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

[Breezyflavor]

We are lucky enough to have posters from all walks of life with a broad spectrum of expertise. Some hold specialized knowledge that applies to the various circumstances of the cases we discuss, and can contribute valuable insight and information. We welcome their participation.

To ensure accuracy, WS employs a verification process for those who are professionals or case insiders (relatives, friends, etc.). You can submit a request to be verified by contacting [email protected] with your Websleuths name, your real name, the case, a telephone number, and the times when you can be reached.

If you are a "professional" or "case insider", but would prefer not to be verified, please understand that you will be required to follow the general rules for posting, and back up your statements with links to appropriate sources.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

…

We have cases where the police may have a guess, and there is a feeling but something is amiss to create the full picture. I hope that detective Richie will find this missing detail.

MOO it appears to me that person is Sergio — they’ve basically said as much (the statements they made on the most recent televised interview, where they said they couldn’t find any evidence to tie Sergio to it; the statement mentioned earlier in this thread from the recent detective interview where he said he was unhappy that Sergio got to see the crime scene; and the statement made early on that he parents should be prepared to be devastated). But of course, I acknowledge that a spouse will always be a suspect, so that’s not necessarily an indication they have evidence against him.

But thinking back to both the Idaho 4 and Mollie Tibbets murders, I recall they cleared the ex-boyfriend/current boyfriend publicly early on — I know for sure they did in the Mollie Tibbets case at least. So while I recognize that different law enforcement agencies behave differently, it’s noteworthy to me that they make statements to the public that convey a continued suspicion of him, notwithstanding the fact they admitted they couldn’t find any evidence.

Seems like some others connected to Sergio could have conceivably had some motives too.

I remain curious about that car that was pulled over, and I don’t think they’ve revealed anything specific about how far they were able to track the car on camera after — my recollection is only a vague statement.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Goddard school move and Sergio’s simultaneous leaving was a coincidence, since they were there basically just long enough to turn around then just relocated out of sight. But there nonetheless seems to be no question they were waiting for him to leave. Could they have seen him drive by from their subsequent waiting spot? Wouldn’t need access to his cameras then, as some suspected.

If you assume that is true, how would they know 1) Sergio was still home that morning and 2) would be leaving? They didn’t drive by morning of to see him there helping her I don’t think, only the early morning drive through. And my understanding is he didn’t leave at the typical time that morning. My recollection is he usually left earlier, but can someone recall with a reliable source? I think there have been inconsistent things said on that.

In all events, if you believe the driver was waiting for Sergio to leave (as I do), that seems to rule out a random murder for me, as well as an acquaintance. It would point to Sergio, but those close enough to him could theoretically have details about Sergio’s timing that day too.

What happened to the car is such a mystery. Would be interesting to know the lengths they went to check out owners of cars and rental records. I don’t know how broadly they can obtain subpoenas, or how many man hours they’re willing to devote to a potential path that is time consuming and may not lead anywhere (that is, investigating every owner with a potential tie to someone connected to Liz.

Wonder what that evidence they’re referring to is! Maybe something like a boot print? Next to useless to use to identify someone, but a match to someone would have enough evidentiary value to be introduced at trial I think. The other ideas I’m coming to with either offer some potential for leading to identification, or are too speculative that they could be useful evidence at trial once the perpetrator is identified (e.g. you can tie a bullet to a gun, but you’d still have to tie the gun to the suspect).

Just my current MOO musings.

 

[FromGermany1]

I just have read for the first time, that SB sometimes drove his sedan and sometimes the work van on his way to work (the van also at the evening before to get home, logically).

Did the night-driver do his "exploration tour", because he wanted to see, if Sergio had parked the work van outside the home? Then the killer would have known, which car to expect the following morning, when waiting near the Barraza home for Sergio to leave.

Maybe, this info was important enough to drive "miles away" in the middle of the night? Idk, because I'm no murderer in the making just as the killer in the midnight-car could have been.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I think someone very ,very close to her wanted her gone. JMO

I think that is highly possible, but presumably, law-enforcement has ruled those people out?

