Murder by nature

Who was this ruthless assailant?

• Jazmin Hernandez • Season 1 • Episode 36

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On January 25th, 2019, in the quiet town of Tomball, Texas, a seemingly ordinary morning turned into a nightmare. Elizabeth 'Liz' Barraza, a 29-year-old with dreams of a blissful anniversary trip to Florida, was setting up for a last-minute garage sale when an unimaginable act of violence unfolded. Her husband, Sergio, left for work just moments before the unspeakable tragedy struck. A black Nissan Frontier Pro-4X pulled up near the Barraza's driveway, and an unknown figure stepped out, approaching Elizabeth with apparent familiarity. Little did she know that her life was about to be cut short in the most horrific manner. Elizabeth's neighbors, going about their own routines that fateful morning, heard her friendly "good morning" to the mysterious visitor. But within seconds, the atmosphere shattered as gunshots echoed through the peaceful neighborhood, leaving Elizabeth lying in her driveway, gasping for help that never came. 

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“Welcome to Murder By Nature, where we discuss True Crime, Mystery disappearances, and unsolved cases! I’m Jazmin, your host!
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On January 25th, 2019, in the quiet town of Tomball, Texas, a seemingly ordinary morning turned into a nightmare. Elizabeth 'Liz' Barraza, a 29-year-old with dreams of a blissful anniversary trip to Florida, was setting up for a last-minute garage sale when an unimaginable act of violence unfolded. Her husband, Sergio, left for work just moments before the unspeakable tragedy struck. A black Nissan Frontier Pro-4X pulled up near the Barraza's driveway, and an unknown figure stepped out, approaching Elizabeth with apparent familiarity. Little did she know that her life was about to be cut short in the most horrific manner. Elizabeth's neighbors, going about their own routines that fateful morning, heard her friendly "good morning" to the mysterious visitor. But within seconds, the atmosphere shattered as gunshots echoed through the peaceful neighborhood, leaving Elizabeth lying in her driveway, gasping for help that never came. Who was this ruthless assailant, and what could have possibly motivated such a senseless act? As we investigate this chilling case, we must remind ourselves that behind every crime statistic is a life—a vibrant, hopeful individual whose potential was snuffed out too soon. Elizabeth's dreams of a happy anniversary trip and a bright future were stolen from her, leaving behind only unanswered questions and shattered dreams. Every detail counts, every lead matters, and every voice deserves to be heard.


In a quiet suburb of Tomball, Texas, lived Elizabeth Barraza, affectionately known as Liz to her friends and family She was born Elizabeth Marie Nuelle in 1989 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, to parents Bob and Rosemary. But the family moved to Texas, where Liz spent most of her life. At 29 years old, Liz had found her soulmate in Sergio Barraza, and the couple's love story began at a place where passions converged – Comic-Con. This convention of devoted fans, celebrating all things nerdy, brought Liz and Sergio together, igniting a spark that would shape their lives forever. 


Liz and Sergio quickly discovered their shared interests, with Star Wars being a central force that bound them together. Their love for the iconic saga and other geeky delights only strengthened their connection. Fuelled by their mutual passions, they found solace and joy in each other's company, realizing that they had indeed found their perfect match. As their love blossomed, Liz and Sergio welcomed a furry bundle of joy into their lives – a dachshund named Diesel. This adorable addition completed their little family, and Diesel's infectious charm brought boundless happiness to their home. On February 1, 2014, surrounded by their loved ones, Liz and Sergio exchanged vows, promising to embark on a lifelong journey together. Their love for one another was undeniable, radiating from their smiles as they gazed into each other's eyes. Their friends and family attested to the unbreakable bond between the two, witnessing a love that was genuine, passionate, and profoundly cherished. Together, Liz and Sergio ventured into the world, hand in hand, with laughter and love as their constant companions. Their shared passions fueled their adventures, and every Comic-Con became an opportunity to celebrate their connection and immerse themselves in the joy of being together. Liz was a remarkable person, known for her caring and compassionate nature. 


