← Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield
Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield
Unbelievable Texas Murder Mystery: Killer Walked Up & Fired | The Disturbing Case of Liz Barraza
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- [00:00]
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- [00:32]
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- [01:14]
Ashley Banfield
Hi everyone, I'm Ashley Banfield and this is drop dead serious. You know those mysteries that you just can't shake. Those stories that swim in your thoughts as you're trying to drift off to sleep? Those murder cases that have multiple theories, each one more but also less plausible than the next. This is one of those stories a young woman sets up for a garage sale in her driveway and minutes later she's gunned down in broad daylight while her own security cameras record every second of it. No robbery, no motive, no suspect. Just a grainy video and a question that has haunted Texas ever since. It was early on Friday, January 25, 2019, the kind of quiet Texas morning where everything feels half asleep. The air was cool, the streets were still, and the only sound was the rhythm of sprinklers sweeping across the lawns of Tomball, Texas. It's a small suburb just outside of Houston. At a small brick home on cedar Walk Drive, 29 year old Liz Barraza was already up rolling open her garage door, setting out tables and preparing for a weekend yard sale. It was ordinary, peaceful, the kind of morning that should have meant nothing. But within minutes, that calm would be shattered and what happened on that driveway would haunt investigators for years. To understand how this story unfolded, you only have to rewind a few minutes. Back to the quiet routine that started Liz's morning. Her husband, Sergio Barrazza, left for work about 6:45am Just like he did every day, Liz stayed behind to finish setting up for the garage sale that she'd been planning all week long. She was eager to clear out space and make a little extra money for a trip that they were planning to take together. Security cameras mounted on the house caught her walking in and out of that garage, moving boxes and straightening tables and adjusting the small handwritten signs that she'd made. Nothing about the scene stood out, just a young woman starting her day. But those quiet, ordinary minutes on Cedar Walk Drive would soon become evidence in a homicide investigation. Liz and her husband had been married for five years, the kind of couple everybody liked. They were kind and generous and always the first people to help friends in need. When they weren't working, they volunteered, often dressing up in Star wars costumes for kids events and charity fundraisers. Liz was part of the 501st Legion, a global group of fans who used their hobby to do good work. That Friday morning, the garage sale was an effort by Liz to raise some extra money for a personal trip to Disney world. At about 6:48am Liz's Home Security cameras began recording. The video shows her backing her pickup truck into the driveway and starting to arrange tables for the sale. By this point, her husband, Sergio, had left for work just a few minutes earlier, again around 6:45. And that is when the clock started ticking on Liz Barraza's last morning alive. Four minutes later, the camera captured headlights rounding the corner. It was a dark truck, a Nissan Frontier, and it pulled up to the curb right out in front of Liz's house. It paused and then reversed slightly, and then it parked. The driver's side door opened, and out stepped a person, a small frame wearing a long dark coat or robe, maybe even a wig. They began to walk straight up the driveway. No hesitation, like they'd been there before, and they walked right up to Liz. Liz turned to greet the person, and they actually spoke for five seconds. Then the killer raised a gun and fired. Four shots. Two of the shots were to the chest, one was to the head, and another was to the face. Liz collapsed onto the concrete as the shooter calmly walked back to the truck. Not running, not panicked. They simply drove away. 14 seconds was all that it took. When the gunfire stopped, the neighborhood was silent again, at least for a moment. A few houses down, somebody thought it sounded like fireworks. Another neighbor said it was too early for that. Maybe instead it was construction or a car backfiring. But curiosity eventually won out. When they stepped outside, they saw something that did not make sense. Liz Barraza was Lying in her driveway, face down and not moving. Within minutes, calls started coming into 911 deputies and paramedics arrived to find Liz critically injured, shot multiple times at close range. They worked on her right there in the driveway before rushing her to Memorial Herman Hospital in the Woodlands. Her husband Sergio, was still on his way to work when the calls started coming in. But by the time he reached the emergency room, Liz had already been pronounced dead. Detectives from the Harris County Sheriff's office quickly sealed off the street and began combing through the evidence. Nothing had been taken. Her purse, her phone, her wallet, even the small cash box for the garage sale. They were all still in plain sight. And in a curious observation, Liz was also selling some Star wars collectibles. In this garage sale, some of them might have been worth a good amount of money, but they weren't touched either. Whatever happened that morning, it did not look like a robbery gone wrong. But the key to this killing was that small figure and particularly the way that person walked. But maybe more so how Liz reacted when the killer reached the top of the driveway. And I'll get to all of that in just a moment. But first, a very quick thank you to all of you for being here. And we also couldn't do it without our sponsor.
- [08:14]
Dutch Vet Service Announcer
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care. Go to Dutch.com to get vet care that is always there for just $92 a year.
- [08:52]
Mrs. Claus
Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.
