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

[Sjöberg]

Wait, so far, I have seen nothing to indicate that the killer knew about the garage sale at all, let alone of the father initially planning to join and then changing plans. Where is this assumption coming from?

The car initially drove past the house, then turned around 180 degrees, then parked near her. So this theoretically even gave the driver the opportunity to see the lone female outside alone, even if they had initially not planned to murder her specifically at all, just someone (no, I don't personaly think that's the case, but looking at the odd actions of the car it cannot be ruled out). What is more, if the attacker planned to wait for, say, Sergios car to leave and then attack, then they could have just attacked her as she enters/exits the car or rang the doorbell and got the same end result (close-range shooting), but as she happened to be outside, that was not needed.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the killer did not know about her plans. I am just saying, that there is nothing factual that I can see that is pointing towards the killer knowing her plans - it is possible they did not.

 

[kityy]

Dear @kityy

There is a website, who killed Liz Barraza, made by Liz's parents. It has the timeline, the whole information about the murder and the interview with Liz's parents. Her parents are the main victims and Not in any way suspected by the community. I would recommend you to get the information about the case there

The community around this case is somewhat split. As usual, the typical suspects would be

- an intimate partner, in this case, Liz's husband Sergio or someone around him

- someone else.

In this case, no one has been cleared so we can discuss both versions but version 1 I leave to the police.

I am discussing version number 2 because it is still very credible. It doesn't mean that I am not considering version 1 plausible, but there is enough information about it elsewhere.

Version nr. 2 does Not in any way view Liz's father as the suspect, god forbid! I am alluding to the well-known fact, which has been discussed many times, here and in other places.

Liz was very cautious and aware of the surroundings. For her to do a garage sale alone and early in the darkness would be unusual. The plan would have been for either Sergio or her parents to be there with her.

Sergio, we are told, was busy. Liz's mom is not an early riser. Her dad planned to start the sale with Liz. However, it so happened that at the last moment he decided to dedicate his time to looking for a job.
(How i understand it: he lost a job. It is possible that he had a last moment interview scheduled and decided to go there. Or such). But that change of plan was virtually the last moment thing.

So...here is where people diverge in opinions. Some believe that the killers could take a risk and kill two people should dad be there with Liz. I feel that the killers were too cautious. They sat in the car, waiting till Sergio would leave. Chances are, they would not attack Liz if she were with dad. Liz was cornered alone and the attack was planned, but they would not do it so easily with Liz and her dad there.

So they had to know about the sudden window of opportunity: that Liz would be standing next to the garage, alone, in the dark morning. Question is, who told them if this "window" opened virtually the last moment?

The murderers had to be very close to Liz.

Version 1 is too obvious.

Version 2, someone else (not the husband) had some access to her information. How?

This is why i am discussing "who could hack into Liz's phone?"

All threads are here but I got more from the website "who killed Liz Barraza", made by Liz's parents who appear great people committed to helping the daughter, and it will be the faster way to know everything about Liz's story.

when I say father, I keep meaning father-in-law but my typo sometimes changes it. what I'm saying is that i never hear a lot about Sergio's father (liz's father in law), perhaps the police should try a lie detector thing with the heart rate on them, try looking into Sergio's family history, and perhaps if they do lots, it'll pressurise them to confess. you never know... and that's the sad part... but we'll never let Liz lay in her grave for eternity, knowing she and her killer were forgotten.

 

[FromGermany1]

dbm

 

[fridaybaker]

Question to those who knows internet security better than me.

Liz was going to hospitals, coordinating 501st events, meeting at a certain local 501 facility, traveling. She might have been using public WiFi’s or private WiFi’s accessible to other 501 members.

Any chance that her own phone could be simply hacked into due to it? So that people could read her messages or trace her movements?

The father changing his mind the last moment is very, very telling. I truly doubt that the murderers planned to kill two people. (Way more risk). So whenever the father changed his mind, they were aware of the “window of opportunity” pretty fast.

