Convicted murderer released in the 90s accepts life sentence on 2 new murder charges

AUSTIN, Texas — A convicted murderer Several Texas cities have run out When he was released early from prison in 1993, he pleaded guilty Monday to two new murder charges over the objections of family members of the victims, reaching a deal that allowed him to serve life in prison and avoid the death penalty.

Raul Meza Jr., 63, spent nearly a decade in prison for the 1982 murder of an 8-year-old girl before being released under laws that gave him credit for good behavior behind bars.

In 2023, he was accused of killing 65-year-old Gloria Lofton in 2019 and her roommate, 80-year-old Jesse Fraga, in 2023. Meza pleaded guilty to capital murder in Lofton’s death and murder in Fraga’s death. Meza will not be eligible for parole.

“Our hearts continue to break for the Lofton and Fraga families. We hope this outcome will continue to assist them in their healing process,” Travis County District Attorney José Garza said in a statement. “As a result of this outcome, Mr. Meza will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole and will never threaten our society again.”

But the families of Meza’s victims wanted him to go to trial and sought the death penalty for Garza.

“A lifetime in prison will not equal the pain the families are going through,” Loftin’s daughter, Sonia Houston, said in a statement read in court. “By accepting this plea, we are giving Raul exactly what he wants.”

Meza was first convicted in 1982 of murdering 8-year-old Kendra Page, who authorities said was strangled and sexually assaulted. He accepted a plea deal in which he confessed to the murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but served only 11 years.

Meza’s early release from prison in 1993 caused uproar in Texas and was met with protesters at almost every turn. Watchmen chased him from six cities, sometimes threatening violence.

“I know in my heart that I would not willingly harm anyone,” Meza said at a press conference in August 1993 after being removed from the communities.

Austin police said Meza called them in May 2023 and confessed to killing Fraga and that he was involved in the sexual assault and murder of Lofton in 2019.