Her heart was as vast as the galaxy, as she found joy in brightening the lives of others. Beyond the ordinary, Liz had an extraordinary passion for two beloved universes – Star Wars and Harry Potter. She and Sergio were not merely casual fans; they were official members of the prestigious 501st Legion, an international community of dedicated fans with exceptional talent for crafting lifelike costumes. In the world of the 501st, Liz was hailed as member TB-93474, and she held a significant role as the local chapter's event coordinator. Her dedication to the group was unparalleled, as she tirelessly organized gatherings and charity events. But it was her selflessness that set her apart. Liz didn't hesitate to volunteer her own time, even on weekends and after work, to visit hospitals dressed as a Star Wars Stormtrooper, aiming to bring smiles to the faces of severely ill children. Her ability to brighten even the darkest days with the spirit of the Force was a gift cherished by those she touched. She was a self-proclaimed Harry Potter geek, embracing the enchanting world of magic with the same enthusiasm she brought to the Star Wars galaxy. Her dedication to these fandoms was a reflection of her deep appreciation for the power of imagination and storytelling. As her friends would attest, Liz was a compassionate and loyal confidant, always ready to lend a listening ear and offer unwavering support. Her presence was like a calming force, and her infectious laughter could lift spirits effortlessly. Whether it was sharing in the joy of a friend's success or being a shoulder to cry on during tough times, Liz had an innate ability to make everyone around her feel valued and loved.


In 2016 Liz and Sergio purchased a home in Tomball, Texas, in 2016. It was a dream come true for them the perfect place to build a life together. Liz worked as a data reporter at a company called the Rosen Group while Sergio worked for his dad installing flooring.


On the night of January 24, 2019, Liz decided to hold the garage sale over the following two days – Friday, January 25, and Saturday, January 26. Liz and Sergio were brimming with excitement as they looked forward to an upcoming trip to Orlando, Florida. Their destination was Universal Studios, and the thought of exploring the magical Harry Potter World section was a dream they both shared for a long time. To ensure they could fully embrace the enchantment of their vacation, Liz came up with a brilliant idea – hosting a garage sale before their departure. With the expenses associated with theme park trips in mind, she wanted to make sure they had enough extra funds to splurge on souvenirs and treats, making their adventure truly unforgettable. 


During the discussion about the yard sale Liz decision not to advertise the sale. Only her family and closest friends were aware of it, creating an intimate affair. Unbeknownst to Liz and Sergio, a black Nissan Frontier was driving by their home at 2:00 a.m. and again at 6:47 a.m. at a nearby school and then on another nearby street. The morning of the sale found Liz at Starbucks, grabbing a coffee to energize her for the preparations ahead. Returning home around 6:00 a.m., she got right to work setting up for the sale. As Liz was getting everything situated Sergio had work that day and wouldnt be there to help her.  At 6:48 a.m., Sergie kissed his wife goodbye and got in his white van pulling away just moments before the Nissan Frontier would make another appearance at 6:51 a.m., just three minutes after Sergio left. As the truck pulls around making a U-turn and parked behind Liz’s car on the street. Just a minute later, the unknown person exits the Frontier and approaches Liz in the driveway of her home. The person was dressed in what looked like a white robe or a long white dress, with long hair and appearing shorter than Liz, who is only 5’2″. Liz greets the person with a, “Good morning,” thinking they just wanted to show up early to get the good stuff. The unknown individual instead pulls out a gun shooting Liz three times in the chest at point-blank range, in shock Liz falls to the ground, helpless and wounded, and the killer callously shoots her again. As the shooter flees the scene in their truck, Liz’s neighbors were left stunned and horrified. One neighbor heard the gunshots and immediately called 911, while another witnessed the attack on their home security footage. With so many eyewitnesses and pieces of evidence, the community is hopeful that this person will be caught. As neighbors try to help the black truck returned to the scene of the crime at 6:55 a.m. The truck was caught on doorbell camera driving by the Barraza home. The police were on the scene only three minutes after the last sighting of the truck. When first responders arrived at the scene, Liz was still alive and rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital, the same hospital where she had volunteered to encourage and uplift sick children. As chaos emerged within the neigborhood people took to social media asking what happened, why was there police everywhere. As most are when something like this happens they felt the shock to hear one of their own was shot in their driveway. Friends and family took to the threads of facebook post urging people to review their camera footage to see if anyone picked anything else up. While Liz was in the hospital fighting for her life, 


police quickly detained Sergio for questioning as he was the last unknown person to see Liz that morning. Sergio let police know that after he left home for work he got alerts that the security system was going on and saw the police at his house and he started to rush home. The police asked him who knew that they were having a yard sale that day. The one thing that always struck me as odd is the yard sale was on a Friday, Liz had to take off work for this, which meant that the killer knew that she would be home because any other day she would of left for work already and not even had been there, this person lurked around that whole evening for her scoping out the house. Sergio let the police know that the only people that I know knew about the garage sale was some of Liz coworkers, himself, her parents, and his mom. 