Did Liz and her dad talk about change of plans, or exchange messages?

There is one very obvious scenario explaining how the killers found out so soon. But, we also still have to consider the chance of it being someone else. Close to Liz, but different.

In the YouTube interview, Liz’s friends mentioned lots of Liz and Sergio’s acquaintances spending the time in their house. One possibility is, certain guests used to sign into their wi-fi and had a chance to do it on multiple occasions. The second one, that Liz’s own phone could be hacked into.

But that had to be someone well-acquainted with IT. A person that may not be hard to find among 501 cosplayers, or simply in Houston.

Charlotte, why don't you take over the case? You seem to be good at delving into things, and LE still doesn't seem to have any answers. I nominate you! Just sayin'...

 

[fridaybaker]

dbm

 

[fridaybaker]

Are you thinking of a Susan Powell type scenario? I don’t think that’s the case here. Liz was very angry with her father-in-law for the affairs he was having and the money that he was taking from her husband to fund them. If the father-in-law was responsible, it was because she was becoming a problem. (IMO)

I highly recommend reading from the beginning of this thread at least to catch up and learn about the various theories.

Really, there are two "possible motives" that we know about, if I'm remembering correctly. One is someone who was angry with Liz related to the Star Wars thing, and the other is the contention between Liz and her FIL. If I had to place my bets at this moment, I'd put them on one of those.

 

[sunspun]

Really, there are two "possible motives" that we know about, if I'm remembering correctly. One is someone who was angry with Liz related to the Star Wars thing, and the other is the contention between Liz and her FIL. If I had to place my bets at this moment, I'd put them on one of those.

Yes, and when we remember there was a fairly sizable life insurance policy in place to pay Sergio if Liz died, I think it can be narrowed down even further, and that would leave only one. But I wouldn't say this is for sure still!

But the life insurance was, I think, $375,000? Not sure if I just pulled that number out of my... er... hat, or if that was actually what it was. And to me, the fact that Sergio never claimed the payout does not mean that the life insurance money wasn't the motive, or A motive, or part of the motive! That is, not if Sergio was NOT involved, and I believe (I think) that he was not. I think he may have known after the fact who did it though. And maybe he was so mad about it (who wouldn't be!) that not claiming the insurance money might have been his way of showing his anger or sort of getting back at the person who did it. Or to express his righteousness, for lack of a better word.

Think about if someone killed Liz, because they thought that it would benefit Sergio financially, and possibly themselves as well thru a sort of trickle-down effect, but they didn't tell Sergio their plan, since that would allow Sergio's hands to stay clean, so to speak. Their plan would make Sergio richer without him having to do something he would himself never do. He could reap the benefits without having to be the bad guy. He could claim the money with a clean conscience, because he had nothing to do with her death. He wasn't the one who killed her, he wasn't part of the plan, he didn't conspire with the killer, he didn't drive the getaway car or participate in any way, he had no advance or post knowledge of the plan. He didn't even see it happen. He wasn't even there!

So whoever this someone is thinks it's all set up so that Sergio will stay squeaky clean, won't be suspected, because he really was left totally in the dark... and he can collect the insurance money with a clean conscience. And maybe Sergio will throw a little money his way every now and then, and now everyone's happy.

But Sergio might have figured it out after the murder, or at least had his suspicions. And he's appalled and outraged that anyone would do this to his Liz, and even worse, do this because they thought it would help Sergio! But for some very tough reasons, he can't do anything about it, because he can't bring Liz back, for the main thing, but also because he can't bring himself to turn the killer in to LE, for those tough reasons I mentioned. He can't really even let the killer know how outraged he is, because then it would look like he (Sergio) knew about the plan, even if only after the fact, plus there's still the fact that the person was really doing it to help him (Sergio). So he's confused. Yes, it was an entirely wrong, misguided way to try to help him out, but it's usually hard to hold it against someone who was trying to do you a favor, even if it ends up hurting you instead... but no! Not in this case! They went too far, even if it was to benefit Sergio, it doesn't matter, they crossed over the line.

