Gloria Lofton’s death in 2019 had been a mystery until murder suspect Raul Meza Jr. allegedly confessed to her killing and others last year. A critical clue, a mysterious note found by Lofton’s daughters, identified Meza by name. This note was found six days after Lofton’s body was discovered, but authorities were not alerted to it. Meza, 63, had a history of violence, serving 11 years in prison for the 1982 murder and sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl. He has been linked to other unsolved homicides in the Austin area, but has not been charged in any other killings.
Authorities recently acknowledged that they did not act on key forensic evidence that could have linked Meza to Lofton’s death. Despite this oversight, Meza’s lawyer offered prosecutors a plea agreement of two concurrent 50-year sentences for the killings of Lofton and Jesse Fraga, who he also confessed to killing. Lofton’s daughters were unaware of the arrest affidavit revealing that a DNA match from a vaginal swab linked Meza to their mother’s murder until last year. The siblings have expressed frustration with the mishandling of the case and the lack of communication from authorities.
Gloria Lofton was found dead in her Austin, Texas home in May 2019, with evidence of strangulation found during the autopsy, but the cause and manner of death were listed as undetermined. Lofton’s family believed her death may have been alcohol-related, possibly due to an accident while drinking. The discovery of a used condom and other items in her home led to this conclusion. Authorities did not provide many details about Lofton’s death, and her daughters did not question the police investigation initially as they were focused on other matters.
A notebook found in Lofton’s home contained a note giving permission to Raul Meza Jr. to request a certificate of authority on her behalf. This discovery led to shock and confusion for Lofton’s daughters when Meza’s name was revealed in his alleged confession. The note raised questions about a possible motive in Lofton’s killing, as Meza claimed he was promised a share of an inheritance that was to go to Lofton’s nephew. However, the sisters stated that Lofton did not have nephews, raising doubts about this motive. The investigation into Lofton’s death is ongoing, with the Austin Police Department and Travis County District Attorney’s Office not providing further comments on the case.
