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

[ilovewings]

I've noticed in other cases police will sometimes clear a person because they passed a lie detector test or they didn't seem like a bad person. Hopefully that's not the situation here. I feel like they need to interrogate someone and not just ask them questions politely but grill people that may be involved to get answers.

We all know that sociopaths can pass lie detector tests and innocent people don't always pass. I don't like how some detectives rely so heavily on this test-- More intelligent detectives know it is a tool to be used in addition to other evidence.

 

[Cryptic]

Only Sally had the time to plan. One thing I believe, I do believe Liz's parents. And if they say it was a carefully planned execution, then the episode Sally got angry about could have happened a while ago.

Liz seemed to be a pretty socially involved girl.

I wonder if they had a recent high school reunion? If so, was Liz involved with the planning and / or maybe had a large role at the reunion- say a "Mistress of Ceremonies" type role?

"Sally" had a grudge from high school days- that was then escalated by something that was said, or had occurred at the reunion?

 

[arielilane]

What do you think is not a coincidence…LE stopping the dark truck? Or the driver being free to go? Just curious.

I dont think there are any coincidences when it comes to murder. period.

Somehow there is a connection w/that truck or driver or both... Did someone switch a vehicle or driver? Dont want to make it too complicated, I believe the answers to this horrible crime are in the first 20 or so pages of the investigation.

All my own opinion.

 

[ilovewings]

I dont think there are any coincidences when it comes to murder. period.

Somehow there is a connection w/that truck or driver or both... Did someone switch a vehicle or driver? Dont want to make it too complicated, I believe the answers to this horrible crime are in the first 20 or so pages of the investigation.

All my own opinion.

It is soooo frustrating that they have not solved this case-- with the video and the vehicle, they should be able to solve it.

 

[arielilane]

Wouldn't the detective have already chased down that lead? Did LE not take a license plate to interview the individual driving that truck to rule them in or out? What do.we know or not know about that situation?

Honestly though it doesn't seem like much exploring of her other work place has been discussed much and it's never been mentioned by LE from what I have found. Feel that is a route that needs to be explorered since all others have had zero true leads to show for it in all these years....still not even an MO....there has to be another avenue that just hasn't been explored that would reveal the MO.

Welcome!
Agree. LB's part time employment is a concern, imo. However, as you are aware we aren't privy to LE's findings.

 

[arielilane]

I actually think the truck may be in Mexico

Or someone's garage. jmo

 

[Marie A]

I’m back to the idea that this was a gang initiation or an evil perp looking for a random victim and trolling Tomball Texas that fateful morning.
Liz could simply have been at the wrong place/ wrong time.

I completely understand why people would think this was targeted (and I think the exploration of her work associates is totally valuable) but many times violent crime doesn’t fit any type of a mold.

I really like @TraxMaster’s thoughts that this could have been someone driving their dad’s truck or similar.

Example- overkill stabbing during a rape that appears very personal but was totally random - the rapist just looking for a target and his victim angered him by not cooperating.
People sometimes think for years that a particular crime is personal/ targeted when it is simply and inexplicably random.
There are so many angry people these days. It seems to be getting worse- just drive through any city and experience the anger of random drivers if you aren’t going fast enough or get in their way. A lot of people seem to have pent up rage.

My personal gut feeling - for several reasons- is that this was more random and less “targeted.” I think that this could have been a crime committed by a perp who had mental issues and wanted to “play out” a personal fantasy of shooting someone.

History will eventually tell us that the proliferation of grossly violent video games were favored and regular play for the vast majority of underage school shooters.
This perp could be someone of a similar age and mindset.

All IMHO

 

[Charlot123]

That's why I asked the question to arielilane bc she doesn't think that the truck that was pulled over by LE should be ruled out. So that is why I was asking if we actually KNOW the reason they were let go? Did LE ever state the reason?
But yes Charlot123 I would think the ABCs you listed would be the reason they did let them go as well.

The police said the passenger(s) “had a valid reason to be there at that time”. Whatever it meant.

 

[lonewanderer]

The police said the passenger(s) “had a valid reason to be there at that time”. Whatever it meant.

