ColdCaseDetective
ColdCaseDetective
Tomball Terror: The Unsolved Murder of Liz Barraza | True Crime Podcast
Elizabeth Barraza, known to her family and friends as a fiercely compassionate and imaginative woman, was creative, resourceful, and sought to live life to the fullest. Her deep rooted passion for charity works, as well as her unparalleled dedication to bringing joy to the world around her, was cut short by an unexplainable, unsolved murder in the early morning hours of January 25th, 2019, leaving all who knew her across northwest Harris County, Texas and the entire state at large grasping for answers in a sea of evidence that drowned us all in doubt…
As a hope to provide more substantial reasoning built upon observable evidence and situational analysis, this is an examination of the murder of Liz Barraza, and the gutwrenching video captured that fateful morning giving us a critical window into her final moments of life...
This is Cold Case Detective.
Case File Photographs:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OQKuMDLmXYVh3pjy13dtPqaNJsz7eGY0?usp=sharing
Relevant Links
[Daily Mail Article (with FULL VIDEO)]
Elizabeth.
Speaker 2:Barraza known to her family and friends as a fiercely compassionate and imaginative woman was creative, resourceful, and sought to live life to the fullest. Her deep rooted passion for charity works as well as her unparalleled dedication to bringing joy to the world around her was cut short by an unexplainable unsolved murder in the early morning hours of January 25th, 2019, leaving all who knew her across Northwest Harris County, Texas, and the entire state at large grasping for answers in a sea of evidence that John does all in doubt as a hope to provide more substantial reasoning built upon observable evidence and situational analysis. This is an examination of the murder of Liz Barraza and the gut wrenching video captured that fateful morning, giving us a critical window into her final moments of life. This is cold case detective. I believe that everyone on earth has the potential to do wonderful things, but there are undoubtedly those who exemplify the absolute brightest version of humanity who go out of their way to bring peace to others, to bring a smile to the faces of everyone they meet seemingly without any efforts, people who look after their friends and families, and even strangers before themselves, who know that the only way to push us forward as a society is to surround ourselves with happiness, selflessness, and charity, people who are quick to encourage slow to judge and effervescent early, authentic every day. Heroes Elizabeth Barraza was one of these people as shining star and great influence on all. She met a child of the 1990s on native of Southeast Texas. Elizabeth called Liz by all who knew her grew up in factual with fantasy storytelling and pop culture. Her love of imagination, and specifically science fiction fandom was nurtured by her father, Robert Jr. She was particularly fond of star Wars growing up with the movies and later exploring the rich worlds provided in television series, comic books and novels. If there weren't any new expanded universe books to pick up, Liz would turn to her other escapist entertainment. Harry Potter, Liz was a self-described Potter head, an expert in all things, witchcraft and wizardry. She was first in line to grab a copy of every new release and liked star Wars spent endless hours of childhood wrapped up in the comforting confines of their creativity, her own imagination molded by the adventures. She was so absorbed with alongside her love of the premiere pop culture. Lexicon. Liz also discovered a strong skill set in arts and crafts. She was a meticulous costumer, able to construct complex designs and outfits matching her favorite movie and comic book characters. As she grew older, she discovered there was an entire community of hundreds of thousands of fellow costume fanatics and creatives. This turned Liz onto comic conferences around the United States where fans would come together, dressed head to toe in homemade costumes and show off their intricate creations. A hobby known as cos
Speaker 1:Playing. It was through cosplaying
Speaker 2:And a love of star Wars that Liz became quite close to Sergio. Barraza a fellow Texas native and entranced by the escapist pastime himself in the winter of 2014, the pair got married and combined their love of star Wars on cosplaying together. The newlywed couple would travel to various Comicons around their home States and America at large showcasing Liz's expert crafting capabilities when they weren't dressing up for comic conventions, Liz and Sergio were taking part in the Five-O first Legion, a world renowned group of the biggest star Wars fans who dress up in screen accurate replicas of star Wars. His most notorious villains on their costumes. This wasn't just any old hobby. However, the Five-O first Legion consists of over 14,000 volunteers who use their costumes on cost cosplaying skills to attend charities on hospitals, visiting sick children and adults alike, raising money for research efforts, medical fundraisers, and the fight against countless diseases. These charitable contributions were a linchpin in Liz's vision for her life. She went above and beyond to attend these visitations and events, bringing joy to so many people whose very lives were in jeopardy. And most importantly, Liz didn't think twice. It was just her nature to give hope
Speaker 1:To those who needed it. Through that five years together, Liz and Sergio were on immeasurably happy couple that Tyler
Speaker 2:Work ethic at both that jobs I'm their recreation did not push them apart, but drew them closer together to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Liz planned a magical vacation to Orlando, Florida,
Speaker 1:Where universal studios awaited them.
