AUSTIN, Texas — The interim chief of the Austin Police Department (APD) has issued an apology to the family of a murder victim.
On Thursday, the KVUE Defenders were the first to report that an internal investigation found a detective received and did not act on a DNA link to 65-year-old Gloria Lofton. Police say accused serial killer Raul Meza Jr. went on to kill again.
The department acknowledged how it mishandled the evidence on Thursday, but now Interim Chief Robin Henderson has issued a formal apology, stating:
"The Austin Police Department is deeply sorry about the oversight related to the DNA Lab Report in the Raul Meza case. We realize the impacts this has on the case itself, community and most importantly the victims and their families. As soon as the error was brought to our attention, we addressed it as quickly as we could to identify how it happened and implemented policies to avoid incidents like this from reoccurring. Since this occurrence, the Austin Police Department has added redundancies into the notification process to ensure this does not happen again.
State law prohibits the Chief from formally disciplining any officers for acts that occur more than 180 days prior to the time that discipline could be issued. Due to this reason, the officer did not receive formal discipline.
We realize an apology can not take back the oversight that took place, but our department has committed to putting in place practices that provide accountability and rebuilding of trust with our community."
According to an arrest affidavit for Meza, detectives were notified in May 2020 about a DNA match linking him to Lofton, who was found dead in her East Austin home in 2019. But the affidavit said police didn't act on that information until 2023, after charging Meza in the death of 80-year-old Jesse Fraga.
APD told the Defenders they have closed their inquiry into the matter, explaining, "The detective received the information and did not follow up. At the time the information was received, the detective was working a special assignment related to the protests of 2020."
The department said the detective will not be disciplined because APD learned about what happened outside a window to take action, adding, "State law prohibits the chief from formally disciplining officers for acts that occur more than 180 days prior to the time that discipline could be issued."
The city of Austin said it cannot release the name of the investigator because he was not disciplined.
A state law that took effect in January requires labs to notify detectives multiple ways if they get a DNA match that will provide a lead in the case. Investigators must also confirm that they received it.
Meanwhile, the cases against Meza are pending.