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

[Trino]

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.

I wonder why he was in Edna, TX when he lived with his parents 70 miles away in Schulenburg, TX.

 

[10ofRods]

I disagree. There have been many instances where a burglar was surprised by a resident they didn't know was present when they broke in.

We had a case like that near my house. High school kid, age 15, was home sick from school. He was mostly sleeping. He woke up and heard someone in the house, thought it might be a parent. Came out, surprised a burglar who shot and killed him. Devastating.

Guy was caught pretty quickly, says he was startled, that he had his gun in his pocket and it "just happened." Convicted of second degree murder (he pleaded out) and is doing 15 years to life with enhancements.

There are several other cases of this type. An armed, young burglar is liable to "make mistakes" that he didn't intend when he broke in.

There are other cases in apartment buildings. There was a spate of burglaries in a huge apartment complex we used to live in, leading most people to consider buying guns themselves (we didn't, we were moving out soon, but it was very scary). Every time anyone came home, they were worried, especially if on the higher floors, because a burglar's exit could be blocked and result in violence. It was happening all up and down a long street of apartments.

I actually had a hot prowl in a condo we had rented - I thought my then-husband had forgotten something, as I heard the downstairs door open and could hear sounds as if someone were opening and closing the drawers of the desk we had near the door. So I went to the top of the stairs and started down, saying, "Did you forget something?" (We kept cash in a different place - I was thinking maybe he was looking for it). I heard running feet and the door was wide open when I went downstairs. Very scary. Sleeping 2 year old upstairs.

We will eventually get more details at this case, at the arraignment. Where I live, hot prowling leading to assault is a nearly weekly occurrence (sexual and otherwise). Not right in my neighborhood, thankfully, but not too far away. I know a woman whose house was entered almost daily by the same man (who was using her shower, sleeping in her bed and eating her food - she got cameras, but he then started turning off the electricity as he entered; she had to get trail cam type cams - needless to say, LE did nothing with the pictures, which were hardly identifying - she simply gave notice and moved; single mom).

So yeah, "burglary" spans a wide number of behaviors here in the urban wilderness of SoCal. It's just more shocking when it happens in a small town.

IMO

 

[crussell821]

I disagree. There have been many instances where a burglar was surprised by a resident they didn't know was present when they broke in.

I personally know someone this happened to. She was moving into her new apartment and the burgler watched high-value electronics being moved in. When he thought she wasn’t home, he broke in and was surprised when she walked out of a room. He stabbed her and unfortunately she did not survive.

 

[KMouse]

IMO she probably did not know him. Her mother said she was a mature teenager, planning to attend college and become a nurse. It seems she was very social at her school, with other teens.

Whereas the suspect is the opposite kind of person. It just doesn't seem she'd secretly have time for someone like him.
JMO.

Wonder if she had Snapchat and he could see where she was. I flip flop between break & enter gone bad to he targeted her and knew she was home alone.

 

[Trino]

Wonder if the public will be told if there was a rape. Was she taking a bath/shower when he entered? What about there being no evidence of a break-in? Odd.

 

[Trino]

Wonder if the public will be told if there was a rape. Was she taking a bath/shower when he entered? What about there being no evidence of a break-in? Odd.

Lizbeth Medina, 16, was stabbed to death in her Edna apartment, according to KPRC, KSAT’s sister station in Houston. KSAT.com

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I agree.

As a side note, even recreational drug- or even alcohol use by the victim is not likely. Cheerleaders are considered to be representing the school and the town. That goes double in a small Texas town.

Not only would proven drug / alcohol use lead to one being booted off the squad, but even social media hints of participating in, or affirming such activities, would likely also lead to being booted.

Though undoubtably there are cheer leaders in small town Texas that get away with a variety of conduct violations, there are still enforced expectations that cheer leaders and drill team members are to be rural Texas princesses first and foremost.

As a former cheerleader in TX, I can tell you that in my experience, it's exactly the opposite. It happens. It's just covered up. See The Fab Five movie that came out years ago about cheering in TX. It wasn't that far off from reality in my experience.

With that said, I don't believe this particular victim was involved in anything like that. Just based on what her mom has said and what we know, I think she was a good kid who was just making her way in the world.

If this perp is guilty (and I say if because I have no idea what the evidence is yet and false confessions are a thing), he deserves nothing less than LWOP.

MOO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

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?

Snipped for focus.

Perhaps he didn't kill her right away. He could have broken in when she was still in PJs and didn't actually kill her until right before 10 am. JMO

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Does anybody local know if there's gang activity in that area of Texas? I'm wondering about the suspect.

 

[Cryptic]

Does anybody local know if there's gang activity in that area of Texas? I'm wondering about the suspect.

Several years ago, I drove through both towns when I visited a number of historic 'painted churches' in the area.

I saw several historic churches unattended and wide open to the public out of small town trust, great hamburgers in a local family run restaurant and... many people not very inclined to follow the masking "recommendations" from DC.

