Texas Rangers on Saturday arrested a man they say murdered a 16-year-old cheerleader who was found dead in her apartment bathtub.
The Edna Police Department said in a press release issued Sunday that they were able to arrest Rafael Govea Romero on a capital murder charge in the death of Lizbeth Medina. Cops were called around 7 p.m. Tuesday to Cottonwood Apartments for an “unresponsive juvenile.” Paramedics pronounced Lizbeth dead. Family members say Lizbeth’s mother found her dead in the bathtub and there was no forced entry into the home. Authorities have not released the cause of death or a motive.
On Friday, Edna police released photos of a man who they described as a “person of interest” along with an “associated vehicle.” Cops described the man as possibly having a tattoo located behind his right ear and wearing a black “Volcom” hoodie. He also was driving a silver Ford Taurus. Detectives with Edna police and Texas Rangers were able to identify Romero, who is undocumented, as the suspect and arrested him about 60 miles away in Schulenburg. Romero was taken to the Jackson County Jail.
Texas Rangers and Edna police arrested Rafael Romero in the murder of Lizbeth Medina, a high school cheerleader found dead by her mom in a bathtub. (Edna Police Department)
“Although Romero is apprehended, we recognize Lizbeth’s family and friends are grieving and will still need support from the community,” Edna Police Chief Rick Boone said in a news release.
In Texas, capital murder can be charged in several circumstances, but oftentimes the charge is brought when the perpetrator “intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit” another serious crime, such as “kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or retaliation, or terroristic threat[.]”
Lizbeth’s mother Jacqueline Medina told local CBS affiliate KHOU her daughter was “murdered in cold blood” only a year after they moved to Edna from Nebraska. Medina reportedly discovered her daughter’s death at home after becoming worried when she did not see Lizbeth marching with her cheer teammates at a Christmas parade.
“It should have been a great day because she was involved in the Christmas parade. She was going to be with the cheer squad,” the devastated mother said, calling Lizbeth “my world, my everything.”
Lizbeth’s aunt wrote in a GoFundMe page that were niece “was loved by many but most importantly she is loved and will be missed by the family.” She leaves behind several family and friends who have been “torn apart from this tragedy.”
Lizbeth Medina (left) cheerleading (KHOU/screengrab), (right) in a selfie from her Facebook.
Staff writer Matt Naham contributed to this report.
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