TX - Elizabeth Barraza, 29, murdered setting up garage sale, Harris County, Jan 2019

[zencompass]

I've felt the same way about this case as both of you do.

I can't understand, either, how the footage in that area didn't inform the police with details.

This crime was so unbelievably horrid, and with it happening during the day, I thought it would be solved quickly.

 

[sl222]

Again, profile has negative connotation, but a screening would need to start with some individuals and not others as one needs to start somewhere. Barring any other indicators with specific individuals, perhaps initially screen cosplay participants for somebody who has some of the following characteristics:

Social media shows limited, or no other interests besides cosplay: Increased chance of cosplay being focus of life outside work. Potentially increases importance of status, esteem derived from cosplay world.

Limited income: Pricier cosplay gear favored by established groups represents a real sacrifice. Convention hotels room, meals out etc. also represent more of an investment. If investment does not Pay” in regards to friendships, status etc. bigger sense of loss. Limited income also means less funding for other interests and could indicate less esteem being derived from work.

Romantically unattached, or significant other also heavily into cosplay: No significant other means less interests beyond cosplay. Significant other in cosplay and heavily involved could lead to possible dispute impacting relationship with that person. Thus, disputes might magnify.

No children: Fewer distractions from cosplay interest. Fewer areas for fulfillment other than cosplay.

Interest in cosplay after negative life event: Greater chance of such an individual feeling that cosplay represents their chance to start over. Thus, greater emotional investment.

This is a great post. One question, why is there a negative connotation to profiling in terms of crime solving? (Or did I misunderstand what you mean in some way?)

Sounds like a great profile here and makes a lot of sense if this turns out to be related to the cosplay part of their lives.

I used to think this looked like a man with long, thin legs but then I realized that Liz was a short woman and the shooter appears to be about 3 inches taller than Liz. Who knows with shoes, lifts, etc. the real height of the killer.

Today is 9 months since Liz died. Yesterday was 9 months from the day of the shooting. The killer shot 4 times. I can't imagine how hard this is for her family. Andy Kahan is an important person in the Houston community as an advocate for families and more. He has supported the family too.

 

[Sweetsbeach]

(JMO) I tend to think it was a hitman, maybe from another state. Eventhough EB was in her own yard, I wonder if it was possibly a case of mistaken identity. I know that seems like a long shot, but the type of people who participate in murder for hire aren't exactly rocket scientists and it's happened before.

 

[BINGOdinoDNA]

Thanks for the response sl222,

The note thing bothers me only because it hasn't been confirmed. I understand why LE would want to keep that information under wraps if there is one. I saw the video before I knew it was Liz, but I can't bring myself to watch it again, and I am not sure I will ever be able to. It's my opinion that if the video was clear enough to show a note, then it's clear enough to see a lot of other things. Again, just my opinion.

Since this happened, my biggest fear was that she was alone until paramedics arrived. That's why I asked for confirmation about the neighbors going to help her. I would like to believe people came outside to her so she wasn't alone, but I also could understand why they wouldn't come outside after hearing multiple gunshots and not knowing who or where the shooter was.

I'm researching more about the real estate stuff. I will link it if I figure out how to! I think it is interesting in regards to LE procedure. Did they have to give permission considering it was a crime scene? My hope is that they know a whole lot more and are building a solid case against whoever did this. It's only a matter of time...it has to be.

 

[sl222]

Bingodinodna, yes, the video is very awful to watch. I have to admit when I saw it numerous times earlier this year I did notice things that I hadn't noticed in the same way at first, that were very upsetting to see, and that have stayed in my mind, and so anything like that would be 100 times harder for someone who actually knew her. No matter how prepared they felt, you can't be prepared.

It is very, very grainy. It's hard to make out anything. It's taken from so far away. Like I've mentioned in another post, the note also seemed as a reason to distract her because the moment she looks at it is the moment the weapon is used.

One thing you can make out in the video is how Liz suddenly steps back, as the shooter gets within a certain visual range. It's as though she either recognizes the face at that point, or she realizes that there is something startling about the person that she did not notice as they were walking up her driveway.