On Jan 26th Liz passed away at 1:40 PM. In death, she gave others life because she was an organ donor; she was able to save the lives of four other people by donating her heart, liver, and both kidneys. Her corneas were also gifted, granting someone the gift of clear sight. As the case turned into a homicide investigation the police were on full swing. 

 

As the police started canvassing the neighborhood, they quickely learned that a neighbor’s Ring doorbell camera caught the whole incident on video, and investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office were stunned when they watched the footage. In the footage it showed the driver of the black pickup truck, an unidentified person with long hair, getting out of their vehicle and walking up to Elizabeth as she stood in her front yard. They appeared to exchange a few words, but just eight seconds after approaching Elizabeth, the killer opened fire. They then ran back to their truck and left the neighborhood. The police were able to determine from the video that the car was a dark-colored Nissan Frontier 4×4 with a PRO-4X sticker. Deputies told reporters that they were still trying to determine the motive behind the cold-blooded killing. Lt. Stauber said that from what the video showed, Elizabeth appeared to have been targeted. “It looked very deliberate to me.” He noted that no shell casings had been found at the crime scene, leading investigators to believe the killer had used a revolver. As in many cases where no suspect is immediately named, there was a lot of speculation on social media and online communities about who the shooter could be. Although the surveillance video was fuzzy, the killer had long hair and some people thought it looked like a female. People questioned if it could have been a jealous wife or mistress, but there was no evidence to suggest that either Sergio or Elizabeth had been involved with other people. Another theory was that Elizabeth hadn’t been the intended target, but was instead a victim of mistaken identity. It appeared that the killer either knew when Elizabeth’s husband left for work or had been watching the home that morning. Sergio was seen leaving for work at 6:48 am, and the killer’s truck drove past just four minutes later, at 6:52 am. The police looked into Sergio as a suspect as most do when someones wife is murder since they could benefit from life insurance and Sergio stood to benefit about $500,000 in insurance from his wife’s death. However, he was always cooperative with the police even taking a polygraph test which he passed and scrutiny of his finances revealing no discrepancies. This meant that they didnt even need the money so it did not give police a motive. I will say there is a video of Sergio after the murder and he doesnt look like someone who would of murdered their wife you can see the pain within his eyes and his emotions. Sergio did though , offer another theory as to who his wife’s killer was. According to him, his father squandered away money on his several girlfriends, destabilizing the family business. As per Sergio, Liz was concerned and confronted her father-in-law when her husband’s last paycheck bounced. The police hypothesized that he might have come to know about the insurance and decided to kill his daughter-in-law to solve the financial problems. However, investigators could not find anything that tied Sergio’s father to the murder after minutely going through his call records and finances.


On February 2, 2019, a week after her death her friends and family gathered together to hold a candlelight vigil for her. Over 100 people attended the vigil, which was held in the driveway where Elizabeth was killed. Since Elizabeth had been an avid Star Wars fan, some of the attendees held glowing lightsabers instead of candles. Sergio noted, “She didn’t deserve this, she deserved to live a long and happy life. I’m so glad that one of the last things I got to do was kiss her goodbye and tell her I love her.” Sergio said he and Elizabeth had combined their love of Stars Wars with their passion for helping others, and did a lot of volunteer work for a local hospital  the same hospital Elizabeth was taken after she was shot. “My wife Liz was an amazing person. A beautiful person with a kindness of soul. She had such a big heart.” Elizabeth’s father, Bob Nuelle, couldn’t understand why his daughter had been targeted by a killer. “We lost a daughter and a sister and a wife and a friend…a truly inspirational young woman. The important thing is to focus on justice for Liz.”