But he can't bring himself to turn them in, so all he can do is cut them out of his life, cut off all contact... at least for awhile. Oh, but there's one other thing he can do to SHOW them how wrong they were to do this... he can totally thumb his nose at the insurance money, act like it doesn't exist, never collect it, never even ask about it. That'll probably hurt the one responsible more than anything else he could do! I can imagine how that must just tear them up to know it was all for nothing.

If that is the way it happened. And Sergio did cut off contact for awhile at least. I'm not even sure he ever went back. But I figured he did... time heals all wounds and all that... but if it did happen this way, that is one cold, callous, inhuman plan to come up with and then actually carry out. That would take a seriously sociopathic individual. But that fits too, from the little we have heard about them.

 

[Charlot123]

Wait, so far, I have seen nothing to indicate that the killer knew about the garage sale at all, let alone of the father initially planning to join and then changing plans. Where is this assumption coming from?

The car initially drove past the house, then turned around 180 degrees, then parked near her. So this theoretically even gave the driver the opportunity to see the lone female outside alone, even if they had initially not planned to murder her specifically at all, just someone (no, I don't personaly think that's the case, but looking at the odd actions of the car it cannot be ruled out). What is more, if the attacker planned to wait for, say, Sergios car to leave and then attack, then they could have just attacked her as she enters/exits the car or rang the doorbell and got the same end result (close-range shooting), but as she happened to be outside, that was not needed.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the killer did not know about her plans. I am just saying, that there is nothing factual that I can see that is pointing towards the killer knowing her plans - it is possible they did not.

It is my understanding that the car drove once, U-turned and drove back and then waited in the vicinity till Sergio left. I listened to the interview with Liz’s friends; Liz was indeed very cautious even when she opened the garage door. How this naturally aware of her surroundings woman ended up cornered so that she couldn’t enter back to the garage, to the house, to run? How did the murderers end up not being caught by the nest cam? How did anyone manage to do it in a densely populated, safe neighborhood? How did the car make it out given that the police was aware so soon? We don’t know. But, sadly, I think she was targeted. JMO and I don’t want to push my theory because the more different looks we have, the better.

 

[arielilane]

Really, there are two "possible motives" that we know about, if I'm remembering correctly. One is someone who was angry with Liz related to the Star Wars thing, and the other is the contention between Liz and her FIL. If I had to place my bets at this moment, I'd put them on one of those.

Both scenarios provided by SB.

 

[Charlot123]

Yes, and when we remember there was a fairly sizable life insurance policy in place to pay Sergio if Liz died, I think it can be narrowed down even further, and that would leave only one. But I wouldn't say this is for sure still!

But the life insurance was, I think, $375,000? Not sure if I just pulled that number out of my... er... hat, or if that was actually what it was. And to me, the fact that Sergio never claimed the payout does not mean that the life insurance money wasn't the motive, or A motive, or part of the motive! That is, not if Sergio was NOT involved, and I believe (I think) that he was not. I think he may have known after the fact who did it though. And maybe he was so mad about it (who wouldn't be!) that not claiming the insurance money might have been his way of showing his anger or sort of getting back at the person who did it. Or to express his righteousness, for lack of a better word.

Think about if someone killed Liz, because they thought that it would benefit Sergio financially, and possibly themselves as well thru a sort of trickle-down effect, but they didn't tell Sergio their plan, since that would allow Sergio's hands to stay clean, so to speak. Their plan would make Sergio richer without him having to do something he would himself never do. He could reap the benefits without having to be the bad guy. He could claim the money with a clean conscience, because he had nothing to do with her death. He wasn't the one who killed her, he wasn't part of the plan, he didn't conspire with the killer, he didn't drive the getaway car or participate in any way, he had no advance or post knowledge of the plan. He didn't even see it happen. He wasn't even there!

So whoever this someone is thinks it's all set up so that Sergio will stay squeaky clean, won't be suspected, because he really was left totally in the dark... and he can collect the insurance money with a clean conscience. And maybe Sergio will throw a little money his way every now and then, and now everyone's happy.