You make a good point which I missed at first, about whether or not the homeowner would have to get permission from LE to put a house on the market. After all it's a crime scene so that makes a lot of sense. Of course they can't force someone to make mortgage payments but they can probably delay it from getting turned over to another owner. That's a whole new line of thought. Definitely a good one.

 

[Axiom88]

So one thing that has forever bothered me about this (And my apologies if I ever mentioned this prior here, I might have, I know I did in another place I discussed this) is.. does anyone else find it odd that the day that Liz passed, the video showing the whole thing was released? It's never been clear to me how it was released. I find it odd, that LE is traditionally very careful releasing details of the case (which is obviously good practice) but that this video gets released? Was it a homeowner of the camera that released it to the media, or what? I don't think its ever been stated how the video was acquired, sourced or anything. And even if it was released, usually these things never show the actual murder itself it gets edited before any broadcast. That's something that to me has never been made clear and while I don't think that's necessarily very important to finding the killer, I do think it's rather bizarre that in this case that was released so quickly, something that you almost never see in other murders, ever, even after being solved.

 

[bears10]

So one thing that has forever bothered me about this (And my apologies if I ever mentioned this prior here, I might have, I know I did in another place I discussed this) is.. does anyone else find it odd that the day that Liz passed, the video showing the whole thing was released? It's never been clear to me how it was released. I find it odd, that LE is traditionally very careful releasing details of the case (which is obviously good practice) but that this video gets released? Was it a homeowner of the camera that released it to the media, or what? I don't think its ever been stated how the video was acquired, sourced or anything. And even if it was released, usually these things never show the actual murder itself it gets edited before any broadcast. That's something that to me has never been made clear and while I don't think that's necessarily very important to finding the killer, I do think it's rather bizarre that in this case that was released so quickly, something that you almost never see in other murders, ever, even after being solved.

I believe LE only initially released the video of the truck, which makes sense to me. I think a news site got the rest of the video from maybe a neighbor or something. I’m making this assumption from the way this article is worded.

In surveillance video obtained by KPRC2, 29-year-old Elizabeth Barraza is seen in her driveway, setting up items. A black pickup truck pulls up and a suspect, who appears to be a woman, gets out and walks up to the victim. The suspect appears to pull something out of a jacket or robe. Then the two appear to exchange words.

Woman gunned down while setting up for garage sale dies; suspect sought

 

[sl222]

Thinking of Elizabeth! Let's hope the police give an update again soon!

 

[Betty P]

Sorry, but this is just odd that there are no news updates on this from LE or the poor woman's family.

 

[Tman2004]

Disappointing that no arrest has been made yet.
What little we DID learn from the presser this morning:

- looking for an older model, four-door, Nissan Frontier.
- It may have some type of badge or tag number in the rear quarter panel near the tailgate.
- investigators can’t say if it’s a man or woman.
- Barrazas didn't publicize the garage sale and only put up signs about it that morning.
- Crime Stoppers reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
- LB was selling items in the garage sale to make a little extra money for an 5th wedding anniversary she was to take with her husband 2 days after the murder.

Sounds like someone did NOT want them taking that trip.
My gut is that it is a crazy person who IMAGINES she has has a relationship with EB’s husband. I’d be looking at anyone who is inserting themselves into his life right now to offer condolences and comfort. And I believe her poor husband is totally unaware of the crazy person’s intentions. Just my gut....

I know your comment is from a ways back but I just learned of this crime and am starting reading the comments from the start. What you say about some freak imagining a relationship with the husband sounds like a lifetime movie plot. This entire thing does, the whole nice couple helping at kids hospitals and living in a nice house about to go on vacation for their anniversary. I actually think it is plausible. Not to disparage anyone and their hobbies, ours is pretty morbid so who am i to judge, but people this dedicated to re creating characters there's gonna wind up being a freak here and there who can't distinguish between the hobby and real life.

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
Tman2004 !!!​

 

[sl222]

It's very discouraging that this crime has not been solved yet.

 

[borndem]

It's very discouraging that this crime has not been solved yet.

