She Was Shot 4 Times In Her Own Driveway As She Was Getting Ready For A Garage Sale, And Although Her Murder Was Caught On Camera, Her Killer Has Never Been Identified
Elizabeth Barraza of Tomball, Texas, was a daughter, sister, and wife who loved reading Harry Potter books and supporting the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
In 2012, she graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a boyfriend named Sergio Barraza, whom she met while in college.
Then, following graduation, the pair got married in February of 2014 while pursuing their own successful careers. Elizabeth was a data reporter, while Sergio worked as a crew chief for flooring installations.
And by January of 2019, the happy couple had bought their own home in Tomball, Texas, and were even preparing to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary together in Orlando, Florida.
But, on the morning of January 25– just two days before Elizabeth and Sergio were set to leave for their trip– the unthinkable occurred.
The couple had discussed hosting a garage sale from Friday, January 25 to Saturday, January 26, to sell some personal items.
However, after Elizabeth got a Starbucks coffee and began setting up the garage sale in her driveway at 6:15 a.m., Sergio left for work, and an unknown dark-colored Nissan Frontier Pro X4 Crew Cab pulled up to her home around 6:52 a.m.
The driver of the vehicle did a three-point turn, parked behind Elizabeth’s car, and walked up the Barraza’s driveway.
whokilledlizbarraza.com; pictured above is Elizabeth
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Elizabeth provided the driver– whom she likely suspected was a potential garage sale customer– with a friendly “good morning.”
But then, she was tragically blindsided after they quickly shot her three times. A fourth shot was also delivered point-blank before she tragically collapsed on her driveway.
Three of Elizabeth’s neighbors all heard the gunshots and quickly contacted 911. The incident was also caught on doorbell camera footage.
The suspect exited the neighborhood just three minutes before authorities could arrive, and their identity has remained unknown for over three years now.
Once first responders reached the scene at about 6:58 a.m., Elizabeth was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas, and transported to the Shock Trauma ICU.
Unfortunately, though, she was ultimately placed on life support and lost her life due to severe injuries at just twenty-nine years old.
This wholly unexpected tragedy sent immense shock waves throughout the Tomball community, and authorities immediately launched an extensive investigation.
Officers reported beliefs that the suspect was likely wearing a disguise as well as boots and possibly a wig.
They were also driving a dark-colored Nissan Frontier Pro X4 Crew Cab– which had been tracked on numerous commercial cameras throughout the neighborhood before eventually being lost.
Sadly though, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Barraza family are still left searching for answers after over three years.
In a press conference regarding Elizabeth’s case earlier this year, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg did reassure the public that investigators have not stopped searching for justice.
“Unsolved cases are the unfinished business of law enforcement,” Ogg said.
“The detectives you see who are on this case will never forget Liz, and they won’t stop until they complete the case.”
Moreover, the Sheriff’s Office and the Barraza family have continued asking for help from the community.
A GoFundMe campaign was created to up the monetary reward for anyone who comes forward with information regarding the tragedy.
“Liz and Sergio’s life was dedicated to the service of others. Now, they need our help,” the GoFundMe read.
And since being launched with a goal of twenty-five thousand dollars, nearly one hundred and fifty donors have contributed about nine thousand dollars to the cause.
“This is a tragic story. I am very sorry for your loss,” wrote one donor.
“Elizabeth was a beautiful person inside and out. I feel honored to have met her,” said another.
Elizabeth’s mother and father also created a website detailing their daughter’s life and the incident’s timeline in order to raise awareness about her case.
And as of this year, the reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest and conviction has risen to fifty thousand dollars.
“That is fifty thousand reasons for someone to come forward and do the right thing. Provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers and get this coward off the streets,” said Bob Nuelle, Elizabeth’s father.
If you have any information regarding Elizabeth’s murder, you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-8477.
All tipsters must directly contact Crime Stoppers in order to remain anonymous and be eligible for the cash reward.
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