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[MURDERER_SERVANT]

That.

Also, what can one say about Liz’ reaction to the person? A guy or a woman walking around garage sales in a drag at 7 am would be mildly surprising, even if you are in cosplaying business. Does Liz look surprised? I think she looks aware, there is something she didn’t like, even initially, but i think it was something different.

When I first watched , the first thing that drew my attention was the rage and a kind of challenging and scolding demeanor of the murderer plus the heartless last shot was to finish her forever .

As for Liz, my guess is she didn’t recognize
it ,wasn’t expecting anyone so early and hence a skeptical ‘Good morning ‘ was what i could hear . She was startled by the gun, stepped back as a reflex , and a few words probably to stop it . It certainly was an horrible attack planned minute by minute .
My guess is that , it was coordinated and carried out by at least two people .

 

[arielilane]

Sgt. Ritchie stated that he was unhappy about SB seeing the crime scene. First Ive heard about this and it got me thinking about how it took this man what seemed like forever to get to the hospital to be with his wife, Liz. He had already been released by LE and was free to leave the crime scene; however, he chose to stick around to talk with neighbors/media? jmo

• Early Morning [06:52:20 - 06:52:50 AM] Liz says “Good Morning” and then the murderer speaks to her for about 6 seconds. There are 3 quick shots and then a fourth shot delivered point blank once Liz has collapsed to the driveway. (This incident in all takes approximately 30 seconds.)
• Morning [Approximately 9:15 AM] (New Details) Liz’s brother Robert and his wife Amanda arrive at Memorial Hermann while she is in the Emergency Room. Bob and Rosemary meet up with Robert and Amanda with a doctor for a briefing in a private waiting room.
• Early Morning [Unknown] After she is transferred to the Shock Trauma ICU (STICU) the Precinct 4 Constable guards her room until Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Investigator Alfred Vera (Homicide) arrives to take overwatch.
• Morning [Unknown] While in the Shock Trauma ICU Liz is maintained on life support while tests are conducted by the trauma department staff.
• Afternoon Sergio and his mother arrive at the STICU.

Timeline

default description

whokilledlizbarraza.com

 

[arielilane]

Timestamp 31:03

GW (reporter) and the killer shows up

BN: so in according to the timeline.
It is just a few moments. It might be two or three minutes Max.
And so

GW: they were waiting.

BN: They they were, they were in the neighborhood. They had originally.
They had originally pulled into the Goddard School at the front of the subdivision and then for some reason.
Either because they say they expect suspect that there was a camera or there were a lot of parents
coming by with kids they left. And they went down to another entrance where they pulled in
and that entrance gave them visibility on the main exit and.

RN: According to the timeline, though. The truck leaves Goddard school.
Seconds before Sergio left the house, yeah. So they knew it was could it?
Could it? It's very possible and we don't know this for a fact, but it's very possible that.
Sergio, when he left the subdivision, he was directly behind
the truck but didn't see, didn't think anything of it. But I mean it's that close of a time
period when they're actually leaving the subdivision and then they. So that's why we we kind
of think that either they, they were waiting to see him leave and got nervous.

BN: For whatever reason or they decided
that he was leaving soon and they were going to get in position. We we don't know,
but it's like literally sergios out of the neighborhood. Probably less than a minute.

GW: And then that killer pulls up. You see the truck, you see them get out, they leave the car running.

Yes, the truck, yes. And approach Liz on the driveway. Well, they're actually,
they actually start off in the grass just just to cut across the grass on the side,
right, just to the to the to, I guess.

It's very they get on her driveway very quickly, but they do cut across the grass on the West side of her house.
But.

Yeah, they're, I mean. It's it's it's very quick.

Jan. 26, 2023

 

[friendlysleuther]

I think that is highly possible, but presumably, law-enforcement has ruled those people out?

Amateur opinion and speculation

eh,

They're probably just continuing to collect evidence until its more than enough for a trial

IMO

 

[fridaybaker]

Do we know what time Sergio was released that morning?

 

[DTPeke]

Do we know what time Sergio was released that morning?