Yes, @sl222, it is discouraging. I'm hoping that LE has a suspect/POI, and they are assembling enough evidence for Probably Cause for arrest, and also solid evidence to convict at trial.
Neighborhood witnesses/camera pics or films
Fingerprints on note? (not likely)
Bullets -- with no weapon to test -- this will slow them down a bit
Recent weapon bought by possible suspect/POI?
Someone in neighborhood, or her husband, may know owner of vehicle
Husband, or someone else in their cosplay group, may know someone for LE to interview

 

[Tman2004]

So one thing that has forever bothered me about this (And my apologies if I ever mentioned this prior here, I might have, I know I did in another place I discussed this) is.. does anyone else find it odd that the day that Liz passed, the video showing the whole thing was released? It's never been clear to me how it was released. I find it odd, that LE is traditionally very careful releasing details of the case (which is obviously good practice) but that this video gets released? Was it a homeowner of the camera that released it to the media, or what? I don't think its ever been stated how the video was acquired, sourced or anything. And even if it was released, usually these things never show the actual murder itself it gets edited before any broadcast. That's something that to me has never been made clear and while I don't think that's necessarily very important to finding the killer, I do think it's rather bizarre that in this case that was released so quickly, something that you almost never see in other murders, ever, even after being solved.

I think they should show videos like this more often. It makes people realize how brutal crimes actually are. If I just saw a truck driving away on grainy video I wouldn't have ever thought twice about this case. I'm not local and will have 0 impact on solving it but the more people interested in it the better. On top of more chances of solving it with more eyes I think people need to be exposed to the brutality of it so we can get away from being soft on crime in general and especially murders.

 

[JnRyan]

I thought this case would have been solved by now so I surprised to come on here and find out it is still unsolved. Back in August, LE stated they had a search warrant they believed would lead to a break in the case. That was 3 months ago, so it appears that may have been a dead end. Going back to the original news videos I noted something I missed before and that was the reporters mentioning that you couldn't tell if the shooter was a man or woman. Interesting. With the victim being into cosplay, what are the chances this was a man in a costume, another person involved in cosplay.

 

[Mind your biscuits]

I thought this case would have been solved by now so I surprised to come on here and find out it is still unsolved. Back in August, LE stated they had a search warrant they believed would lead to a break in the case. That was 3 months ago, so it appears that may have been a dead end. Going back to the original news videos I noted something I missed before and that was the reporters mentioning that you couldn't tell if the shooter was a man or woman. Interesting. With the victim being into cosplay, what are the chances this was a man in a costume, another person involved in cosplay.

I have always believed that the shooter was a woman.

 

[JnRyan]

I have always believed that the shooter was a woman.

I always have, too, until now. I still believe it is highly likely to be a woman. That observation by the reporters - and more than one noted it - that you can't really tell if the person is a man or woman has given me reason to doubt the '100% it was a woman' idea. And more than one reporter stating that observation? What's up with that aspect? Did one reporter come up with it and the others copied? Or did this come from LE? That second one would make me wonder where LE might be going with this case.

We've had a similar discussion with another Texas case. Missy Bevers. Most, and that includes me, believe her killer on the video is a male. But there are some who speculated that it could be a woman.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

I always have, too, until now. I still believe it is highly likely to be a woman. That observation by the reporters - and more than one noted it - that you can't really tell if the person is a man or woman has given me reason to doubt the '100% it was a woman' idea. And more than one reporter stating that observation? What's up with that aspect? Did one reporter come up with it and the others copied? Or did this come from LE? That second one would make me wonder where LE might be going with this case.

We've had a similar discussion with another Texas case. Missy Bevers. Most, and that includes me, believe her killer on the video is a male. But there are some who speculated that it could be a woman.

I had to chuckle because I am 180 degrees opposite of you in both cases - I think Liz's killer is a man and Missy's killer a woman. Who knows

 

[JnRyan]

I had to chuckle because I am 180 degrees opposite of you in both cases - I think Liz's killer is a man and Missy's killer a woman. Who knows

Who knows!?!? Yes, indeed!

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

bumping... new thoughts or ideas? Anyone?