- [08:54]
Zoe
Zoe. This thing weighs a ton.
- [08:56]
Drew Ski
Drew Ski, Live with your legs, man.
- [08:57]
Ashley Banfield
Santa. Santa, did you get my letter?
- [08:59]
Zoe
He's talking to you, Bridges.
- [09:01]
Drew Ski
I'm not.
- [09:02]
Mrs. Claus
Of course he did.
- [09:03]
Drew Ski
Right, Santa, you know my elf Drew Ski here. He handles the nice little and elf.
- [09:08]
Zoe
I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T mobile you can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. Right, Mrs. Claus?
- [09:17]
Mrs. Claus
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- [09:23]
Drew Ski
Or give it as a gift.
- [09:25]
Mrs. Claus
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- [09:28]
Zoe
Guys, my side of the tree is slipping.
- [09:30]
Drew Ski
Timber.
- [09:31]
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- [09:51]
Ashley Banfield
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- [10:25]
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- [10:30]
Ashley Banfield
You can do that from anywhere. I love it. And with Active Guard, their AI powered outdoor protection monitoring, agents can actually stop crime before it happens. They can see and speak to somebody who's suspicious. They can trigger spotlights and even request police, all before a break in. It is easy to install yourself or have a pro do it. No contracts. Monitoring is about a dollar a day and Simplisafe has been ranked best home security five years in a row. And here's the best part. Because I want you to have the same peace of mind that I do at my house, I've got a 50% discount for you on your new SimpliSafe system when you sign up for professional monitoring. And your first month is also free. Visit SimpliSafe.com drop dead serious. Again, that's SimpliSafe.com drop dead Serious. Check them out. There is no safe like SimpliSafe. Now back to Liz Barraza and the mysterious small figure who shot her execution style in her driveway. The Harris County Sheriff's Office flooded the area with deputies canvassing every door and pulling footage from every security camera they could for blocks. Within days, investigators isolated what would become the key piece of evidence, the surveillance videos that captured the killer's truck as it approached during the shooting. And as it left. The vehicle was identified as a 2013-2016 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X, a crew cab pickup with a short bed, a hard tonneau cover, and distinctive chrome wheels. Detectives released still images of it to the public, calling it a vehicle of interest. But it wasn't just the truck that stood out. It was the person who stepped out of that truck. Again, the figure appeared small in stature, possibly 5 foot 5, maybe 5 foot 7, and moved with a compact, deliberate stride. Some investigators have described the walk as slightly pigeon toed with shorter steps in an upright posture. That detail sparked debate within the department. A few detectives said the gate looked unmistakably feminine. Maybe a woman in flat boots or low heels. Others argued it could have been a man, dressed or disguised to appear smaller or throw off anyone who might later see the footage. Either way, the outfit was unusual. Dark clothing that fell below the knees, possibly a trench coat, maybe a robe or a robe style jacket. And what appeared to be some kind of head covering, maybe even a wig. Whoever that person was, they were dressed to hide, not to blend in. Detectives interviewed everyone close to Liz. Her husband, her co workers, and her friends from the 501st Legion. Remember, they were the Star wars costuming group that she volunteered with. But no one reported any conflict or any threats or reason that anybody would target Liz Barraza. Sergio Barraza was ruled out almost immediately. His phone data and his workplace surveillance confirmed he was 15 miles away when the shots were fired. So if this wasn't random and it wasn't her husband, then who climbed out of that truck that morning dressed head to toe to conceal everything but their intent? I will say this. In my line of work, one thing is really clear about the kind of shots that were fired at Liz. One of those shots hit her in the face. And for anyone who's followed true crime, you know, shooting someone in the face is intensely personal. It is rare that it happens. And most of the time, there is a deep seated emotional motive for those who fire into someone's face. Investigators tried to follow the truck's path using every camera they could find. Traffic feeds, business surveillance, even doorbell video from nearby streets. And they did a pretty good job of putting it all together. Connecting a route that the killer took, they were able to track the vehicle leaving Cedarwalk Drive and turning west onto Spring Cypress Road. The vehicle then began heading south toward Highway 249. But sadly, that's where the trail went cold. The truck never appeared on any other cameras after that. No license plate number was ever caught on camera. And despite viewing hours and hours of surveillance footage from gas stations and intersections along the route, detectives could not pinpoint where that truck went next. It was a complete mystery. Where had that Nissan Frontier come from? Where did it disappear to after Liz was murdered? From the very beginning, detectives said this wasn't random. Whoever killed Liz Barraza seemed to know exactly when to strike. Sergio left for work at 6:45am By 6:52, seven minutes later, the shooter's truck appeared on camera. That's a seven minute window. It's tight enough to suggest timing, not coincidence. So what could the killer's motive be? One theory points to a personal connection. That Liz was targeted by someone she knew. A jealous acquaintance, maybe even someone from her volunteer community who had fixated on her kindness, her