I once speculated the driver of the pulled over Nissan had a baby or carseat made to look like a baby.

I don't think that's the case anymore, as I have learned the driver was a male and it was roughly 7am.

I do, however, still strongly believe a baby (real or fake) was in the shooters truck (and the shooter was female) as the cover to why they were driving around so early in the morning.

I think its why they pulled into the daycare. I think that the shooter is a mother.

There was an angle once I looked into about Liz and MLMs. I had theorized a desperate mother spent last money on an MLM that Liz got her involved with. The shooting was near Christmas so this may have stung very bad. The last straw was when Liz was going to Disney and living a good life. I don't believe any of this is true, it's just my imagination running wild.

 

[lonewanderer]

I’m back to the idea that this was a gang initiation or an evil perp looking for a random victim and trolling Tomball Texas that fateful morning.
Liz could simply have been at the wrong place/ wrong time.

I completely understand why people would think this was targeted (and I think the exploration of her work associates is totally valuable) but many times violent crime doesn’t fit any type of a mold.

I really like @TraxMaster’s thoughts that this could have been someone driving their dad’s truck or similar.

Example- overkill stabbing during a rape that appears very personal but was totally random - the rapist just looking for a target and his victim angered him by not cooperating.
People sometimes think for years that a particular crime is personal/ targeted when it is simply and inexplicably random.
There are so many angry people these days. It seems to be getting worse- just drive through any city and experience the anger of random drivers if you aren’t going fast enough or get in their way. A lot of people seem to have pent up rage.

My personal gut feeling - for several reasons- is that this was more random and less “targeted.” I think that this could have been a crime committed by a perp who had mental issues and wanted to “play out” a personal fantasy of shooting someone.

History will eventually tell us that the proliferation of grossly violent video games were favored and regular play for the vast majority of underage school shooters.
This perp could be someone of a similar age and mindset.

All IMHO

I do not think the person who shot Liz was anywhere close to being a minor.

There are some aspects I can agree with for this line of thinking, such as I think its most likely the shooter did not personally know Liz (or at least not well enough for Liz to recognize her).

I am certain the person who shot Liz knew Liz personally and had a hatred motive (like Kaityln Armstrong) or was sent to kill Liz in a very similar fashion to Dan Markle (given a picture or Dan, killers were bought by Dan's ex-wife and brother).

I also think there is potential for mistaken identity, much like Marry Morris and Daniel Ott.

 

[Charlot123]

Liz seemed to be a pretty socially involved girl.

I wonder if they had a recent high school reunion? If so, was Liz involved with the planning and / or maybe had a large role at the reunion- say a "Mistress of Ceremonies" type role?

"Sally" had a grudge from high school days- that was then escalated by something that was said, or had occurred at the reunion?

The simplest thing.
Sally had a BF who once cheated on her with someone else and Liz, being a good friend, told Sally about it. Sally dropped him, and now the guy is in delusional world, feeling that “if only he had stayed with Sally”. Or vise versa, he achieved and Sally is unhappy in personal life and thinks, if only I were with Billy. You see, no one can find anything in Liz’s life that would be a reason for “rational” hatred. Warning a friend in this situation would not be viewed as negative by most. Perhaps no one can connect the dots because the person’s hatred is irrational. I think we are dealing with a rational situation and irrational reaction, but the person does not look capable of irrational behavior.

 

[TraxMaster]

Do we know who robbed them or what was taken when Liz and Sergio were robbed on their 3rd floor apartment that time? I'm really curious about that like.if maybe someone has been targeting Liz for some time. It could also be a pure coincidence too, but do we know more about what was taken? Seems weird to rob someone on the 3rd floor.

 

[Cryptic]

Perhaps no one can connect the dots because the person’s hatred is irrational. I think we are dealing with a rational situation and irrational reaction, but the person does not look capable of irrational behavior.

I think this is an excellent summary. Short and too the point.

Whomever "Steve" / "Sally" is (murderer "vibes" relatively big boned, but athletic female to me), they are, as you stated "invisible in everyday sight".

