Texas police made a significant arrest this week, apprehending a convicted child rapist and murderer connected to several cold cases after he confessed to the crimes.
The suspect, Raul Meza Jr., became a person of interest during an investigation into the stabbing death of his 80-year-old roommate, Jesse Fraga, on May 20. Meza, 62, was spotted driving Fraga’s gray Toyota Tundra, and authorities issued an arrest warrant.
In a startling turn of events, Meza contacted Austin Police Department’s Homicide Division and confessed to the crimes. During a press conference, Detective Patrick Reed recounted Meza’s chilling words, revealing that Meza had also confessed to killing a woman in 2019, providing information that had never been made public.
The Travis County Medical Examiner determined that Fraga had died from a puncture wound and a severed cervical spine. It was revealed that Fraga and Meza had crossed paths in the 1990s when Meza was on parole, and Fraga was working as an adult probation officer trying to assist in Meza’s rehabilitation.
Following his arrest, Meza faces multiple charges, including capital murder, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and two undisclosed first-degree felonies. During the arrest, police found Meza possessing bags containing zip ties, duct tape, and ammunition.
Meza’s criminal history spans over 50 years, starting with his arrest in 1975 for the aggravated robbery of a convenience store clerk. Despite receiving a 20-year sentence, he served only five years. In 1982, while still on parole, Meza was charged with the rape and murder of eight-year-old Kendra Page, whose body was discarded in a dumpster at an elementary school. Meza was convicted but released after serving only 11 years for “good behavior” before violating his parole in 1994.
Meza’s disturbing pattern continued with the 2019 murder of Gloria Lofton, a 66-year-old woman living next door. The case remained unsolved until a DNA profile from the crime scene matched Meza in 2020, although he was never pursued as a suspect then.
Detective Patrick Reed told reporters on Tuesday that Meza turned himself in starting with a telephone call. Reed said, “The caller stated, ‘My name is Raul Meza, and you’re looking for me.’”
