Austin police seek help identifying suspected serial killer linked to murders
DNA links suspect to murders of two women, Austin police seek public's help
The Austin Police Department (APD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspected serial killer whose DNA has been connected to the murders of two women in the area.
At 4 p.m. on June 21, police responded to a call reporting a body at a home on the 2600 block of Metcalfe Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of 34-year-old Alyssa Rivera inside an abandoned house. Homicide detectives and crime specialists, after a brief investigation, determined Rivera had been murdered by an unidentified suspect.
On July 3, police released footage and images of a person of interest in Rivera’s case. The videos depicted a Hispanic male walking with a taller woman.
UPDATE: APD Searches for a Suspect in Connection to a Series of Murders – https://t.co/u11r9qiIqI pic.twitter.com/2caWm5n21M
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) August 14, 2024
Further investigation revealed a DNA link between Rivera’s murder and the unsolved murder of Alba Jenisse Aviles on April 14, 2018, in Bastrop County, Texas. Aviles was last seen leaving Club Caribe on Felter Lane in Austin the night she was killed. The club is just over three miles from where Rivera was murdered. Both cases appear to be sexual in nature, and DNA evidence indicates the same suspect is responsible for both murders.
Austin has a history of serial killers. Last year, Texas police and U.S. Marshals arrested Raul Meza Jr., 62, for the murders of former probation officer Jesse Fraga, 80, and Gloria Lofton, 66. Meza, a convicted child killer, allegedly strangled Fraga on May 20, 2023, leading to a manhunt that ended when he turned himself in. Meza’s criminal record dates back to 1982 when he sexually assaulted and strangled an 8-year-old girl. He served 11 years of a 30-year sentence, violated parole in 1994, and was released again in 2002. Meza was on parole until 2016.
In January, a search warrant for Meza’s Google account from Nov. 1, 2016, to May 29, 2023, was issued to find information linking him to a 2018 Austin cold case and at least two homicides in San Antonio. Authorities speculate one of Meza’s victims could be college student Nicole Coleman, whose body was found in a wooded area of Austin in 2018.
Meza’s arrest marked him as Austin’s first known serial killer since the “Servant Girl Annihilator,” who was believed to have killed eight women in 1885. Authorities are investigating Meza in other deaths in Austin but have found no evidence connecting him to a series of drownings at Lady Bird Lake near Rainey Street.
Detectives stated there is no evidence of a serial killer or foul play in the Rainey Street and Lady Bird Lake incidents. However, independent investigators and residents have voiced concerns about a potential murderer being involved in the deaths of men on Rainey Street, a strip of bars near the water’s edge.
The APD confirmed the murders of Rivera and Aviles are not linked to the deaths near Lady Bird Lake. Each death in the city is investigated by the homicide unit to determine if it is suspicious. A medical examiner conducts a physical exam followed by a toxicology exam, which can take months. In December 2022, one death near Lady Bird Lake was ruled a homicide after the victim was shot while driving past two arguing groups. Other deaths in and around Lady Bird Lake are not considered suspicious.
The APD acknowledges the possibility of more homicides linked to the suspect in the Rivera and Aviles cases but states there are no unsolved murders matching the modus operandi of these cases. Investigators continue to seek leads regarding the person of interest shown in the video and urge anyone with information to contact them at 512-974-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. Tips leading to an arrest may result in a reward of up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is the suspected serial killer in Austin?
The suspected serial killer’s DNA links him to the murders of Alyssa Rivera and Alba Jenisse Aviles.
How were the murders of Rivera and Aviles discovered?
Rivera’s body was found in an abandoned house on June 21, and Aviles was murdered on April 14, 2018.
Is the suspect in the Rivera and Aviles murders linked to other murders?
Police say the suspect may be linked to more homicides, but none match the modus operandi of the two cases.
How can I provide information about the suspect?
Contact the APD at 512-974-TIPS or Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477 for anonymous tips.
Are the Lady Bird Lake deaths connected to the Rivera and Aviles murders?
No, police have stated the deaths near Lady Bird Lake are not linked to the murders of Rivera and Aviles.