Speaker 2:The couple was excited to visit the new immersive Harry Potter attractions and Liz prepared specially homemade costumes for the Pat's aware during that travels to make things easier on their finances and enjoy the upcoming anniversary without a worry Sergio and Liz got together, some old things from around their house to sell at a garage sale. However things swiftly took a tragic turn. When this innocence attempts to make ends meet resulted in a terrifying murder. Let's now turn to a timeline of events that led to the unsolved murder of Liz Barraza.
Speaker 1:It's just often you use day
Speaker 2:In the year of 2019 Liz, and Barraza celebrates another year of love and success together and prep for their upcoming fifth year anniversary. The, to plot out the perfect celebration, deciding that the new Harry Potter fantasy attractions at universal studios, Florida would be their dream locale. They charged a course for an end of the month departure and begin preparations as January progresses, Liz and Sergio realize all of their expenses for the anniversary trip will push them to the max of their budgets. Liz also hopes to buy Sergio a couple of gifts herself and the pet assigned to hold a garage sale right before they leave selling a few odds and ends and items. They no longer need from around their house, hoping to raise some spending money for the trip. The end of the month, nears and Liz and Sergio finalize the garage sale details. They schedule it mid days before they leave for Florida and inform their close friends, families, and co-workers of their plans. They do not broadcast it on social media or around the town. However, keeping it close knit until the day arrives the final full week of January arrives and Liz requests time off work for both the vacation and the garage sale employed as a data reporter for a pipeline inspection company. Liz is able to get the extended Bates approved on the night of January 24th, Liz and Sergio make their final preparations. Sergio is to go into work as per usual. And Liz says, she'll get up early with him to start putting up signs, advertising their sale. Before the sun comes up the to go to sleep excited at the prospects that await them, unknowing of the horrors lurking as well. The rooster crows, the following morning on Friday, January 25th, 2019, it is barely Dawn and Sergio Barraza gets ready for work. While Liz gathers the signage supplies, she goes outside with her husband, as he climbs into the truck, concurrently security and CCTV cameras capture a 2013 or newer four door, dark colored Nissen frontier pro four X drive around the Barraza Tomball suburb a vehicle, not recognized by the neighbors and never seed driving around the area at such an early time of day at around 6:48 AM Sergio kisses, Liz goodbye and departs in a truck of his own captured by CCTV cameras, leaving the housing complex, heading towards his place of employment over the next four minutes. Liz takes the signage and begin setting them up in her front lawn for any passes by to notice that pending garage sale, she works alone and seemingly doesn't expect a visitor or anything particular to happen at around 6:52 AM. The same Nissen frontier truck scene driving around earlier is captured once more on a security camera setup up on the doorbell of a neighboring house in the tumble suburb facing the front yard of Liz Burroughs's home, where continues working outside the dark colored truck, passes the house and parks in another home's driveway from the driver's seat, a person with either long hair or a wig exits the vehicle and walks towards the spots where Liz places assign the pursuance wearing what could either be a trench coat or a long robe, conceal something. As they walk up to Liz, Liz looks up startles, but doesn't run away only eight seconds. Pass of what appears to be a quiet conversation before the figure in the long garments pulls out a gun and shoots Liz three times at point blank range, the killer then steps over Liz's body. Seemingly checking for something before firing off one final point blank shots. As the clock ticks forward to 6:53 AM the shooter sprints from Liz's body back to their truck. They hop inside back out of the driveway and drive up and down the street. Once more, almost as if observing the crime scene before peeling out from the neighborhood away from the cameras and forever into anonymity. At the same time, a male subject who heard the gunfire and saw the truck escape runs outside and calls nine one one to report both the shooting and asked for an emergency medical response. Meanwhile, another neighbor who comes outside in response to the commotion quickly understands what has happened and personally call Sergio to inform him. Liz has been shot, not even 10 minutes, go by and Sergio returns to the neighborhood to tend to his critically injured wife, medical and emergency response personnel. Join him. And Liz is rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, police begin interviewing neighbors to try and find out exactly what transpired. Liz makes it to the hospital, still breathing with a heartbeat. However, after surviving through the nights, the following day on Saturday, January 26th, she succumbs to the gunshot wounds and passes away. Soon after on the investigation side of the ordeal, or authorities are quick to label the death, uh, murder. As the crime scene suggests an execution light shooting combined with the eyewitness testimony of the male subject who saw the killer fleet within a matter of weeks, police canvas, the tumble suburbs for any and all security footage that may give them a better glimpse of what happened on January 25th at 6:52 AM. One of the boroughs as neighbors then gives law enforcement a copy of their doorbell cam tape. From that morning, the now infamous recording of Liz's final moments in the coming days, detective study the security footage and release it to media outlets. Hoping someone will come forward to identify either the truck or the shooter tips pour in, but nothing substantial rises to the forefront of the case, a case growing colder by the minutes, it wouldn't be for another year until the Barraza family finally receives a major updates in the investigation during a one year Memorial held by family members, community members and members of the Five-O first Legion in honor of Liz's life at the tail end of January, 2020 reporters hear from a lead detective on the case, the police have obtained a warrants that could lead them directly to the party. Responsible. There are no other details given and the exact type of warrant is not revealed, whether it be an arrest warrants or on evidentiary warrants. Again, however, the leads stop there without any major announcements until June 30th of 2020, a breaking news bulletin reveals that police unveiled an additional nugget of information stemming from the CCTV footage capturing Liz's murder or authorities announce after analyzing discernible audio from the recording. It can be said confidently that as the suspect approached Liz at 6:52 AM, Liz could be heard saying good morning in response, it is not a major clue, but it does make detectives wonder if Liz didn't actually know the suspect as opposed to earlier theories. Sadly, that news alerts on June 30th is the last piece of evidence the public has received in Liz Burroughs's case. As of today, Liz brutal murder remains unsolved. The investigation did undergo a change in top leadership. So that must be considered as to why there are apparently no sizable leads despite almost two years of sleuthing, as well as the global pandemic slowing down the world. In general, beginning in March of 2020, all that being said, police maintained that this case is still very much solvable and will continue to pursue any and all leads provided by the public or otherwise Without a doubt, the biggest, and really the only case point in the Barraza investigation is the CCTV security footage procured from around the crime scene. By police in the direct aftermath of January 25th, senseless murder, the video shows the murder take place. I'll be it from a distance and grainy point of view. However, it also shows the suspect flee. And most importantly, the side profile of the Nissen frontier pro four X driven by the shooter. Before I play the video in its entirety, as first released by authorities, I want to be upfront about the disturbing nature of the footage. The shooting depicted is real, and if you understandably wish to avoid seeing any sort of extreme violence, it would be best to fast forward or turn away for the next few minutes. I want to give you fair warning. So please be advised. What you're about to witness may be hard to watch. What do you have just seen is the murder of Liz Barraza as you saw a figure with long hair, a long coat or robe, and what could be boots parks across the streets from the Barraza residence walks over to the front yard where Liz works on the garage sale sign, confronts her with eight seconds of unknown dialogue, then shoots her four times at point blank range before standing over her body and running off. The most contested part of the video is whether or not the shooter is a woman, as it might seem at first glance or a man dressed to appear as a woman. It truly is hard to tell some point to the end of the video where the killer runs away stating that the gate is most often attributed to the form of a female run. However, it is also widely believed that the killer was wearing boots as a part of that peculiar get-up. And that may have changed the appearance of their movement. Nevertheless, we don't share this video to determine whether or not the killer was male or female or disguised or in plain clothes. It's meant to spread awareness and hopefully catch the eye of someone who hasn't seen it before. Recognizing something that could be game-changing a vital clue. If anything, in this video rings a bell, even the slightest memory in the back of your mind, whether it be the identity of the shooter or the origin of the Nissan frontier truck contact Crimestoppers at seven one three two two two T I P S let us now turn to the most prominent theories that attempt to explain the unsolved murder of Liz Barraza because of how recent the Liz Barraza murder cases, the theory surrounding it are few and far between both its recency and the withholding of most case details by law enforcements are to blame for this, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Police usually keep important clues and even pieces of evidence that don't seem relevant, close to their chest in order to avoid tipping off the real suspects of their findings or threatening their chances of making an arrest. It's why studying cold cases within their first few years of investigation are so tricky. There simply isn't enough yarn to thread together, a solid board of theories, at least not yet. However, there are still some ideas. One of the very early hypothesis speculated by case followers was that either Sergio or Liz was involved in a secret love triangle. And the shooter from the video is an enraged lover or person who was intimately involved with one of the members of the couple. However, we don't believe this is the case personal and melodramatic gossip often circulates after a murder, and it can be harmful to the Barraza family and disrespectful to the memory of LIS herself if presented without any real evidence. In fact, there is a very simple and straightforward observation regarding this theory that helps de legitimize it from rampant belief. If there was indeed a love triangle and a secret partner involved, there would be a paper trail, or at least a digital one, there would be emails or texts or some sort of communication remaining on a phone or a computer, a forgotten voicemail or letter or something left over to make a connection. The absence of any evidence of this nature speaks for itself. It also shouldn't have to be sad, but Sergio himself has been very clear and concise with police and has fully cooperated with both law enforcement and the media. He has shown no signs. He has something to hide and until police uncover something to the contrary, we must focus on other possibilities than those that likely end up in a tabloid magazine. Of course, the shooter could be connected, very close relationship to either Liz or her husband, but to immediately point fingers towards a scandalous extramarital affair would be jumping the gun. Another commonly held belief about who the killer could be is that they met Liz somewhere at a comic book convention or similar cost playing events. And for whatever reason, fixated on her with the intent to murder, but why or how could this happen? One explanation is the passion behind fan based activities, such as Comicons and other global events is normally brought to the absolute extreme. It regrettably doesn't take long when investigating some pastime, such as these to find there is a history of toxic fandom misogyny and deleted them, certainly not in the majority, but that 1% is known to exist. Of course, cosplaying playing and passionate fandoms are a good thing, full of good people with good intentions and a meant for escapism and passion. But there are cases where people have taken their favorite pop culture iconography a little too far, and that bad blood has been known in the past to spill over into nefarious and criminal territory. Thus, it is suggested that somewhere along their travels or even in an online community, Liz met someone who became overly jealous of her or Sergio made advances. And when they didn't get what they wanted went after her in the most horrific way possible. Now, while this is also somewhat unlikely to not have a trail of communication, somewhere on the internet for police to track, it's possible, this connection was made in person and the killer was on unknown stalker, following Liz around and waiting for her to be alone. There have been confirmed cases of women being stalked at comic conventions before, and has even led to abuse and assaults. It is not a common occurrence, but it has happened frequently enough for some to consider it's in connection with Liz's case, the biggest criticism to the cosplay related stalker theory is how out of place the subject was in Tomball itself. The neighbors never reported seeing the Nissen frontier truck in the housing complex prior to that night. And it wasn't recorded on CCTV cameras in the hours or days leading up to the murder for the stalker who had been following Liz leading up to the shooting, they would have had to stalk her discreetly using another vehicle and tracking her every movement to confirm that she would be alone when she was because the garage sale was not widely broadcast or marketed to the public. The stalker wouldn't have known to go out to the neighborhood that