Texas serial killer, 62, is arrested after calling cops on himself

A suspected serial killed who may have murdered 13 people handed himself in to police in Austin, Texas last week – calling them and saying: ‘I think you are looking for me.’

Raul Meza Jr, 62, handed himself in on May 24 and on Tuesday was charged with two murders: one in 2019, one on May 20.

Meza, who began his violent crimes in 1975 and served multiple prison sentences, was described by Deputy U.S. Marshall Brandon Filla as ‘the worst of the worst.’

Meza’s alleged crimes began as a teenager.

Raul Meza Jr, 62, handed himself in to police on May 24 after murdering his most recent victim four days previously. He is suspected of as many as 13 murders

Bruce Mills, the Interim Assistant City Manager, said on Tuesday that releasing Meza to kill again was 'a travesty of justice'

Bruce Mills, the Interim Assistant City Manager, said on Tuesday that releasing Meza to kill again was ‘a travesty of justice’

‘Here’s a serial killer that justice was not served. It was a travesty of justice,’ said Interim Assistant City Manager Bruce Mills, who was also the primary investigator on the 1982 case where Meza was convicted of murdering 8-year-old Kendra Page.

‘We don’t know how many more people he killed or would have killed.’

On New Year’s Eve in 1975, Meza and three other teenagers robbed a convenience store near St. Edward’s University in Austin. Meza shot Derly Ramirez, the store attendant, in the back – leaving him paralyzed.

He was convicted, aged 15, of aggravated robbery in 1976 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, but was released on parole in 1981.

Less than a year after being released, Meza struck again.

On January 3, 1982, he strangled and sexually assaulted eight-year-old Kendra Page while she was riding her bike near Langford Elementary School.

The little girl’s body was found naked near a trash bin at the school.

Meza strangled and sexually assaulted eight-year-old Kendra Page (pictured) in January 1982

Meza strangled and sexually assaulted eight-year-old Kendra Page (pictured) in January 1982

Meza turned himself in three days later and took a plea bargain, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

In 1993, after serving 11 years of his sentence, Meza was released as a result of his time served plus time for good behavior.

He was soon back behind bars, however: in August 1994, Meza was found to have violated parole and was returned to prison.

Meza was released once more in 2016, and in mid 2019 murdered 66-year-old Gloria Lofton in her own home.

Lofton was known to her neighbors as a private but exceptionally kind woman, The Austin American Statesman reported, noting that she was known for helping others – and often invited people off the street to stay with her.

They also noted her mental and physical health was starting to deteriorate.

Meza’s DNA was found at the crime scene, Austin police said on Tuesday.

A medical examiner said her cause of death was not conclusive, although there was evidence that she was strangled. 

Meza is seen in court in an undated file photo. His crime spree began in 1975

Meza is seen in court in an undated file photo. His crime spree began in 1975

Meza's most recent crime was the murder of former probation officer Jesse Fraga, 80, who had allowed Meza to live with him in his Pflugerville home for the last two years

Meza’s most recent crime was the murder of former probation officer Jesse Fraga, 80, who had allowed Meza to live with him in his Pflugerville home for the last two years

And on May 20, Meza allegedly murdered former probation officer Jesse Fraga, 80, who had allowed Meza to live with him in his Pflugerville home for the last two years.

The pair had known each other since the 1990s.

Fraga was strangled to death with a belt. The Travis County Medical Examiner later noted that Fraga also had a puncture wound in his neck that severed his spine. 

Meza is thought to have killed up to 10 people in addition to Page, Lofton and Fraga.

‘We have between eight and 10 cases that kind of fit these similar circumstances that we’re looking at. But that could obviously grow,’ said Austin Police Det. Katy Conner during a press conference on Tuesday, announcing Meza’s arrest.

Bruce Mills, the assistant chief of Austin Police Department, said that ‘somebody made a bad decision’ 40 years ago by letting Meza ‘manipulate the system’.

Meza was arrested at his home with a pistol, zip ties and duct tape. 

Detective Patrick Reed added: ‘I will let you know that Mr Meza said he was ready and prepared to kill again, and he was looking forward to it.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk