Cop accused in murder of Liza Saenz, Albert Douglas at Santa Fe Trestle

Liza Saenz

A Dallas Police officer is accused of ordering the murder of 30-year-old Liza Saenz, who was kidnapped, shot multiple times and dumped into the Trinity River near the Santa Fe Trestle in Oak Cliff.

Saenz, who had two children and was from Aransas Pass but lived in Dallas, was found by boaters on the bank of the river.

Officer Bryan Riser of DPD’s South Central Division, was charged with capital murder Thursday in Saenz’s death as well as the kidnapping and  murder of 61-year-old Albert Douglas, who went missing in February 2017.

One of the men accused in Saenz’s death says Riser, a former friend, initially contacted him about robbing drug dealers, proposing a scheme in which Riser would keep any money and guns, and the witness could keep any drugs. That plan never happened, but Riser later contacted him with another “job,” which he said turned out to be these two executions.

The witness told police that he met Riser at a donut shop on Bonnie View and Simpson Stuart and at Miller Family Park in the Highland Hills neighborhood of Oak Cliff to plan the kidnapping of Douglas.

Emmanuel Kilpatrick, Kevin Kidd and Jermon Simmon stopped Douglas, handcuffed him, drove to the Santa Fe Trestle, shot him and pushed him into the river, the witness told police. Riser later paid them $3,500, the witness said. Douglas’ body was never found, but his family reported him missing.

About two weeks later, the three did the same thing to Liza Saenz for a promised $6,000 from Riser, the witness told police. But he said that cash never materialized because he and the other two were arrested on an anonymous tip.

The officer, 36-year-old Bryan Riser, started working for DPD in 2008 and has a previous arrest for domestic violence. Investigators found that cellphone data shows Riser was at the locations of the kidnappings and murders.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, who has been on the job for a month, said that the witness initially came forward in August 2019.

Garcia said in a news conference: “The actions that have been investigated in no way reflect the actions of the men and women who proudly wear this uniform and it certainly does not reflect on the heroic, professional and dedicated sacrifices that I have witnessed since arriving. However, let me be clear in a promise to our city and to our men and women who serve with honor on a daily basis, that we will not allow anyone to tarnish this badge. As we all know the actions of a few affect the many. I, we, have committed to you to take the criminal element off of the streets of the city of Dallas, to perform relentless follow up on anyone who does harm to this city and that includes within the walls of this police department.”

Riser, who lived in Grand Prairie, is in the Dallas County jail with bail totaling $5 million. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.