On February 6, 2019, officials held a press conference to update the public on the murder investigation. Although they still didn’t have any suspects. “This person is wearing what I’m calling ‘go-go boots’ and maybe a muumuu dress and a wig possibly.” He still wasn’t sure if the killer was a male or female. The truck had been spotted in the neighborhood the night before the murder took place and was believed to have been lurking in the area that morning, perhaps waiting for Sergio to leave for work. Detectives examined hundreds of black trucks matching the description including rentals but were unable to link any to the murder. Elizabeth’s father attended the press conference and told reporters, “A coward forever changed our lives and shot an unarmed and defenseless woman. The murderer needs to pay for their actions. We believe someone can help guide law enforcement. Please come forward.” The family announced that Crime Stoppers was offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Elizabeth’s killer. Many of her Star Wars friends had contributed to the reward fund. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said that detectives still weren’t sure if the shooter had been a man or a woman, and they were still struggling to find the motive for the killing. A cash box with $100 in it was untouched, as were all the items Elizabeth had brought outside to sell. Detectives hoped that someone would recognize the person in the video and come forward. “You have my word, we’ll do everything possible to bring justice to Elizabeth’s killer. Somebody out there knows something.” 


In the months after this bizarre and tragic shooting, authorities would scour the local area for any clue of the truck that the offender had been driving that morning: a dark Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. They would attempt to pull footage from every camera in a radius around the crime scene, hoping to track where the vehicle had gone after the shooting. It was even reported - months later - that the Harris County Sheriff's Office had been in contact with the Texas Rangers, hoping their knowledge would assist in their investigation.


The lead investigator on the case, said that the sheriff’s office had received a few tips but hadn’t developed any substantial leads pointing to the killer’s identity. “In my investigation, and in looking at Elizabeth and finding out a lot of information about her through different means, this woman from what I can see did not have a mean bone in her body. She treated everyone with respect. She was a loving person, and this definitely wasn’t deserved.”


Months went by and Elizabeth’s killer was still out there on the loose with no one being able to identify them. On the first anniversary of the murder, Elizabeth’s friends and family held a vigil in her memory. They wanted to make sure the public hadn’t forgotten that the case was still unsolved; they also wanted to make sure no one forgot about Elizabeth. Sergio stated, “I miss her. She didn’t deserve this. They ripped a piece of my life out. Every morning I wake up and I think it’s going to be my turn, that whoever did this is waiting to come do this to me, too.” time couldn’t help heal the pain he felt from losing his wife. “It was the worst day of my life. It was the worst news you could possibly get. We should be talking about planning our next anniversary trip. We should still be together.” He had sold the home he shared with Elizabeth, unable to get past the fact that she had been killed in the driveway.



In August of 2019 - approximately six months after Elizabeth's murder - it would be reported that investigators were awaiting the results of a warrant that, according to Elizabeth's father, would "possibly break the case." But by January of 2020 - the first anniversary of the shooting - the results of this warrant were still pending, and investigators would not divulge which aspect of the investigation it pertained to. Many believe that this might have been related to cell phone location data, perhaps attempting to track who had been in the area at the specific time of the shooting. But I also find it likely that this could be footage from local traffic cameras, which would take a decent amount of time to analyze.  


Speaking about this warrant, Harris County homicide detective Michael Richie would state:  "I feel that the results of that warrant will be critical in the investigation and most likely will expose a suspect and who's responsible for this."


Over the past year after her murder detectives would follow up on every lead they received but they still knew a little more than they did on the morning Elizabeth was killed. Detective Ritchie told reporters, “I do believe there was more than one person involved in this, and I do believe there are some people out there that maybe have a suspicion that somebody they know might have been involved in this.” He noted that there was still a $20,000 reward for information and he was hopeful that someone would finally do the right thing and come forward.


