"The baffing murder of a young woman. It is the kind of case where everything feels like it's going to fall into place at first. With all of the pieces that they have, they literally have the murder on film. So investigators are super confident that they're going to catch their killer within hours. But six years have gone by, and it is still unsolved." — Ashley Flowers
"This person pulls out a gun and they shoot her three times. She collapsed and then they stood over her and that's when they like fired that final shot to her head." — Britt
"And by the way, none of them drive her frontier. So at that point, the investigators turn their attention to another big part of Liz's life, her job." — Britt
This episode details the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Baraza, a crime that occurred on January 25th, 2019, in Tomball, Texas. Despite initial confidence from investigators due to surveillance footage capturing the event, the case remains unsolved six years later. Elizabeth was found shot on her driveway while setting up for a garage sale. Investigators quickly identified a dark-colored Nissan Frontier pickup truck as the suspect vehicle, seen on a neighbor's security camera. The perpetrator, wearing a disguise and described as having a "gogo style" attire, approached Elizabeth, engaged in a brief exchange, and then fatally shot her before fleeing.
The investigation has explored numerous avenues, including Elizabeth's husband, Sergio Baraza, her colleagues at the Rosen Group, and members of the 501st Legion, a Star Wars fan club she belonged to. While initial suspicion fell on Sergio due to his proximity, his alibi and physical description did not match the suspect, and he has remained cooperative. Investigators have also examined financial motives, including a substantial life insurance policy Elizabeth had, though there is no concrete evidence linking Sergio or his father, Oscar, to the crime. The lack of shell casings at the scene suggested the use of a revolver, a detail that points to a deliberate effort to avoid leaving evidence.
Despite extensive efforts, including public appeals for information and a significant reward, no arrests have been made. The puzzle pieces do not align, leaving authorities and Elizabeth's family with more questions than answers. The perpetrator's actions suggest a level of planning and professionalism, yet certain elements, like the truck doubling back past the scene, appear amateurish. The case highlights the frustrations and complexities of modern forensic investigations when faced with a seemingly determined and elusive killer.