I did not see any indications of gang activity what so ever. Though I was just driving through, the area looked prosperous with viable towns. I doubt that is serves as a rest and recuperation / hide out spot for San Antonio gangs.

 

[Chimera]

Whoever said younger guy was definitely right. Older men typically don’t wear volcom, a skateboarding brand,like his sweatshirt. An immature thirties at best

Agreed totally. ^^^
I do wonder if this is his first crime ?
To go from a break in to murder (if he was the former perp who broke into their home ?) seems like a big leap.
But maybe not for him !

How long has he terrorized innocent people ?
Is this man a career criminal ?
Omo.

Btw -- I like your avatar, it gave me a chuckle ... which I needed today.
Thanks.

 

[Trino]

Agreed totally. ^^^
I do wonder if this is his first crime ?
To go from a break in to murder (if he was the former perp who broke into their home ?) seems like a big leap.
But maybe not for him !

How long has he terrorized innocent people ?
Is this man a career criminal ?
Omo.

Btw -- I like your avatar, it gave me a chuckle ... which I needed today.
Thanks.

Did this guy have a job near Edna, TX? Would be interesting to know why he was there when he lived in Schulenburg.

 

[Chimera]

Did this guy have a job near Edna, TX? Would be interesting to know why he was there when he lived in Schulenburg.

Agreed.
Any break ins that happened where he's lived ?

 

[SouthAussie]

Lizbeth has been laid to rest in her home place. May she rest in peace.


GRAND ISLAND, Neb. Family, friends and loved ones of Lizabeth Medina gathered together Wednesday to pay their respects to the 16-year-old, who was killed last week in Texas.

Many people showed up in attendance to say their goodbyes during a service at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island.

Grand Island native killed in Texas stabbing laid to rest

 

[Caylee Advocate]

Lizbeth Medina: Police give cause of death, clarify immigration status of Rafael Romero

Police confirmed Lizbeth Medina was stabbed to death on Dec. 5 and said arrested suspect Rafael Romero lived in the U.S. for 5 years with a now expired visa.

www.victoriaadvocate.com

 

[Caylee Advocate]

Murder Suspect Was on Probation For Home Burglary | The Fayette County Record

Romero was Charged with Stealing from Schulenburg Home in September 2022 The suspect accused of murdering an Edna teen and arrested in Schulenburg last Saturday was on probation for a home burglary that occurred here in 2022. Rafael Govea Romero, 23 of Schulenburg, faces a capital murder charge...

www.fayettecountyrecord.com

 

[ifindedout]

Lizbeth Medina: Police give cause of death, clarify immigration status of Rafael Romero

Police confirmed Lizbeth Medina was stabbed to death on Dec. 5 and said arrested suspect Rafael Romero lived in the U.S. for 5 years with a now expired visa.

www.victoriaadvocate.com

Quote from article:
On Saturday night, Edna police arrested Rafael Govea Romero, 23, and charged him with murder in Lizbeth’s case. Originally, police described Romero an “undocumented male.”

Edna police have since clarified, saying Romero, who is from Mexico but has been in the U.S. since 2018, resided in the country with a visa that has since expired.

 

[alexwood]

Quote from article:
On Saturday night, Edna police arrested Rafael Govea Romero, 23, and charged him with murder in Lizbeth’s case. Originally, police described Romero an “undocumented male.”

Edna police have since clarified, saying Romero, who is from Mexico but has been in the U.S. since 2018, resided in the country with a visa that has since expired.

The question is when, exactly, did the visa expire. He has been here since [month/day/unknown] 2018, and it is now December 14, 2023. When did his visa expire. Someone in the media should be able to track down that information.

 

[Caylee Advocate]

The question is when, exactly, did the visa expire. He has been here since [month/day/unknown] 2018, and it is now December 14, 2023. When did his visa expire. Someone in the media should be able to track down that information.

The Fayette County Record has a big story about his prior robbery in Schulenberg where he was sentenced to a 5 year deferred sentence, but placed on probation. That robbery happened in September of 2022 (arrested Oct/ 2022) and IIRC they sentenced him in April of 2023.



He also was not allowed to leave the county except for work (with permission).


He committed that robbery and stole numerous items including an air compressor.



Edit to add:

He lived in a trailer park on the outskirts of town

 

[SouthAussie]

The Fayette County Record has a big story about his prior robbery in Schulenberg where he was sentenced to a 5 year deferred sentence, but placed on probation. That robbery happened in September of 2022 (arrested Oct/ 2022) and IIRC they sentenced him in April of 2023.



He also was not allowed to leave the county except for work (with permission).


He committed that robbery and stole numerous items including an air compressor.



Edit to add:

He lived in a trailer park on the outskirts of town

Seems like his visa must have been current (not expired) as of Oct 2022? Otherwise, one would think he would have been deported at that time, or at least in April 2023.

Probation is not much of a sentence to keep someone in the country for. imo