HOUSTON – A man who spent years fighting for justice in his daughter’s unsolved murder was honored at a memorial in Harris County.
Bob Nuelle, the father of Liz Barraza, was remembered Friday night at Burroughs Park, where a tree and bench have served as a memorial for his daughter since her 2019 murder. Nuelle passed away after a battle with cancer this month, never seeing an arrest made in his daughter’s case.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel was at the memorial, where the family asked for no cameras during the celebration of Nuelle’s life.
In a 2025 interview, Nuelle described what the park meant to him.
“This is a place for peace for us. When we’re struggling, when we’re trying to find what’s necessary to go forward, this is where I come,” Nuelle said.
Investigators say Barraza was shot and killed while setting up a garage sale in 2019. Surveillance video captured an unknown person in disguise exiting a Nissan Frontier truck, pulling the trigger and driving away. Investigators say the murder was calculated, but the motive remains a mystery.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Michael Ritchie has been the lead investigator on Barraza’s case since day one. He said Nuelle’s impact on the investigation was profound.
“He was a huge impact on me as the lead investigator,” Ritchie said.
Ritchie shared the memory of one of his final conversations with Nuelle before he passed.
“He says, ‘Hey, Michael, when I pass, I’m going to get up to heaven. I’m gonna see Liz. I’ll talk to God. I will try to reach out to you from beyond and give you that tip you need to solve this case. So I’m waiting,’” Ritchie recalled.
The investigator says he is watching for any signs, and on the way to Friday’s memorial, he got a reminder.
“Not yet but actually on the way here, what vehicle was in front of me? A Nissan Frontier,” Ritchie said.
Loved ones remembered Nuelle for his big personality and his dedication to others. In one of his final recorded interviews, he left a message for other families of murder victims.
“I would tell her (Liz) we will never stop preserving your legacy. We will never stop helping people. We will never stop get the message out that if you’re affected by a murder, there are resources, there are people who can help you.” Nuelle said.
Nuelle was also an active member of Parents of Murdered Children and Crime Victims United.
Liz Barraza’s murder case remains open. A $50,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with tips is encouraged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers of Houston.