But Sergio might have figured it out after the murder, or at least had his suspicions. And he's appalled and outraged that anyone would do this to his Liz, and even worse, do this because they thought it would help Sergio! But for some very tough reasons, he can't do anything about it, because he can't bring Liz back, for the main thing, but also because he can't bring himself to turn the killer in to LE, for those tough reasons I mentioned. He can't really even let the killer know how outraged he is, because then it would look like he (Sergio) knew about the plan, even if only after the fact, plus there's still the fact that the person was really doing it to help him (Sergio). So he's confused. Yes, it was an entirely wrong, misguided way to try to help him out, but it's usually hard to hold it against someone who was trying to do you a favor, even if it ends up hurting you instead... but no! Not in this case! They went too far, even if it was to benefit Sergio, it doesn't matter, they crossed over the line.

But he can't bring himself to turn them in, so all he can do is cut them out of his life, cut off all contact... at least for awhile. Oh, but there's one other thing he can do to SHOW them how wrong they were to do this... he can totally thumb his nose at the insurance money, act like it doesn't exist, never collect it, never even ask about it. That'll probably hurt the one responsible more than anything else he could do! I can imagine how that must just tear them up to know it was all for nothing.

If that is the way it happened. And Sergio did cut off contact for awhile at least. I'm not even sure he ever went back. But I figured he did... time heals all wounds and all that... but if it did happen this way, that is one cold, callous, inhuman plan to come up with and then actually carry out. That would take a seriously sociopathic individual. But that fits too, from the little we have heard about them.

In general, the existence of a spousal life insurance is not the reason to kill a wife at all, if the relationship is strong and people plan to raise a family.

How was the Barrazza’s life before Liz was killed? We don’t have any evidence that it was bad. They were hard-working, had a mutual hobby, plans to travel. Character-wise, they seem to have been complementary. Unless we are not privy to all information.

This being said, no one can rule out the existence of a not too-normal person, madly and unreasonably in love with Sergio, who thought that they were “clearing the space” for themselves, not realizing that her feeling was unrequited. (And then Sergio remarries, has a child, and the person realizes that they, essentially, made a fool out of themselves and are a criminal now.) This is one version.

Version two is that the murder is unrelated to Sergio at all and stems from earlier time. That’s where it becomes hard, because the killer, likely, looks and behaves normally but is seriously unbalanced.

 

[Charlot123]

Both scenarios provided by SB.

And if both scenarios are wrong, as they probably are, then Sergio is not helping the investigation at all. We have another similar case, that of Karen Carter’s murder. (The BF gives the name that fits too well, the police arrests the person, then lets go but time is lost). Well, at least the BF gave only one name, and Sergio repeats the same pattern twice, which really makes one wonder, why?

But if I were police, I’d think like this, he names someone from 501 legion and then the person is likely cleared. He mentions his father and the police spends the time again. At what group of people around him doesn’t he want people to look, given that 501 and his father are clean?

 

[sunspun]

In general, the existence of a spousal life insurance is not the reason to kill a wife at all, if the relationship is strong and people plan to raise a family.

How was the Barrazza’s life before Liz was killed? We don’t have any evidence that it was bad. They were hard-working, had a mutual hobby, plans to travel. Character-wise, they seem to have been complementary. Unless we are not privy to all information.

This being said, no one can rule out the existence of a not too-normal person, madly and unreasonably in love with Sergio, who thought that they were “clearing the space” for themselves, not realizing that her feeling was unrequited. (And then Sergio remarries, has a child, and the person realizes that they, essentially, made a fool out of themselves and are a criminal now.) This is one version.

Version two is that the murder is unrelated to Sergio at all and stems from earlier time. That’s where it becomes hard, because the killer, likely, looks and behaves normally but is seriously unbalanced.