No, only Detective Ritchies feelings, and I wanted to add something new in red.

"when I released him, he still kind of stuck around to talk with neighbors with media, if that was me and my wife was shot and barely alive, I would be getting to the hospital as soon as I could if that was my wife fighting for her life." - Paula Zahn episode

What is also important and interesting, Detective Ritchie knows Liz will not survive the shooting, while he interviews Sergio.

True Crime Unsolved, 9/2025
2:40, "and we got the call that early Friday morning. Originally, our VCU investigators were called out, VCU's violent crimes unit because she was shot, but she was still alive and then once they determined that she was not going to survive her wounds, they called us."

&

4:56, "by the time we got there because again, as you understand, it takes a little time for us to to get called out there. You know, EMS and patrol deputies respond first.

It takes them a little while to make a call and then of course, Violent Crimes was called first and then we were called. So, when I first got there, I was kind of walked through the scene by the two VCU investigators that were already there and they pointed out the husband, Sergio, who was standing outside the car, and that was one thing that I was kind of a little frustrated with, they were letting him, the constables were letting him sit and kind of stand outside of a car that was pretty much parked almost in front of the house, so he could see everything; he could see the blood running down the driveway and a lot of times in those situations we don't like the witnesses being able to look at the scene. So that was out of my control at the time and then the next thing that I was told is that hey there's video of this whole thing and I was like great. So, they walked me across the street kind of cadi corner to a home, and I met with Sergio for a moment, introduced myself and just said, "Hey, I'm going to go check out this video and then I'm going to come back and talk to you."

*******
It's hard for me to believe he did not emphasize the severity of her condition to Sergio. I assume he did not tell him directly of her impending death (life support) from his quote above: barely alive, fighting for her life.

I don't believe he hung around for hours but me I am leaving as soon as I can, I'd probably ask LE to drive me with sirens blazing.

I do believe he was held as long as they could, i.e. for questioning, phone data dump, nest cam access, GSR test (gunshot residue), full access to house (reported that investigators where there late into the evening removing items from the house).

It takes an hour from Tomball to Memorial Herman DT.

also noted Sergio is told of the additional footage early by Ritchie. That's where he makes a beeline to, once released. In the dash cam video, you can also hear him question the crowd in that particular driveway.

Sergio later said in an interview how you hear of gunshot victims surviving all the time, I never expected to get to the hospital and find out she wasn't going to make it. Wonder what Ritchie thought of that.

 

[MURDERER_SERVANT]

Edited.

 

[fridaybaker]

People survive gunshots at all the time. They also die from them all the time.

 

[DTPeke]

Oh there was also a woman named Joanna Hayes in Georgia who killed her daughter-in-law in a parking lot next to her car- custody dispute, and Joanna dressed as a man wearing a wig and mustache.

that one was interesting. the son recognized his own disguised mother from grainy Target footage, after one viewing.

if only Liz's case could be so lucky,

eyewitnesses were mixed some thinking it was a man, others a woman. She used a wig and fake mustache. The interesting thing about disguises: a woman made herself look like a man...in our case possibly a man disguised as a woman? I'm still unsure.

Clown case added an extra lawyer of cruelty, as the victim loved clowns. Liz's killer could be donning a very bad low-grade attempt at Star Wars; they could take pleasure in committing the act in the get-up, to be cruel and smug thinking how clever they are.

 

[flowershop]

At 48 minutes 34 sec into the Det. Ritchie interview, Det. Ritchie talks about a grand jury subpoena that he describes as another angle to try to solve the case. He called it semi-confidential. Interesting.

Any of you WSers know of how this could solve a murder case? Has it solved one in the past?

 

[DTPeke]

At 48 minutes 34 sec into the Det. Ritchie interview, Det. Ritchie talks about a grand jury subpoena that he describes as another angle to try to solve the case. He called it semi-confidential. Interesting.

Any of you WSers know of how this could solve a murder case? Has it solved one in the past?

Yes!, exciting he said the results are interesting.

A GJ subpoena won’t solve the case, but help build a case, at this stage it sounds like the grand jury is being used as an investigatory tool.