Another year passed without any answers for Elizabeth’s family. On the second anniversary of the murder, police released doorbell cam footage from Elizabeth’s home that captured the moment she was killed. Although you couldn’t see the shooting take place, the camera did catch the killer’s car as it passed by the house before it parked. Detective Wallace Wyatt told reporters that the doorbell cam’s audio highlighted just how brutal the crime was. “Liz reacts, scared…we’re not sure what was said by the suspect, then…shoots her three times. She falls to the ground. This horrible, calculated, premeditated, and pitiless murderer steps over her and shoots her again in the head.” The shooter ran back to the black pickup truck, which had been left running during the crime. The truck could be seen driving past the house as if it were going to exit the subdivision, but two minutes later it passed by the doorbell camera once more. It appeared that the shooter wanted to make sure Elizabeth was dead. Detective Wyatt had a message for the killer. “I hope you can’t sleep at night and that you know we are never going to stop looking for Liz’s murderer…there’s no time limit on this case.” He hoped that releasing the video and audio from the doorbell camera would be the push someone needed to come forward. “We are hoping that someone will see this…hopefully, they have a heavy heart and know something and they want to come back and tell us what they know.” Elizabeth’s father said he was horrified by how calculated the killer had been. “Something extraordinarily evil reached out and intentionally murdered my daughter. This was not a robbery. This was not a gang initiation. This was somebody that wanted to kill my daughter and did it. That’s crazy. It’s just unimaginable.” Elizabeth’s mother, Rosemary Nuelle, had been devastated by her daughter’s death and didn’t speak publicly about it until March 2021. She told reporters, “Maybe I can reach out to somebody who knows something and they can see my pain and will actually come forward…we don’t know who did this and we don’t know why they did it.” She begged for help from the public in identifying Elizabeth’s killer.


The police were trying to do anything and everything to bring justice for Liz but without any leads the case turned cold. As the third anniversary of the crime approached, Elizabeth’s loved ones announced that the reward for information was being raised to $50,000. At a press conference, Robert had a message for his daughter’s killer, stating that the family was never going to give up their fight for justice. In January 2023, Sergio told reporters that he knew there were some people who believed that he had somehow been involved in his wife’s murder, but he insisted that he had nothing to do with it. “I know people immediately say it was the husband that did it…I understand that but you had to know Liz and I. You had to see us. I still love her to this day…Liz was amazing. It was like a fairytale that we had together.” Some of the speculation was caused by the fact that Sergio got remarried a couple of years after Elizabeth died, but he pointed out that he met his current wife more than a year after the murder. She had recently lost her sister and the two of them bonded over their shared feelings of grief. Sergio said both he and his current wife had always cooperated with investigators and they had both passed polygraph examinations. Liz’s father spoke out on these allegations and stated that Sergio and his daughter had been deeply in love and there had been no signs of trouble in their relationship. “They were two wonderful people, and when they were together, they were so much better.” Rosemary wondered if someone had been envious of her daughter. “Liz was such a kind person…maybe someone was jealous of her. Maybe they were jealous of Sergio and Liz’s relationship.”


As of May 2023, detectives continue to investigate Elizabeth’s murder but admit that they don’t have any suspects. Detective Wyatt hopes that someone will eventually recognize the person in the surveillance video and contact investigators. “Everybody is still a suspect until we find out who this is.”


The tragedy that befell Liz, taken from her home in a senseless act of violence, shook the community to its core. The loss of such a vibrant, caring soul left a void that could never be filled. Yet, the memory of Liz lives on, not only through her loving family but through the countless lives she touched as a beacon of light in a sometimes dark world.


Liz's story serves as a reminder to cherish each moment and to embrace our passions wholeheartedly. She showed us that the most meaningful connections are forged through kindness and selflessness, and that a single act of compassion has the power to ripple through eternity. As we remember Elizabeth "Liz" Barraza, we honor her legacy by striving to be like her – to be caring, inspiring, and unafraid to embrace our passions, just as she embraced the Force and the magic of Hogwarts. Let her light guide us as we journey through life, making this world a better place, one smile at a time.


My thoughts on this case, with the video evidence, the security footage and theres a lot of it, the cameras around the area, the warrant. The police have to have an idea on who did this, I have my own after all the footage, and articles I have read but as stated in this episode a few times the killer was calcualted and took the steps to not get enough evidence to convict. To me this person is close with the family or knew the family as they made the decision to drive by, flip around and block themselves from the ring at the door which you wouldnt be able to see from the street. 


That brings us to the end of this episode!  As always, thanks for listening to Murder By Nature. If you enjoy our show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any streaming platform you are currently on, and be sure to come back Saturday for our new episode. Until then, I am your host, Jazmin Hernandez, don’t forget to stay safe! Don’t get murdered or murder people, you lovely humans!





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