Convicted murderer pleads guilty to killing woman and elderly roommate

AUSTIN, Texas (TCN) -- A suspected serial killer and convicted murderer will spend the rest of his life in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing a woman in 2019 and his roommate in 2023.

Travis County court records show Raul Meza entered the plea to one count of capital murder by terror threat and one count of murder on Monday, Sept. 30, in connection with the deaths of 65-year-old Gloria Lofton and 80-year-old Jesse Fraga. According to KXAN-TV, Meza said in court, "I am pleading guilty because I am guilty."

The Austin American-Statesman reports Meza's guilty plea means he won't face the death penalty, which was a possibility if he was convicted in a jury trial. Some family members of the victims reportedly did not approve of the Travis County District Attorney's decision to strike a plea deal.

Lofton's daughter reportedly said at the hearing on Monday, "A lifetime in jail will not be equal to the pain that we have all experienced. We want to go to trial so all the atrocities can be publicly aired and addressed."

She said the decision to not make him stand trial is "giving Raul exactly what he wants."

Lofton was found dead in her home on May 9, 2019, according to the Austin American-Statesman. She was reportedly naked below the waist and had shirts pulled over her head. The medical examiner conducted a sexual assault exam and listed her cause and manner of death as "undetermined," though she reportedly had signs of strangulation. The medical examiner said in a report that "although there was severe natural disease identified, the circumstances, witness accounts, and findings at autopsy are concerning for potential inflicted trauma. Findings indicative of strangulation such as external or internal neck trauma may not be present in all cases of strangulation."

In 2020, DNA found on Lofton's body was reportedly identified as a match for Meza, but Austin Police did not follow up on that.

On May 20, 2023, Pflugerville Police conducted a welfare check at Fraga's home and found him deceased with a belt around his neck. The next day, Meza called police and said, "My name is Raul Meza and you're looking for me."

Meza previously served 11 years out of a 30-year sentence for killing an 8-year-old girl on 1982, and he has been incarcerated for other crimes. Police believe Meza could be connected to 10 other cold cases.

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