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AUSTIN, Texas (TCD) — Prosecutors announced this week they indicted a suspected serial killer on three counts of murder, including one relating to the strangulation death of his 80-year-old roommate.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Raul Meza Jr. was charged with capital murder and murder in connection with Gloria Lofton’s 2019 death and one count of murder and unauthorized use of a vehicle for allegedly killing his roommate, Jesse Fraga.
KXAN-TV, which cites the indictment, reports Meza allegedly strangled Lofton “in the course of committing and attempting to commit the offense of aggravated sexual assault.”
On May 20, Pflugerville Police conducted a welfare check at Fraga’s home on the 700 block of Camp Fire Trail and found him stabbed and strangled to death. He reportedly had a belt around his neck and his cervical spine had been severed. Police identified Meza as the suspect and arrested him on May 29.
Prior to his arrest, Meza reportedly called the Austin Police Department and said, “My name is Raul Meza and you’re looking for me.”
This isn’t Meza’s first encounter with murder charges. In 1982, he pleaded guilty to killing 8-year-old Kendra Page and served 11 years out of his 30-year sentence. KXAN reports Page’s body was discovered in a dumpster close to an elementary school in Austin.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, investigators believe he could be linked to 10 other unsolved murders in the Austin and San Antonio areas.
He’s currently in custody at the Travis County Jail.
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