'Garage Sale Murder': How a doorbell camera captured Texas woman's murder
Elizabeth Barazza, 29, was gunned by a figure in disguise while setting up a garage sale on her front lawn and her doorbell camera recorded the attack.
On January 25, 2019, 29-year-old Elizabeth Barraza, known as Liz, was brutally murdered outside her home in Tomball, Texas. Prior to her fatal encounter, Liz had planned a garage sale and greeted her husband as he departed for work. Moments later, she was shot four times in the vicinity. Surveillance footage from her doorbell camera captured this tragic event.
Law enforcement investigators believe the shooting was meticulously planned, with the assailant arriving at precisely the right moment when Liz was alone and managing to stay concealed on camera. The motive behind the murder remains unclear, as there were no stolen items from the garage sale and Liz had no apparent enemies. Furthermore, she had taken out a substantial life insurance policy and possessed no clear enemies, creating even more uncertainty.
The fifth episode of "Somebody Knows Something," titled "Garage Sale Murder," premiered on Freeform and Disney+ on August 31, 2022. True crime host Kara Robinson Chamberlain investigated the case, which had perplexed Liz's family and community for seven years. Liz's parents, Bob and Rosemary Nuelle, became increasingly concerned when they received an alarm alert and failed to reach her.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Liz appeared almost unrecognizable. Liz's mother, Rosemary, expressed her anger during an interview, stating that "somebody wanted her dead, but I don't know why." After Sergio Barraza, Liz's husband, arrived at the scene, law enforcement initially focused on him as the potential shooter. However, Sergio denied any involvement, and there were no signs of infidelity or marital problems.
Additionally, Sergio was a member of the 501st Legion, a charity and costuming group focused on Star Wars events. The couple, who met in college, collaborated on various community projects. Sergeant Michael Ritchie of the Harris County Sheriff's Office mentioned that Liz might have had a disagreement with Oscar Barraza, Sergio's father.
According to Sergeant Ritchie, Liz was upset with Oscar after Sergio's latest paycheck from his father bounced. This potential conflict might have led Liz to confront Oscar alone, which could have been advantageous for the shooter. However, these details remain circumstantial. Oscar Barraza, despite passing a polygraph test, remains a suspect.
Police stated they are close to solving the case and may have an undisclosed piece of evidence that could lead to a breakthrough.
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