver, the empty cases would remain in the cylinder. Is the type of weapon known?

Yes, I'm very aware of the difference. 38 special and 380 have different bullet weights. 380 has been talked about for years, presumably because the recovered bullets have been looked at and weighed. 380 revolvers do exist, even cheap options from brands like Taurus are around. This is Texas where millions of CCW permits have been issued, and we've had constitutional carry since 2021. Tons of small ccw pistols are sold, even to many people who end up never carrying them. I'm not so sure that the caliber is so 'rare' that it would make the firearm otherwise identifiable. Even if the shooter had used something super rare, lets say 9.8x23 SR. Would that help you actually find this person?

Even if it was a 38 special, I'm not sure it changes the conversation at all. There's nothing in that video that tells me this person has any real proficiency with a handgun.

The killer seemed to have a burner phone and even a burner Nissan Frontier, so its hard to imagine they were the original owner of the gun and had a 4473 for it on file somewhere.

 

[Warwick1991]

Yes, I'm very aware of the difference. 380 revolvers do exist, even cheap options from brands like Taurus are around. This is Texas where millions of CCW permits have been issued, and we've had constitutional carry since 2021. Tons of small ccw pistols are sold, even to many people who end up never carrying them. I'm not so sure that the caliber is so 'rare' that it would make the firearm otherwise identifiable. Even if the shooter had used something super rare, lets say 9.8x23 SR. Would that help you actually find this person?

38 special and 380 have different bullet weights. 380 has been talked about for years, presumably because the recovered bullets have been looked at and weighed.

Even if it was a 38 special, I'm not sure it changes the conversation at all. There's nothing in that video that tells me this person has any real proficiency with a handgun.

I have never seen the caliber of the murder weapon identified. I think it is a LE hold back. I only found one Internet source that indicated that Liz was killed with a .380 revolver, but I don't see anything indicating that website was credible.

I haven't seen any discussion on Websleuths on the recovered bullet weight.

Also, from what I've read, gun owners who choose a .380 revolver are often people who own a .380 semi-automatic - another platform for the same cartridge.

I am not confident that handgun proficiency - or lack of it - is really going to help identify a suspect

 

[somequestions]

I may be reading I to this bolded (by me) part but it seems to bring up the possibility that the shooter acted under duress. I agree he or she did it at great risk. I wonder if the motivation is their own or if they were made to do it under some sort of threat. Not my primary thought here — just an idea that hasn’t been discussed much recently.
Also curious about why you mention camping and state parks.

The mention of camping and state parks was about someone I knew. A woman I worked with liked going camping and visiting state parks. She was very intelligent, but going camping and visiting state parks was her passion. It had nothing to do with her career.

It does not mean the murderer of Elizabeth Barraza thinks the same way as the woman I knew. It was that the vehicle involved in this crime, a Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, reminded me of someone who might like that type of outdoor activity. I thought this also might be a reason to have a secondary vehicle. It would surprise me if the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X was the killer's daily vehicle. I think they would have considered that police might be looking all over for it.

 

[Charlot123]

We don't have garage sales in our neighborhood that often. People who organize them tell me they often write "estate sale" to attract customers. I wonder what Liz put on their ad. Seldom, but not impossible, someone can show up to mug or kill for a big game and just go up with the plan out of frustration.

I understand that most likely, she was targeted, but there are always exceptions that confirm the rules.