Likewise, though they may have a few "edges", they do not, as you stated, present themselves as an inherently aggressive or strongly jealous person on a day to day basis. This allows them to "fly under the radar".

Even still, I am thinking that there are a limited number of places for the "invisible man / woman to hide in:

- Family: (not likely in my opinion as there are simply not that many people for the person to hide amongst)
- Work: (Ditto, not likely in my opinion. The victim did not have firing authority and was not ladder climber

More likely in my opinion:

- Cosplay: One forum member stated that in her cosplay genre, there are a visible minority of participants who derive nearly all esteem, social position and even chose family from the cosplay world. Then again, another forum member said that his experience in Cosplay was that of a big, happy nerdy family sans alot of drama.

- High school: Larger number of people with all kinds of personalities. Alot of potential drama issues.

- Online: Evidently both victim and husband had extensive on line lives.

 

[TraxMaster]

I think this is an excellent summary. Short and too the point.

Whomever "Steve" / "Sally" is (murderer "vibes" relatively big boned, but athletic female to me), they are, as you stated "invisible in everyday sight".

Likewise, though they may have a few "edges", they do not, as you stated, present themselves as an inherently aggressive or strongly jealous person on a day to day basis. This allows them to "fly under the radar".

Even still, I am thinking that there are a limited number of places for the "invisible man / woman to hide in:

- Family: (not likely in my opinion as there are simply not that many people for the person to hide amongst)
- Work: (Ditto, not likely in my opinion. The victim did not have firing authority and was not ladder climber

More likely in my opinion:

- Cosplay: One forum member stated that in her cosplay genre, there are a visible minority of participants who derive nearly all esteem, social position and even chose family from the cosplay world. Then again, another forum member said that his experience in Cosplay was that of a big, happy nerdy family sans alot of drama.

- High school: Larger number of people with all kinds of personalities. Alot of potential drama issues.

- Online: Evidently both victim and husband had extensive on line lives.

She worked 2 jobs according to her LinkedIn. She worked part-time as a Supervisor at the Cool Kats Party Warehouse there in Spring. I would think as a Supervisor she had authority to fire people or write-them up etc... but idk 100%.

I agree though that this is someone that flies under the radar or someone Liz didn't directly know. I've often wondered if a coworker was in a bad relationship and confided in Liz and she told them to leave that other person etc... Maybe the bf/gf took revenge on Liz for telling their significant other to get out of the relationship.

 

[Cryptic]

She worked 2 jobs according to her LinkedIn. She worked part-time as a Supervisor at the Cool Kats Party Warehouse there in Spring. I would think as a Supervisor she had authority to fire people or write-them up etc... but idk 100%.

Good point about the supervisory position.

As for her ability to discipline, I think even a part time supervisor could do write ups. As with you, I dont know about actual firing authority though.

All in all, however, a work motive seems a lower possibility with me. Terminations at Cool Kats Party Warehouse might more "survivable" in regards to quickly obtaining a similar job than say, the victim having firing authority at American Airlines with the terminated person being a 5yr, 10yr employee etc.

 

[jessarox]

The timing of the garage sale is suspect. I stands out for me. Why have a garage sale just before a planned anniversary trip to Orlando?

I guess for the extra money needed for souvenirs? But, It is really suspect - imo. Especially since the sale wasn't advertised on Facebook, newspaper, or wherever a garage sale is advertised.

Iirc, Liz already had her things packed, and there are last minute things to pack. However, it feels like you already would have a million other things to do than to have a garage sale? Why a garage sale so close to leaving on a trip? I dont get it.

Did the killer and other(s) involved in the murder know about the garage sale and took that opportunity to kill Liz?

All speculative and a matter of opinion.

This is the thing I keep going back to as well. In my experience, a last minute garage sale is almost always because you're broke and need money ASAP. She also had 2 jobs which to me is a hint of potential money problems at some point in her past. Why have a second job if you aren't concerned about money?

I know that her parents said in an interview early on that she was very responsible with money and didn't have debt but people don't always tell their parents about the bad things going on in their lives. Elizabeth was a high achiever (she was on the dean's list at her college, for example) and it's possible that she held back any info that could be deemed as failing or embarrassing, like having money problems in the past.

