A Texas grand jury has indicted an illegal immigrant suspect in the brutal killing of a 16-year-old girl on charges of first degree murder.
The indictment obtained by Fox News Digital says Rafael Govea Romero, 23, intentionally caused Lizbeth Medina’s death during an attempted burglary, robbery or sexual assault.
The document also alleges Romero killed Medina by causing “the teenager’s head to hit a solid surface,” “slamming” his head “with a hard object” and “stabbing or cutting” repeatedly “with a sharp object or edged weapon.”
“It really bothers me,” Lizbeth’s mother, Jacqueline Medina, told Fox News Digital about the indictment, adding that she thought the grand jury handed down the charge of capital murder because of “all the evidence and all the other details” in the case.
Jacqueline also said she plans to be a part of the justice process every step of the way.
“I don’t want to miss anything, if I can help it, because my baby deserves justice, and I want to be a part of it,” she said.
Lizbeth Media was home from school on December 5, but her friends and family didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until she failed to show up for the Christmas parade her cheerleading squad marched in that evening.
Rafael Govea Romero has been charged with first degree murder in the November death of Lizbeth Medina. Edna Texas Police Department/Facebook
Jacqueline, who attended the parade after work to support her daughter but never saw her there, immediately began calling Lizbeth’s friends to find out where she was.
When he arrived home that day, he found Lizbeth dead in the bathtub in their Edna apartment with her legs sticking out from behind the shower curtain.
Days later, when the Edna Police Department named Romero as a suspect in her murder, Jacqueline told Fox News Digital that the man had no relationship with her daughter or their family.
Lizbeth Media was home from school on December 5, but her friends and family didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until she failed to show up for the Christmas parade her cheerleading squad marched in that evening. ABC 13 When Jacqueline arrived home later that day, she found Lizbeth dead in the bathtub in their Edna apartment with her legs sticking out from behind the shower curtain. ABC 13
Police determined their apartment had been burglarized on November 13, about a month before the teenager’s murder.
Jacqueline previously told Fox News Digital she didn’t make the connection at first. He and Lizbeth had noticed little things missing from their apartment for some time.
On November 13, they reported the missing items to the police because some larger items were missing.
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“I believe the burglary from 11/13/2023 could be related to the murder suspect,” an Edna officer wrote in an affidavit at the time. “I believe this murder suspect is free and a danger now to the community.”
Edna authorities also indicated Romero may have stolen Lizbeth’s phone after the murder.
Lizbeth’s boyfriend tracked the 16-year-old’s location to an area about half a mile from her apartment using his smartphone on the day of her murder.
When Edna police named Romero as a suspect, Lizbeth’s mother said the man had no relationship with her daughter or their family. Edna Texas Police Department/Facebook Edna authorities also said Romero may have stolen Lizbeth’s phone after the murder. ABC 13 Police determined their apartment was burglarized on Nov. 13, about a month before the teenager’s murder. ABC 13
The next day, Lizbeth’s cousin saw that her Snapchat sent to the victim had been opened, indicating that someone had used her phone after her death.
Within an hour of reporting suspicious phone activity to Edna Police, authorities were able to geolocate Lizbeth’s phone to the suspect in Schulenburg, Texas, about an hour’s drive from Edna, where they arrested Romero.
The suspect’s bond was set at $2 million after he was arrested.
Authorities were able to geolocate Lizbeth’s phone to the suspect in Schulenburg, Texas, about an hour’s drive from Edna, where they arrested Romero.
Jacqueline said she still has many questions about what happened to her daughter and why the suspect allegedly targeted the 16-year-old, and she’s waiting for answers as Romero’s case plays out in court.
“I’m curious, just to have closure,” he said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
