Raul Meza, a convicted murderer facing two additional murder charges in the deaths of Gloria Lofton, 65, and Jesse Fraga, 82, entered a guilty plea on Monday afternoon in a court in Austin. The court accepted his plea agreement of life without the possibility of parole for each case, which is the maximum sentence. Meza will not be eligible for parole. “I am pleading guilty because I am guilty,” Meza stated in court.
The judge detailed the steps Meza took in the deaths of Fraga and Lofton, admitting to stabbing and cutting Fraga and strangling Lofton to death while attempting to commit the crime of aggravated sexual assault. Meza affirmed in court that he was responsible for these actions. This plea deal comes after Meza killed 8-year-old Kendra Page in 1982 and was released early from prison due to lax state laws at the time. He was also convicted of aggravated robbery for shooting a store clerk in 1977. Investigators have suggested that Meza could be linked to up to 10 additional cold case murders.
Meza’s attorneys had previously presented an offer of life in prison for one murder and 20 years for another, which would have allowed Meza the possibility of parole after 40 years. However, Judge Julie Kocurek made it clear that she would only accept a plea deal that sentenced Meza to life without parole or required a trial by jury. The victims’ families have been vocal in their opposition to any opportunity for Meza to be granted parole.
Family members of Lofton, Fraga, and Page have attended every hearing since Meza’s arrest in 2023 and have consistently urged for a harsh punishment for Meza. Last week, Lofton’s family issued a statement through their victims’ advocate requesting the district attorney’s office not to accept a plea deal and instead seek the death penalty and a jury trial for transparency in the investigation.
Meza’s attorney, Russell Hunt, Jr., has expressed that Meza wishes for the legal process to conclude for both himself and the community. Meza is currently in custody in the Travis County Jail, awaiting the court’s decision during the ongoing trial.
The deaths of Gloria Lofton and Jesse Fraga have deeply impacted their families and the community. In May 2023, Fraga’s niece requested a welfare check on her uncle, leading to the discovery of his body in their home. Meza, who had been taken in by the Fraga family after his release from prison, eventually turned himself in for Fraga’s murder and admitted to the killing of Gloria Lofton in 2019.
The Austin Police Department faced scrutiny for a DNA oversight in Lofton’s murder case, where a DNA profile obtained from a sexual assault kit for Lofton in 2020 matched Meza’s DNA, but Meza was not arrested at that time. Former Police Chief Joseph Chacon initiated an internal investigation into the handling of the DNA hit, addressing potential investigative lapses. Interim Chief Robin Henderson expressed regret over the oversight and implemented policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations and proper handling of evidence in criminal proceedings. The victims’ families seek justice and closure, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the legal process. As the trial of Raul Meza continues, the community awaits the court’s decision on the fate of a convicted murderer facing multiple charges of heinous crimes.