morning. Coincidentally showing up would require an intense amounts of dumb luck. And by all accounts, this was a calculated assassination beyond the odds of pure fortune. We must also remember that the stalker was wearing what some believe is a disguise in the security footage with a long robe and possible wig hiding their true identity. It is possible that the stalker was going an extra mile to hide who they really are. But that also goes against what a stalker typically is someone in the shadows undetected, a disguise not necessary. That is unless the shooter wasn't a random stalker, but someone with a more personal relationship to Liz who somehow knew about the garage sale. Again, this is banking on the idea that detectives did not obtain a list of everyone who knew about the garage sale and clear them of involvements. If they did, which frankly should have been routine investigative work, it would be immensely difficult to slip through the cracks. This is unless the friend or co worker rented a car or better yet borrowed one from a friend or family member this way. If the cops searched car rentals from around the area for that exact model of a Nissan frontier pro four X, the subject would sneak through the cracks without a public or even private records connecting them with anything. And while it seems perhaps overly elaborate for a killer to rent a car for use in a murder plot, keep in mind that many think the shooter was also wearing a disguise. The longer hair appearing more like a wig than a natural hairstyle. Of course, this is impossible to discern on such a low quality camera feet and can neither be confirmed nor denied. But if the killer dressed up, they may also have used a car under someone else's name, knowing there could be many prying eyes identifying the make and model of their getaway vehicle. Overall. However, the idea that the killer was a personal friend is hard to make sense of when considering the most recent update from law enforcement regarding the first word spoken by Liz. When the shooter approached her and unexcited good morning, that was described by law enforcement as a greeting, someone would extend to a stranger or passer-by, doesn't give much credence to the thought that Liz knew her killer. Again, this loops back to the disguise theory. Liz simply may not have recognized her killer at first glance. We also must remember that it was just six 50 in the morning in the very early phases of daylight. The shadows of Twilight may have cloaked the face of the perpetrator. We also don't know what exactly the killer and Liz spoke about in the eight seconds between good morning and gunfire. Once the killer got close, Liz may very well have realized who it was. The CCTV footage doesn't reveal any sign of alarm or attempt to flee by Liz. But the gunman also drew that weapon quickly, allowing very little time to react. There are admittedly many holes with this theory, but it is also only one breakthrough or piece of evidence away from explaining everything sadly for now it is too vague to be counted on the final theory most discussed by SLU so far is that the shooter is a contract killer. Someone who is hired by an associate or even a stalker of Liz's to kill her that fateful morning. This would explain all the irregularities of the video and the situation at large. As we currently see them, a contract killer who has no connection to the Barraza household, wouldn't be identified by lists herself. The vehicle would not be traced to any of her family and friends. And they would have been given the garage sale information by whoever hired them or asked them to do such a terrible thing. Obviously, this depends on the idea that it was someone who knew about the garage sale that sealed Liz's fate, but the way that the perpetrators truck drove around the neighborhood that morning makes us believe that they knew Liz would eventually be alone. That day, understanding Sergio would go to work while Liz set up the supplies, there's even a hypothesized conversation to go with this theory, with some thinking that the eight second conversation before the muzzle flashes consisting of the killer, asking if Liz was who she really was, if her garage sale was really a garage sale and then firing the gun. When Liz confirmed this, it should be noted that if the killer was hired by contract, they were by no means a professional assassin or had much experience in violent crime. Someone who murders with intense per contracts, surely wouldn't have been so obvious would have used silencing techniques for maximum stealth. And most certainly wouldn't have done it wearing a pair of boots and a long flowing robe. There are of course, thousands of characters around the country that might fit that bill, but a hired gunman likely isn't one of them is this by design, another way to camouflage intent with ridiculousness, it can't be ruled out, but at this point, everything is still in
Speaker 1:Play.
