TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza's criminal history
A man charged in connection with the death of an 80-year-old Pflugerville man earlier this month was previously convicted of murder in the 1980s, and law enforcement officials now say he might be linked to several cold cases.
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man charged in connection with the death of an 80-year-old Pflugerville man earlier this month was previously convicted of murder in the 1980s, and law enforcement officials now say he might be linked to several cold cases.
Raul Meza Jr., 62, was identified and arrested and charged after confessing to the murder of his roommate Jesse Fraga, 80. Meza also implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019, three years after Austin Police said he was released from Travis County Jail.
Meza's criminal history dates back decades, including convictions in aggravated robberies as well as murder. Here's what we know about his previous crimes and convictions.
1975: Aggravated robbery
On New Year's Eve in 1975, Meza joined three others in robbing an Austin convenience store. During the robbery, the store manager was shot in the back.
Surviving the gunshot wound, the manager testified at Meza's trial. Meza received a 20-year sentence, getting out after serving five years.
1982: Murder
On Jan. 3, 1982, eight-year-old Kendra Page's body was found in the dumpster at a southeast Austin elementary school. Meza -- who was still on parole for his 1975 aggravated robbery conviction -- was charged with raping and killing Page.
Following his trial, Meza was convicted of murder and sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.
Additionally, then-167th District Judge Tom Blackwell ordered Meza to serve an additional 16 years on top of his 30-year sentence, due to his 1977 conviction on the aggravated robbery case.
1993: Meza released from prison
Meza was released from prison in 1993 after serving just over 11 years of his sentence for Page's murder. He was cited as having accumulated enough "good behavior" credit and was released on parole.
However, his release didn't come without controversy. Correction officials tried to relocate him to six different cities, with Central Texans protesting his release.
1994: Meza sent back to prison for parole violation
Meza was found to have violated his parole in the fall of 1994, roughly one-and-a-half years after his release from prison. He remained in prison until 2002, when he was then transferred to a minimum security wing of the Travis County Jail.
Historic news record show he was set to be released in 2002, but a condition of his parole was that he find a job. Having not found one, he stayed in jail.
2003: Meza sues Travis County Sheriff's Office, state parole board
Unable to find a job, Meza remained in jail and later sued the Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. As that lawsuit played out, he received a four-year sentence for violating his parole, having been found with a weapon in prison.
From there, records show Meza was in and out of prisons and jails, sometimes going to halfway houses as far away as El Paso and Ohio.
2012: Meza moves into east Austin home
In 2012, records show Meza obtained a driver's license with the home address listed as 4803 Sara Drive in east Austin. The home was located next door to Gloria Lofton, 66. Meza would later implicate himself in connection to her 2019 death, which at the time had been ruled an "undetermined" cause.
2019: Austin Police investigate woman's death
In May 2019, Austin Police assigned a detective to a deceased persons case along Sara Drive in east Austin. A second detective requested a sexual assault forensic exam and an autopsy be conducted in her case.
In July 2019, a Travis County Medical Examiner's Office review of her case ruled her cause of death "undetermined."
2019: Meza moves from east Austin home
On Oct. 30, 2019, records show Meza changed addresses from 4803 Sara Drive in east Austin to 706 Camp Fire Trail, Pflugerville.
2020: DNA links Meza to cold case
In April 2020, the DPS Capital Area Regional Crime Lab obtained a DNA profile, with a CODIS match for Meza confirmed in May 2020.
2023: 80-year-old man found dead in Pflugerville
Pflugerville Police responded to the 700 block of Camp Fire Trail on May 20 after receiving a welfare check request. There, they found Fraga's body.
The last time Fraga was seen alive was on May 12, according to camera footage secured. Meza was seen on a security camera in the vicinity on May 13.
2023: New details reveal Meza involved in 'disturbance' at former east Austin home
On May 24, an affiant ran a background check on Meza and found out he had lived at 4803 Sara Drive between 2012 and 2019 and had been involved in a "disturbance" reported at his address in May 2013. The new details emerged one day after Pflugerville Police sent out a release on Frega's death and noted Meza as a person of interest.
2023: Lone Star Fugitive Task Force aids in Meza's arrest
The Pflugerville Police Department contacted the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and requested assistance in Meza's apprehension, according to U.S. Marshal Brandon Filla. Meza was arrested by Task Force officials on May 25.
This story could be updated as new details of Meza's criminal history emerge.