The prosecutor can use a grand jury to uncover suspects, develop a case further, test theory, vet timelines, strengthen a case, compel and preserve testimony, and issue subpoenas on their behalf.

(Ritchie mentioned records) your guess is as good as mine to which ones.

A grand jury also has the cloak of secrecy, a target or suspect is not alerted.

Eventually all felony cases in Texas are presented to a grand jury for indictment, there is no defense present, solely the prosecutor presenting the case. 9 of 12 jurors need to agree the prosecutor has proven probable cause to indict.

 

[arielilane]

Sept 12 is the next video by True Crime Unsolved; and they continue their talk with Sergeant Michael Ritchie. As we know SB said he put up the garage sale signs up that (Jan. 25, 2019) morning; and later he claimed he put them up the night (Jan 24) before.

Sgt. Ritchie will clear up this discrepancy as to exactly when the garage sale signs were put up, or if the signs were put out at all.

moo

 

[arielilane]

The Unsolved Murder of Liz Barraza - Interview with Detective Sgt. Michael Ritchie, Part 2​

In Part 2 of our exclusive interview, Sgt. Michael Ritchie, lead investigator in the Liz Barraza homicide case, returns to discuss crucial insights, new angles, and the emotional weight of a case that continues to haunt the community.

We explore the Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigation, public speculation about suspects including people in Liz's immediate circle, and the ongoing fight to keep her story alive in hopes of one day bringing her killer to justice.

Elizabeth was shot and killed in her driveway in Tomball, Texas on January 25, 2019—just one day before a planned anniversary trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The case remains unsolved.

 

[realanastasia]

The Unsolved Murder of Liz Barraza - Interview with Detective Sgt. Michael Ritchie, Part 2​

In Part 2 of our exclusive interview, Sgt. Michael Ritchie, lead investigator in the Liz Barraza homicide case, returns to discuss crucial insights, new angles, and the emotional weight of a case that continues to haunt the community.

We explore the Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigation, public speculation about suspects including people in Liz's immediate circle, and the ongoing fight to keep her story alive in hopes of one day bringing her killer to justice.

Elizabeth was shot and killed in her driveway in Tomball, Texas on January 25, 2019—just one day before a planned anniversary trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The case remains unsolved.

Just starting to listen to this. Ritchie says that Sergio's dad lied to him when he characterized his infidelity as involving sex workers/prostitutes, when in reality he had semi-serious *girlfriends* on the side. And he was, apparently, funneling money to the girlfriends to cover their expenses.

If Liz was PO'd about the fact that she and Sergio had to actually take money from their own accounts to cover some bounced paychecks issued by Sergio's dad to his workers, then knowing that he was sliding money into the pockets of his girlfriends surely would've made her even more angry. If one of Sergio's dad's girlfriends knew that Liz was giving Sergio's dad a hard time about money/threatening to make it impossible for Sergio's dad to continue giving money to his girlfriends, could she have been angry enough to murder Liz?

 

[Megnut]

Just starting to listen to this. Ritchie says that Sergio's dad lied to him when he characterized his infidelity as involving sex workers/prostitutes, when in reality he had semi-serious *girlfriends* on the side. And he was, apparently, funneling money to the girlfriends to cover their expenses.

If Liz was PO'd about the fact that she and Sergio had to actually take money from their own accounts to cover some bounced paychecks issued by Sergio's dad to his workers, then knowing that he was sliding money into the pockets of his girlfriends surely would've made her even more angry. If one of Sergio's dad's girlfriends knew that Liz was giving Sergio's dad a hard time about money/threatening to make it impossible for Sergio's dad to continue giving money to his girlfriends, could she have been angry enough to murder Liz?

Or a ring out from there. Someone in the girlfriend's sphere who knew she was upset and thought murdering Liz would solve the problem for her, without her ever requesting or endorsing it.

JMO

 

[tomatotraveler]

I have always, always thought that when the murderer in this case is uncovered it’s going to be someone very close to her.

And likely not a “jealous” or “disgruntled” fellow Star Wars cosplayer.