Well, I was trying to not be too explicit in my post above, so as not to be too openly accusing anyone, but from your reply, I'm afraid I may have been TOO vague, because it sounds like you didn't understand what I meant (which I can understand, since as I said, I was trying to keep it kinda vague...)

But yeah, in my theory above, the fact that they had a happy marriage etc., isn't relevant at all, because I'm not saying Sergio made this happen in any direct or indirect way. In this theory, he would be totally unaware that someone was going to kill her that day (or ever), and I also think that no one would ever tell him that they did it after the fact either. He wouldn't have been included in the planning, and he would be kept totally in the dark about it all. But I suspect that he would have figured it out on his own, or at least had a good idea who did it anyway, later.

I do think they were happy together and very suited to each other, more so than most couples, and very lucky to have found each other and married. That's why I said he would have been appalled and outraged at her murder, especially, as I'm theorizing, if it were done to benefit him, in the form of the insurance payout. No, I don't think Sergio would EVER have killed her for that money. I'm sure they got the policy thinking it would never have to be used. But if someone else knew about the policy, and I expect a certain few people they knew did know about it, and if this person was a person devoid of most, if not all, morals and compassion, who could accept the killing of Liz if there were some tangible reward ($$$) in the picture... something that I don't think Sergio could accept whatsoever... then if they looked at it from a purely practical point of view, then they could think killing her to make the ins. money available to Sergio would be a good idea.

They could take certain measures to be positive that Sergio was never implicated, and the end benefit would be that Sergio gets paid a nice sum of money without doing any dirty work. I also think that if someone had this idea and followed thru on it, that they would think they themselves would also probably get some money reward from it, just because of their relationship with Sergio. But even if they never got a dime of it, I think that they would still do it, just for Sergio's financial benefit. That tells us something about what type of relation they are to Sergio, I would think.

And then, as I said, Sergio not ever collecting the money actually fits in to my theory quite well, and underlines his innocence as well. He would in effect, be making a statement, by not claiming the money, a statement to the person who killed her. There's also the chance that he never claimed the money, because it was never made available to him, because it was still an open investigation or something like that, but the theory still holds in that scenario too.

 

[Charlot123]

Well, I was trying to not be too explicit in my post above, so as not to be too openly accusing anyone, but from your reply, I'm afraid I may have been TOO vague, because it sounds like you didn't understand what I meant (which I can understand, since as I said, I was trying to keep it kinda vague...)

But yeah, in my theory above, the fact that they had a happy marriage etc., isn't relevant at all, because I'm not saying Sergio made this happen in any direct or indirect way. In this theory, he would be totally unaware that someone was going to kill her that day (or ever), and I also think that no one would ever tell him that they did it after the fact either. He wouldn't have been included in the planning, and he would be kept totally in the dark about it all. But I suspect that he would have figured it out on his own, or at least had a good idea who did it anyway, later.

I do think they were happy together and very suited to each other, more so than most couples, and very lucky to have found each other and married. That's why I said he would have been appalled and outraged at her murder, especially, as I'm theorizing, if it were done to benefit him, in the form of the insurance payout. No, I don't think Sergio would EVER have killed her for that money. I'm sure they got the policy thinking it would never have to be used. But if someone else knew about the policy, and I expect a certain few people they knew did know about it, and if this person was a person devoid of most, if not all, morals and compassion, who could accept the killing of Liz if there were some tangible reward ($$$) in the picture... something that I don't think Sergio could accept whatsoever... then if they looked at it from a purely practical point of view, then they could think killing her to make the ins. money available to Sergio would be a good idea.

They could take certain measures to be positive that Sergio was never implicated, and the end benefit would be that Sergio gets paid a nice sum of money without doing any dirty work. I also think that if someone had this idea and followed thru on it, that they would think they themselves would also probably get some money reward from it, just because of their relationship with Sergio. But even if they never got a dime of it, I think that they would still do it, just for Sergio's financial benefit. That tells us something about what type of relation they are to Sergio, I would think.

