Two new murder charges, including one that could result in the death penalty, have been filed against a Texas man who was convicted of the 1980s murder of an 8-year-old girl before fleeing from multiple places after his early release from prison.
Raul Meza Jr., 62, was detained early this year on suspicion of murder in the 2019 death of a woman and the May death of his companion. The Austin Police Department stated at the time that they were also investigating up to 10 unsolved cold cases from 1996 that might be related to Meza, however, they have not yet made any findings public.
One count of capital murder is included in the indictments returned by a Travis County grand jury on Thursday in connection with the death of Gloria Lofton, 65, who was discovered in her house. The 80-year-old Jesse Fraga was killed, and the grand jury also charged Meza with murder on one count.
Russell Hunt Jr., Meza’s lawyer, did not promptly return a phone call on Friday. Meza has been detained on a $1 million bond since May.
Meza called the Austin Police Department on May 24 and, when a detective answered the phone, confessed to one of the deaths, according to court documents.
According to an affidavit, the caller introduced himself as Raul Meza. “I believe you are searching for me,”
When Meza sought to settle down in Texas villages decades ago after serving nearly a third of a 30-year sentence for the rape and murder of 8-year-old Kendra Page, he incited outrage. In 1993, he was granted release after serving a good amount of time.
Meza personally appealed to the public after picketers forced him out of six locations.
During a press conference in August 1993, he declared, “In my heart, I know that I’m innocent and will not willfully bring harm to anyone,” describing oneself as a born-again Christian and not a danger to society.
Fraga’s body was discovered by police in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville on May 20 while conducting a welfare check after his loved ones had not heard from him in a few days. Lofton was killed by being strangled.