Murderer Raul Meza Jr. pleads guilty, sentenced to life in prison

A convicted murderer who was expelled from several Texas cities upon his premature release from prison in 1993 pleaded guilty to two new murder charges on Monday. This plea agreement permits him to serve life in prison while circumventing the death penalty, despite the vehement protests from the victims' family members.

Raul Meza Jr.'s Criminal History

Raul Meza Jr., now 63 years old, had previously served approximately a decade in prison for the murder of an 8-year-old girl in 1982. His release in 1993 ensued under prevailing laws, which granted him credit for good behavior during his incarceration. However, subsequent charges surfaced against him in 2023 for the murder of 65-year-old Gloria Lofton in 2019 and the homicide of 80-year-old Jesse Fraga, his roommate, in 2023. Consequently, Meza pleaded guilty to capital murder regarding Lofton's demise and to murder concerning Fraga's death. Consequently, he will not be eligible for parole.

Impact on the Victims' Families

Travis County District Attorney José Garza expressed empathy for the Lofton and Fraga families and stated that this outcome aimed to facilitate their healing process. Garza emphasized that Meza's life imprisonment without the possibility of parole would prevent him from posing a threat to the community. However, the families of Meza's victims advocated for a trial and the pursuit of the death penalty, asserting that a lifetime in prison would not equate to the anguish they endured. Loftin's daughter, Sonia Houston, voiced their concerns in court, expressing that accepting the plea relented Meza's desire.

Meza's Past Conviction

Meza's first conviction stemmed from the murder of 8-year-old Kendra Page in 1982, a case involving strangulation and sexual assault. He entered into a plea agreement, admitting to the crime, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison; however, he served only 11 years. Meza's early release ignited public outrage across Texas, leading to protests aimed at him in multiple cities, with demonstrators sometimes resorting to threats of violence. In an attempt to quell the discord, Meza publicly asserted that he harbored no intention of causing harm to anyone during a news conference in August 1993, following his expulsion from various communities.

Recent Developments

In May 2023, Austin police reported that Meza contacted them, confessing to the murder of Fraga and implicating himself in the sexual assault and murder of Lofton in 2019. These revelations culminated in the plea agreement, thereby bringing closure to a protracted legal ordeal. This development serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities involved in the pursuit of justice and the enduring emotional toll on the families of victims.