Speaker 2:We divulge our hypothesis of Liz Barraza is on solved murder. We want to make known that our conclusions presented in cold case, detective are purely logical speculation based on evidence circumstance and factual subtext. We are only privy to the same information presented in each episode. And we do not attempt to promise certainty or an expert guarantee on the findings. We reach in closing, we simply observe research and report in the case of Liz Barraza. We believe that she was in fact murdered by an associates, whether it be a coworker or someone she met at either a cosplay and convention or other fandom related events who this could be, whether it was a male or female is impossible to specify. However, we are confident that whoever it was committed murder due to an unsolved confrontation with Liz, it was someone who was silent in the rough, but instead of sorting out whatever differences they may have had turned into a cold blooded murderer to try and solve their problems. Whether the long hair was a wig or the robe and boots that are skies, can't be proven at the moment, but it can be assumed that in those eight seconds, after Liz cautiously greeted them with a good morning, the killer laid out what they were about to do before firing the gun four times at point blank range, whoever the killer was then ran off, got rid of their vehicle. When its description hit the rounds of local news, and either seamlessly embedded themselves back into society like nothing ever happened or dropped off the map completely. We also believe that whoever it was did know about the impending garage sale and use that to their advantage. They probably canvas the tumble suburbs previously and maybe even visited the Barraza residence prior to January 25th, to decode Sergio his movements are no the window in which to strike. It's all additional support to the fact that this was premeditated murder, not a whimsical dark fantasy born from someone's nightmare. Nobody just woke up one morning and decided to drive to Southeastern Texas and kill an innocent young woman. This was no serial killer. This was no escaped convict. This was someone who chose with every fiber in their body to commit an evil act. They picked the red paint for the walls. They were not forced or held at gunpoint themselves. And therefore they shall be pursued as such as the cold blooded killer. They are deserving of all the justice that is awaiting to befall them. There are not a lot of details to pour out into the world, but there is always the chance for more to come in. If you have absolutely any connection to Liz or Sergio or may know something yet expressed in this episode or other case coverages, we employ you to let the proper or authorities know so that the offender out there who is still running around in the dark is thrust
Speaker 1:Into the lights until
Speaker 2:Then, let us return to the moments mentioned in the opening of this episode about the brilliant and beautiful way Liz Barraza lived her life until her final breath. It may sound cliche, but Liz truly embodied the idealistic lifestyle of charity and goodness, she never lost her will to make the world around her, the best version of itself impacting each and every person she came into contact with and ensuring their lives would be improved as well. She tackled issues with the utmost dignity, helping those in need with endless charity. Her tireless work in the Five-O first Legion was a Testament to creative empathy and passionate imagination, or a reminder for everyone that it doesn't matter about outside opinions or how the world will view you. If you love something that brings you boundless, joy, undiscovered, anywhere else,
Speaker 1:Hold onto it with all of your hearts in the end, doing what we love
Speaker 2:And surrounding ourselves with things that give us hope will bring upon the same atmosphere for others. Liz was the best of her community. And as a community ourselves, we owe it to her memory to preserve the good
Speaker 1:She spread. We will remember Liz Barraza and all the while
Speaker 2:Continue working tirelessly to solve the question of why she was taken away from the world to begin with making the Tomball
Speaker 1:Terror unsolved no more. This is cold case detective.