TX - Lizbeth Medina, 16, high school cheerleader, found dead in bedroom, murder suspect arrested - Edna, 5 Dec 2023

[tlcya]

Looks like he has confessed:


“Boone said he was "100% confident" Romero is the person responsible for Lizbeth's death and added police received a confession from the 23-year-old man after his arrest.”


"He confessed to the crime," Boone said Sunday afternoon.”

“Prior to his arrest, items missing from Lizbeth's apartment were located in Romero's possession, the chief said, which helped authorities find him. “

"We were able, through some of that, to track down his location," Boone said.”

“The chief said officers are investigating if Romero was involved in any other criminal activity since he has been in Texas.”

Man arrested, charged with murder, in connection with Lizbeth Medina's death - The Victoria Advocate

Hours after the Edna community held a vigil Saturday outside the Jackson County Courthouse to mourn the loss of Lizbeth Medina, 16, police placed a man in jail in the same building and charged him with her death. On Saturday night, the Edna Police Department along with the Texas Rangers...

www.victoriaadvocate.com

so he took items from the apartment on the day of the murder? Or were those items taken during the previous breakin that mom now appears to think was not connected?

I don't remember mention of anything missing from the day of the murder? Did police hold that info about those missing items back from the public as a way to verify if and when they found killer or . . . ? Possible I guess.

 

[justtrish]

This article says the mom doesn't think the previous burglary was connected. (This is after he was arrested.) Earlier reports said she thought it might be connected. I wonder if the articles have been correct and, if so, what changed her mind? Imo.

"Medina’s mother said their home was broken into a couple weeks ago, but she did not believe it was connected to her daughter’s death.

“They had taken just small things, things that I would call petty stuff because it wasn’t even worth anything,” said Jacqueline Medina."

$2M bond for capital murder suspect accused of killing Edna cheerleader

A man was arrested and charged with the capital murder of an Edna, Texas teenage cheerleader, the Edna Police Department announced on Sunday.

www.click2houston.com

If this man was watching Lizbeth or her mom and had some stalker like thing going on, then I wonder if he was responsible for the first break in. In that case was he breaking in to take a few of her things due to some obsession he had? Maybe nothing high dollar, but to him it was something of hers? Then when he came back he was going to talk to her or see her and then something happened and he killed her and grabbed her phone, air pods, or watch (thinking of things that are small enough to be hidden in that running away photo, but that can be tracked) as he fled.

 

[Peppery]

so he took items from the apartment on the day of the murder? Or were those items taken during the previous breakin that mom now appears to think was not connected?

I don't remember mention of anything missing from the day of the murder? Did police hold that info about those missing items back from the public as a way to verify if and when they found killer or . . . ? Possible I guess.

Maybe it was something traceable? Something my teens have with them 24/7 is their AirPods.

 

[Cryptic]

Texas LOVES football, perhaps he has worked in Edna, has friends/relatives in Edna and therefore has attended football games in Edna. He could easily have seen her on multiple occasions and even followed her home.

Very true. I think this is a real possibility.

Small town Texas high school football games are big events for the town. So are associated home coming parades where cheerleaders often have prominent and visible roles.

Attendance at both by people who neither have children at the school, nor are they alumni would be very common. I wonder if anybody could remember standing next to him, or seeing him watching the parade?

 

[tlcya]

EDNA, Texas (KTRK) -- An update is expected Monday morning about the man charged with the murder of a high school cheerleader in Edna.

hoping we hear more about autopsy results and COD today. If it is true the perp has confessed it was wise of LE to hold onto specifics as they will serve to confirm his confession. Of course once he has an attorney he will plead NG but those details gained during confession, when the public has no knowledge of those details will be damning

 

[iamshadow21]

If this man was watching Lizbeth or her mom and had some stalker like thing going on, then I wonder if he was responsible for the first break in. In that case was he breaking in to take a few of her things due to some obsession he had? Maybe nothing high dollar, but to him it was something of hers? Then when he came back he was going to talk to her or see her and then something happened and he killed her and grabbed her phone, air pods, or watch (thinking of things that are small enough to be hidden in that running away photo, but that can be tracked) as he fled.

Yeah. The fact that the items were 'small and worthless' makes me more convinced this break-in was a trial run, a dress rehearsal. He crossed the boundary, he proved to himself he could do it, he got the lay of the land. This is what this kind of offender does. It's part of the development of a sexual predator. Peeping, stalking, creeping, rape, murder.

MOO

 

[Megnut]

Yeah. The fact that the items were 'small and worthless' makes me more convinced this break-in was a trial run, a dress rehearsal. He crossed the boundary, he proved to himself he could do it, he got the lay of the land. This is what this kind of offender does. It's part of the development of a sexual predator. Peeping, stalking, creeping, rape, murder.

MOO

Or his recon was poor and he expected her to be home that day. When she wasn't, he just helped himself to a few things. Then waited impatiently for the next opportunity.

I wonder how the initial break-in happened. Jimmied the lock?

 

[iamshadow21]

Or his recon was poor and he expected her to be home that day. When she wasn't, he just helped hinself to a few things. Then waited impatiently for the next oopportunity.

I wonder how the initial break-in happened. Jimmied the lock?

Those pictures further back on thread show a glass slider, modern architecture's gift to home invaders like Joseph DeAngelo and Bryan Kohberger. He could have gone in a window, but the slider wouldn't present a great challenge to a novice.

MOO

 

[Megnut]

Those pictures further back on thread show a glass slider, modern architecture's gift to home invaders like Joseph DeAngelo and Bryan Kohberger. He could have gone in a window, but the slider wouldn't present a great challenge to a novice.

MOO

Might explain how he got in the second time.

 

[dotr]

Author: Sammy Turner, Cory McCord (KHOU), Jaime E. Galvan, Ugochi Iloka

Police: Texas cheerleader found dead in bathtub was stabbed

Rafael Govea Romero was arrested and charged with murder in the death of Edna, Texas cheerleader Lizbeth Medina.

www.khou.com

rbbm
''SCHULENBURG, Texas — Law enforcement agencies are expected to releasing more details in the capital murder case of an Edna high school cheerleader. It's a story we've been following for about a week now.
The new information about the killing of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina were expected to be out at around 8 a.m. Over the weekend, Texas Rangers arrested Rafael Govea Romero in Schulenburg, Texas, and charged him with capital murder, according to the Edna Police Department.''

''Edna residents said they were relieved to hear about the arrest, but they're not ready to rest easy.
"My hat goes off to Edna PD, the Texas Rangers and everybody that was involved," Edna resident Roy Castro said. "We know there’s been an arrest made but, of course, we have to get the story behind it."
"We have a great police department here," Edna resident Jacklyn Law said.''

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Dec 11, 2023
A suspect has been arrested in the slaying of Texas high school cheerleader Lizbeth Medina, police said.

 

[justtrish]

I am curious how they knew there was a break in the first time if the items were small and insignifigant. Was there evidence of a break in on a door or window? Was there video caught of someone entering?

We have had a break in before and the same day of the break in we got cameras because I no longer felt safe and even still 3 years later it has changed the way we do things.. we lock up every single time, even when I'm home. I lock car doors and keep windows closed and locked unless we are home and awake and alert. It really is a loss of peace and security even if the things that are taken are insignificant.

Did they report the first break in? I think sometimes people do not report small crimes they think police won't take seriously. I was looking for police reports or police logs for the past month, but not finding anything yet. Maybe it was only after the murder that mom then told them someone had broken in previously.

I'm also curious where the camera is located that caught him running away.. did it also catch him arriving and if so what time was that? Before mom left or after and how long after he arrives did he attempt to get in the house.

