EDNA, TEXAS – A grand jury in Texas has indicted an undocumented immigrant suspect in the brutal killing of a 16-year-old girl on capital murder charges. According to the indictment obtained by Fox News Digital, 23-year-old Rafael Govea Romero intentionally caused the death of Lizbeth Medina while attempting to commit a burglary, robbery, or sexual assault.
The indictment also alleges that Romero killed Medina by causing her head to strike a firm surface, striking her head with a hard object, and repeatedly stabbing or cutting her with a sharp object or edged weapon. The victim’s mother, Jacqueline Medina, expressed her disturbance at the indictment and plans to be part of the justice process every step of the way. She emphasized the importance of seeking justice for her daughter.
Lizbeth Medina was found dead in her Edna apartment on December 5. Her mother, who attended a Christmas parade after work to support her daughter, found Lizbeth dead in the bathtub with her foot sticking out from behind a shower curtain. Romero, who was named as a suspect in her murder by the Edna Police Department, has no relation to the victim or her family.
Police determined that their apartment had been burglarized a month before the teenager’s murder, and some of their belongings had gone missing. Furthermore, Romero may have stolen Lizbeth’s phone after the murder, as her boyfriend tracked her location to an area about a half mile away from her apartment using his smartphone the day of her murder.
After reporting suspicious phone activity to the police, authorities were able to track the geolocation of Lizbeth’s phone to the suspect in Schulenburg, Texas, resulting in Romero’s arrest. His bond was set at $2 million after his arrest.
Jacqueline Medina still has many questions about what happened to her daughter and why the suspect targeted her. As Romero’s case plays out in court, she eagerly awaits answers for closure.