A suspect in the murder of an 80-year-old man called police in Texas and confessed to killing two people, officers said.
Authorities said the phone call triggered a manhunt, leading to the arrest of Raul Meza this week. The 62-year-old was detained in Austin on Monday – five days after the call.
He has been called a “person of interest” in the stabbing of Jesse Fraga, an 80-year-old man whose body was found on 20 May.
A statement released by the police department in Pflugerville, Texas said: “On Saturday, May 20, at approximately 12.30pm officers responded to a check welfare call at a residence on the 700 block of Camp Fire Trail.
“Upon entering the home, officers found a deceased male,” the statement said.
“This is an active investigation and detectives have identified Raul Meza Jr as a person of interest.”
‘You’re looking for me’
According to officers in Austin, Meza made a call to the police on 24 May and told them he was aware authorities were looking for him.
Detective Patrick Reed told reporters on Tuesday: “The caller stated, ‘My name is Raul Meza, and you’re looking for me.'”
Mr Reed said Meza then confessed to killing Mr Fraga and revealed details of the murder before admitting to another homicide.
“‘I got out [of prison] in 2016, I end up murdering a lady soon afterwards. It was on Sara Drive,'” Meza told police, according to Mr Reed.
‘Considered armed and dangerous’
In 2019, Gloria Lofton,66, was found dead in her bedroom, partially clothes and the investigation revealed that Ms Lofton had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
DNA found at the crime scene matched Meza’s, police claimed.
Deputy Marshal Brandon Filla added: “Raul Meza was considered armed and dangerous”
Upon Meza’s arrest, authorities said they found zip ties, duct tape, a flashlight, a 22-calibre pistol and rounds on the suspect.
Police said Meza had also admitted to planning more murders.
He was “ready and prepared to kill again, and he was looking forward to it,” Mr Reed added.
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Police also said they are looking into possible links between Meza and several unsolved murders going back to the 1990s.
“There is a good possibility that we will find additional cases,” Austin police Detective Katy Conner said.
“Right now, we have between eight and 10 cases that kind of fit these similar circumstances that we’re looking at, but that can obviously grow,” she added.
In 1982, Meza was also arrested for the murder and sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.
He spent 11 years behind bars.