Another thing I was thinking is if she normally left for school at say 7:30 and she was found in pjs then I'd think somewhere between 6am when mom left and 7am or so is when he entered the house because something inerrupted Lizbeth getting ready for school or she might have been dressed if it was closer to the time she would leave for school. Then he is caught on camera running away at 10something (can't recall the exact time, but it was posted here).. so what did he do for 3 hours or so?? If he broke in and killed her closer to the time he was caught on camera running away, then why was Lizbeth still home and in PJs?

 

[tlcya]

ABC 13 Houston says a presser is anticipated within the next hour or two.

 

[bestill]

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At 0:40 of the video, "[Romero] was arrested last year on a burglary charge by the Schulenberg Police. In that case, Romero pled 'No Contest'."

If he's undocumented and was previously arrested why is he still in the country and whose car is he driving? I am assuming that he doesn't have a legit drivers license, so did he steal the car they were looking for? I have so many questions. That poor girl and her mother!!

 

[tlcya]

If he's undocumented and was previously arrested why is he still in the country and whose car is he driving? I am assuming that he doesn't have a legit drivers license, so did he steal the car they were looking for? I have so many questions. That poor girl and her mother!!

I also wonder about the car. His FB page features a red pickup truck but no car. Was the silver car his, a friends, stolen? Also who's red truck is featured so prominently on his FB page? undocumented illegal aliens often drive without benefit of license registration insurance etc. but I know very little of how they get those vehicles.

 

[bestill]

I also wonder about the car. His FB page features a red pickup truck but no car. Was the silver car his, a friends, stolen? Also who's red truck is featured so prominently on his FB page? undocumented illegal aliens often drive without benefit of license registration insurance etc. but I know very little of how they get those vehicles.

Especially since he has already been arrested for a crime. I hope the presser will answer some of the questions we are asking.

 

[alexwood]

I'm thinking he has relatives that he lives with. Just a hunch. The vehicle may belong to a relative.

 

[tlcya]

SCHULENBURG, Texas — An Edna, Texas teen who was found dead last week in a bathtub at her family's apartment was stabbed, according to police. That was some of the new information released Monday morning.
Police: Texas cheerleader found dead in bathtub was stabbed

ETA link also says a vehicle was seized. assuming it was the car.

 

[tlcya]

Edna police said Romero is 23 years old and added that he is undocumented with an expired visa.
[snip]
In an update on Monday, police added that officers seized items of evidence from the silver Taurus to connect Romero to the murder, but did not say what those items were.

It was also revealed that Lizbeth had been stabbed to death.

Officials said Romero was granted a $2 million bond.

Police are trying to figure out if the two knew each other or if they had any kind of relationship.

Motive still unclear after 23-year-old man arrested in murder of Edna High School cheerleader

 

[alexwood]

SCHULENBURG, Texas — An Edna, Texas teen who was found dead last week in a bathtub at her family's apartment was stabbed, according to police. That was some of the new information released Monday morning.
Police: Texas cheerleader found dead in bathtub was stabbed

ETA link also says a vehicle was seized. assuming it was the car.

From the article, which incorrectly stated that the date she was found was Tuesday, December 9 (that was two days ago -- a Saturday).
She was found on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

"Edna police on Monday said after the killing, they worked with the Texas Rangers to identify Romero as the suspect and determined he was at a home in Schulenburg. When they went to find him, police said the owner confirmed he was there. They also seized a vehicle, which they're processing, and items they said connected Romero's connection to Medina."

 

[alexwood]

Edna police said Romero is 23 years old and added that he is undocumented with an expired visa.
[snip]
In an update on Monday, police added that officers seized items of evidence from the silver Taurus to connect Romero to the murder, but did not say what those items were.

It was also revealed that Lizbeth had been stabbed to death.

Officials said Romero was granted a $2 million bond.

Police are trying to figure out if the two knew each other or if they had any kind of relationship.

Motive still unclear after 23-year-old man arrested in murder of Edna High School cheerleader

Police said that Romero is undocumented, with an expired visa.
Edna Police said that Immigration and Customs has placed a detainer on him.