The theory of money problems got me thinking, is it possible she owed someone money?

I think it's unlikely that she had recently borrowed money from someone because there would likely be records of that and the police would have investigated that person thoroughly.

But maybe someone had loaned her money a long time ago (high school or college?) and she never paid them back (maybe forgot about it or was even told not to worry about it) and the person who loaned her the money was enraged when they saw that she was going on a big expensive trip. If it was someone from a long time ago, she may not have recognized them at first (or at all) which would explain why she greeted them in a generic way instead of the more casual way you'd greet someone you know well.

Maybe what was shown to Elizabeth was a receipt or a voided check?

 

[lonewanderer]

The simplest thing.
Sally had a BF who once cheated on her with someone else and Liz, being a good friend, told Sally about it. Sally dropped him, and now the guy is in delusional world, feeling that “if only he had stayed with Sally”. Or vise versa, he achieved and Sally is unhappy in personal life and thinks, if only I were with Billy. You see, no one can find anything in Liz’s life that would be a reason for “rational” hatred. Warning a friend in this situation would not be viewed as negative by most. Perhaps no one can connect the dots because the person’s hatred is irrational. I think we are dealing with a rational situation and irrational reaction, but the person does not look capable of irrational behavior.

To me, this describes a Kaitlyn Armstrong type.

IMO, KA is one extremely attractive woman. She ran a yoga studio, had lots going for her on the surface.

Her actions were extremely irrational (and if your unfamiliar with her case, it’s extremely similar to Liz’s, in Texas too).

The way I see it, Kaitlyn would have been considered extremely irrational to do something as simple as slashing Mo’s bike tires. Instead, she did what she did with the flights, surgery, and attempts to hide out afterwards.

 

[lonewanderer]

This is the thing I keep going back to as well. In my experience, a last minute garage sale is almost always because you're broke and need money ASAP. She also had 2 jobs which to me is a hint of potential money problems at some point in her past. Why have a second job if you aren't concerned about money?

I know that her parents said in an interview early on that she was very responsible with money and didn't have debt but people don't always tell their parents about the bad things going on in their lives. Elizabeth was a high achiever (she was on the dean's list at her college, for example) and it's possible that she held back any info that could be deemed as failing or embarrassing, like having money problems in the past.

The theory of money problems got me thinking, is it possible she owed someone money?

I think it's unlikely that she had recently borrowed money from someone because there would likely be records of that and the police would have investigated that person thoroughly.

But maybe someone had loaned her money a long time ago (high school or college?) and she never paid them back (maybe forgot about it or was even told not to worry about it) and the person who loaned her the money was enraged when they saw that she was going on a big expensive trip. If it was someone from a long time ago, she may not have recognized them at first (or at all) which would explain why she greeted them in a generic way instead of the more casual way you'd greet someone you know well.

Maybe what was shown to Elizabeth was a receipt or a voided check?

This is very eerily similar to one scenario I imagined (with no real proof or substance, just imagining).

In this, Liz is involved in an MLM. She recruits a young mother near Christmas time. The young mother loses all her money, and when she sees Liz about to head to Disney while her kids are cold and hungry, she takes it out on Liz for what happened.

My biggest gripe with this is the timing. Knowing what we know about this case, I am thoroughly convinced that the shooter likely had Ring doorbell access, indicating this person knew Liz well (I have some problems with that) or was sent to kill Liz with Ring information accessible for timing and monitoring (indicating someone who knew Liz well had her killed).

I’ve gone into detail about Liz’s initial interaction with the shooter and it seems very likely Liz did not recognize them.

(this week anyways) I think Liz was most likely murdered in a very similar way to Dan Markle. Someone was given info about Liz and was paid to go to Liz’s house to shoot her. The person was likely fed the Ring and/or garage sale information.

The million dollar question for me; why did it seem SO important that Liz was killed while Sergio was not home?

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Is there anything new in this case?

 

[arielilane]

Is there anything new in this case?

Not that I am aware of at this time.