Rafael Govea Romero, the suspect in the murder of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina in December 2023, has pleaded not guilty, as confirmed by his attorney. Romero, a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, is accused of stalking the Edna High School cheerleader before allegedly striking her over the head and stabbing her in the apartment she shared with her mother on Dec. 5.
His defense attorney, Chris Iles, stated that Romero entered a plea of not guilty and looks forward to defending his case in the upcoming trial, asserting his innocence. Romero was indicted on a capital murder charge by a Jackson County grand jury in February in connection with Medina's death.
Medina was discovered in her apartment bathtub with signs of violence, including smeared blood and a stab wound to the upper stomach area. The suspect was located in Schulenburg, Texas, on Dec. 10 through cellphone data and other evidence linking him to the crime scene.
At the time of his arrest, Romero was on probation for a previous burglary in Schulenburg in 2022. Edna police suspect Romero may also be connected to a burglary at Medina's home a month before her tragic death.
On the day of the incident, Jacqueline Medina, the victim's mother, found her daughter deceased in their bathtub after Lizbeth failed to attend school or a Christmas parade. The grieving mother, who did not know Romero, revealed that their home had been burglarized a month prior to the murder.
Authorities believe Romero may have stalked Lizbeth before the fatal attack. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer against Romero following his arrest for capital murder, as part of their efforts to identify and apprehend removable illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities.
Romero's recent arraignment in Jackson County saw him waive his right to appear in person, as reported by the Jackson County Herald-Tribune.