And then, as I said, Sergio not ever collecting the money actually fits in to my theory quite well, and underlines his innocence as well. He would in effect, be making a statement, by not claiming the money, a statement to the person who killed her. There's also the chance that he never claimed the money, because it was never made available to him, because it was still an open investigation or something like that, but the theory still holds in that scenario too.

I understood you. Totally.

Here is my thinking. We don’t have any new information, tbh, and maybe it is for the good. (I hope that people go with their tips to the police and the Crime Stoppers).

The reason I am not discussing any “husband-related” part is because I think that the police and the insurance company have a better way of checking the people they know. So let them deal with it.

Reading about other true crime stories, I am shocked at how many times the connection between the murderer and the victim is flimsy or “not factored in” and also, how often the assailant flies under all the radars because they are of the “nice neighbor” type.

So the only new information I heard was about Liz, who, while being cautious, was also very friendly and helping lots of friends and acquaintances. She’d invite them, “stay with us”, and such. A kind and social person. So I started thinking along the lines of who could use her generosity in a negative way.

 

[flowershop]

Sergeant Michael Ritchie, who is the lead detective on this case, was recently interviewed by True Crime Unsolved. The interviews are posted in the thread.

Ritchie has told SB that he is forbidden from accessing the insurance policy on LB since her death is under investigation.

 

[scottishgal]

Is Sergio still into star wars geeky stuff , or has he completely moved on from that lifestyle with new wife ?

I found it interesting that in his interviews ' we were happy with our little nerdy life' ...... it sounds like a part of him was into it, and the other part had outgrown it - not saying that equates to murder motive though, a simple divorce would and does suffice for 90 pc of people in these situations, with most of the other 10pc choosing to stay unhappy in a marriage they have outgrown

 

[scottishgal]

from the latest 2 part interview of the lead detective on YT (with part 2 put on YT just a month ago) , looks like LE suspect but have no proof on Oscar the FIL, who was having affairs, money troubles and hence a lot of drama going on. Is it easy for people in TX to get gang assistance from Mexico as speculated earlier on this thread it does sound like a hired hit from a Mexican Cartel for money, would be much harder for LE to trace down. It looks like burner phones were probably used all around.

 

[scottishgal]

was the life insurance of half a mill pounds through work ? if taken personally, Liz was paying a very high premium , thats a lot for someone who isnt leaving behind 2-3 kids to ensure stay taken care of

 

[flowershop]

from the latest 2 part interview of the lead detective on YT (with part 2 put on YT just a month ago) , looks like LE suspect but have no proof on Oscar the FIL, who was having affairs, money troubles and hence a lot of drama going on. Is it easy for people in TX to get gang assistance from Mexico as speculated earlier on this thread it does sound like a hired hit from a Mexican Cartel for money, would be much harder for LE to trace down. It looks like burner phones were probably used all around.

Mexican cartels in the US deal drugs and participate in human trafficking from what I gather in an internet search. Would someone in a cartel be willing to murder for money? I don't see why not. JMO

 

[Charlot123]

Sergeant Michael Ritchie, who is the lead detective on this case, was recently interviewed by True Crime Unsolved. The interviews are posted in the thread.

Ritchie has told SB that he is forbidden from accessing the insurance policy on LB since her death is under investigation.

Thank you for your information. This is at variance with Sergio saying that he refused the insurance, isn’t it? But, Ritchie is an official person, a policeman, so I’d go with his version.

So we have a variance between Sergio’s earlier statement and the statement of Ritchie. Or did Sergio make no statement about the insurance at all? It has happened over seven years ago, some things have evaporated from my mind.

 

[sunspun]

Thank you for your information. This is at variance with Sergio saying that he refused the insurance, isn’t it? But, Ritchie is an official person, a policeman, so I’d go with his version.

So we have a variance between Sergio’s earlier statement and the statement of Ritchie. Or did Sergio make no statement about the insurance at all? It has happened over seven years ago, some things have evaporated from my mind.

I'm not sure, but I think we need to know that. I think the answer is available to us somewhere in released and published case info, but where? I might have a look.