Sonia Houston was not sure of what killed her mother in 2004. Houston believed that her drinking was the most likely cause of death, but only until Wednesday.
When authorities revealed in Austin, Texas that Raul Meza, Jr., 62 had confessed to multiple murders, including the death of Houston’s mother Gloria Lofton, age 66, in 2019.
Houston blamed the authorities for failing to properly investigate her mother’s murder if he had not confessed.
Meza was the subject of an extensive manhunt for the murder of his roommate aged 80 on May 20, police reported. He made his confession last month after he called the city hotline.
Meza told the court that he was Raul Meza and thought they were looking for him. The affidavit supporting Meza’s arrest, filed in Travis County District Court on Wednesday, confirmed this.
Meza served 11 years for the murder and sexual abuse of an 8-year old girl in 1982. Since then, he has been accused of murdering both victims. Austin Police say they are investigating links between Meza with as many as ten unsolved murders dating back to 1990.
Houston is furious at the authorities for their handling of this investigation. She said that it was a long-running inquiry, but that there were few answers. It also seemed to have missed some key evidence. Houston even claimed that she had found a condom in her mother’s kitchen.
According to the affidavit authorities accused him of sexual assault and strangulation Lofton — a claim partly supported by a sample taken from Lofton when she died that gave a DNA match with Meza in 2020.
According to the affidavit, in the months following her death, the Travis County Medical Examiner had listed the cause and manner as “undetermined.” Houston claimed that she did not hear from authorities until Meza admitted to the detective, on May 24, that he had killed a “lady,” on “Sara Drive.”
In an interview, Houston’s elder sister, Christina Fultz said, “It would have looked different if she were white and from the other side of Austin.” It would have been resolved in a week.
Gloria Lofton, a woman of Mexican descent who lived in Austin’s East side, was a resident of the city.
A spokesperson for the Austin Police Department said that in an email, Chief Joseph Chacon had been made aware of details of the case and was reviewing “potential investigation lapses.”
The spokesperson declined further comment.
Travis County’s spokesman said that he was unable to comment on the conclusion reached by the medical examiner office, due to an ongoing investigation. According to the affidavit the medical examiner changed Lofton’s cause and manner of death one day after Meza called.
An attorney for Meza who is currently being held in the Travis County Correctional Complex under a charge of capital murder did not respond to an inquiry for comment.
The motive for Lofton’s murder remains unknown. Meza, according to an affidavit filed by authorities, told them that he was promised 25% of what Lofton’s niece would inherit. Houston, however, claimed that her mother did not have any nephews.
Houston stated that she does not know if Meza knew her mother.
Relationships can be complicated
Houston characterized her relationship with Lofton in terms of complexity. Houston described her mother as being a whip-smart woman who introduced her to music, books and films. Houston said that Lofton worked long hours doing accounting, administrative work and other clerical tasks to pay for her daughter’s private Catholic education.
Houston stated that Lofton was in trouble. Her daughter claimed that she had been abused mentally and physically by men, and that Houston never confronted the “demons,” which seemed to grow with age. Houston said that her father was “very respectable” and only stayed at Lofton’s until the girl was four years old.
Houston stated that Lofton, who was in her late forties, quit her job, drank a lot and moved into her father’s home.
She said that she last saw her mom on 8 May 2019, when Lofton sent her out to buy cigarettes and beer. Houston admitted that she reluctantly agreed to the request after her mother was pressed into eating.
She said that the next day when she returned home, police officers informed her of her mom’s death. According to an affidavit, authorities found her naked in her bedroom with her two shirts pulled over her head.
She said that authorities gave her few details and, after about 24 hours, returned the keys to her mother’s home and told her she could return.
A disturbing scene
Fultz was Houston’s elder sister and she went to the house with her. Lofton had adopted her older daughter as a baby, but they became close during the years leading up to Lofton’s passing.
Fultz remembered, “We watched the people leaving the crime scene with their bags but they never said anything to us.” “They didn’t tell us.” They didn’t tell us, “Hey, by-the-way.”
Fultz stated, “It was insensitive.” It was horrific.
Houston stated that the sisters discovered a house inside which looked as if it had been ransacked. Houston reported that there was a bloody cushion and blood splatter down the hallway. Fultz reported that they found lubricant, a condom, and a wrapper in what looked like a detective glove.
Fultz added that Houston ran out and cried. “It was a terrible wail.” All I could do is hug her.
The spokesperson for the police department did not reply to a comment request.
Houston began to suspect that her mother’s excessive drinking may have been the cause of her death.
Did she fall and hit her head because she was drunk? Houston replied. “She is home alone.” Accidents happen to anyone who has been drinking. “Did she try to crawl into bed?”
Houston was confused by the inconclusive autopsy findings. But after Lofton died, she focused on burying her mother and settling her affairs, not seeking legal counsel as some had suggested.
She wants justice for her mom.
She said, “They wanted to blame only the criminal perpetrator and I could say it all day about Raul.” “Karma is an extremely serious lady.”
She continued: “Aside from him, am I to say that they handled this to their best abilities?” They didn’t, judging by the way they looked.