marriage, or her involvement in the 501st Legion. So early on, investigators looked closely at that community, interviewing members and checking for conflicts. But strangely, they found nothing concrete. Another possibility. A contracted hit. Somebody paid to do the job. Hired by a person with a grudge. Or maybe even a reason that no one has yet discovered. The execution style approach, the calm retreat, the lack of thought, theft. It all looked like the work of a pro. But the idea of a paid hitman in a suburban neighborhood just before sunrise felt just as hard to believe. And then there's a theory that leans towards the chillingly random. That Liz was stalked by a stranger who saw her garage sale post online. It's possible she did advertise it publicly on community websites and social media. But the footage raises questions that theory cannot answer. The way that Liz seemed completely at ease in those final seconds, the way she turned towards the person who approached her. She wasn't startled. She wasn't frightened. She didn't back away. They spoke for five seconds. In 2022, three years after the shooting, the Harris County Sheriff's Office made a major move, releasing the full surveillance video to the public. And boy, did it spread fast. Within hours, Reddit threads and Tick Tock videos racked up hundreds of thousands of views. People slowed the footage to half speed, circling details frame by frame. Some said the shooter's posture and stride did indeed look like a woman's. Others swore that the way the killer handled the gun, controlled, squared off well, that that suggested military or law enforcement training. One viewer noticed that the shooter's right arm barely swung, that it was stiff, almost mechanical, almost like they were carrying something heavy under that long coat. The speculation exploded across the Internet. Amateur sleuths built entire timelines. YouTubers offered theories about height and gait. Even footwear. But none of it led to an arrest, none of it led to a suspect, and none of it forwarded a motive. But the one thing everyone agreed on. The person in that video knew exactly what they were doing. And today, more than six years after Liz Barraza was shot to death in her driveway, there's still been no arrest. The Harris County Sheriff's Office says the investigation remains open and active. Detectives say they're still reviewing digital evidence, re interviewing witnesses and tracking down every credible lead. But so far, no one's been charged. Crime Stoppers of Houston continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for any tip that leads to an arrest or indictment. And Liz's father, Bob Newell, has never stopped fighting for answers. Every January, on the anniversary of her death, he stands in front of the cameras and he reminds the public that his daughter's killer is still out there somewhere. He says the same thing every year. Somebody knows who did this. Somebody is protecting a murderer. And he's right. That video, that haunting 14 second clip, shows someone who wasn't afraid of being seen. Somebody who walked calmly up a driveway in the early morning light, pulled a trigger, and vanished before anyone could even understand what had happened. More than six years later, the image of that figure still lingers. A dark silhouette against a peaceful street. And a question that refuses to fade. Who killed Liz Barraza? Again, Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any tip that leads to an arrest or indictment in Liz Barraza's murder. If you have any information about this murder, no matter how small you think it is, call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS. That's 713-222-8477. You can remain anonymous and you can still earn a reward and spread the word about this podcast, too, because the more eyes on this story, the better the chance that somebody just might speak up. I'm Ashley Banfield. Thank you so much for listening and thank you for watching. And remember, the truth isn't just serious, it's drop dead serious.
- [22:13]
Mrs. Claus
Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.
- [22:15]
Zoe
Zoe, this thing weighs a ton.
- [22:16]
Drew Ski
Drewski, lift with your legs, man.
- [22:18]
Ashley Banfield
Santa. Santa, did you get my letter?
- [22:20]
Zoe
He's talking to you, Bridges.
- [22:21]
Drew Ski
I'm not.
- [22:22]
Mrs. Claus
Of course he did.
- [22:24]
Drew Ski
Right, Santa, you know my elf Drew Ski here. He handles the nice list.
- [22:27]
Zoe
And elf, I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T mobile. You can get it on them. That center stage. Front camera is amazing for group selfies, right? Mrs. Claus?
- [22:37]
Mrs. Claus
I'm Mrs. Claus much younger sister and AT T Mobile there's no trade in needed when you switch so you can.
- [22:43]
Drew Ski
Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.
- [22:45]
Mrs. Claus
And the best part? You can make the switch to T Mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes.
- [22:49]
Zoe
Nice. My side of the tree is slipping.
- [22:51]
T-Mobile Announcer
Kimber the holidays are better. AT T Mobile switch in just 15 minutes and get iPhone 17 on us with no trade in needed. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill.
- [23:02]
T-Mobile Legal/Disclaimer Voice
Credits for well qualified customers. Plax tax and $35 device connection charge Credit sentinel balance due if you pay off earlier, Cancel financing agreement 256 gigs $830 eligible for it in a new line $100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes fees required. Check out 15 minutes or less per line.
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- [23:43]
Ashley Banfield
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Zoe
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Ashley Banfield
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