Migrant Charged in Cheerleader’s Murder Causes “Cruel Delay”

The mother of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, who was brutally murdered in December 2023, is speaking out against what she sees as a calculated attempt by her daughter’s alleged killer to evade justice. Rafael Govea Romero, a 25-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, has requested an insanity evaluation ahead of his trial—a move that Jacqueline Medina says “only adds to the pain.”

A Tragic Loss in Edna, Texas

Lizbeth was discovered in the bathtub of her family’s apartment on December 5, 2023, the victim of a violent stabbing. Her mother, Jacqueline, had left for work that morning, expecting her daughter to follow her routine of heading to school. But Lizbeth never made it to class or the Christmas parade practice for her cheer team.

“I broke down. I completely broke down,” Jacqueline told reporters after learning of the insanity plea. “There’s enough evidence to show he knew what he was doing. One of the officers even said he seemed professional.”

The alleged murderer, Romero, was arrested five days later in Schulenburg, Texas, about 60 miles from Edna. At the time of Lizbeth’s death, he was on probation for a 2022 burglary in Schulenburg and is now suspected of being involved in a November 2023 burglary at the Medina home.

A System That Failed

Jacqueline is demanding answers—not just about her daughter’s murder, but also about the judicial system that released Romero on parole after his prior burglary conviction.

“All I want is justice for my daughter,” she said, her voice breaking. “She had the right to live. She had the right to be safe in her home. Did he give her that chance? Did he show her any mercy?”

Lizbeth’s trial, originally scheduled for December, has been delayed until February due to Romero’s insanity evaluation request. Jacqueline fears this could be the first of many delays. “This case keeps getting pushed back, and it hurts me because I ask myself: Did my daughter get that chance?”

A Pattern of Violence

Lizbeth’s murder is not an isolated case. Jacqueline has joined a growing coalition of parents mourning children allegedly killed by illegal immigrants. These include the families of Laken Riley in Tennessee, Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas, and Maria Gonzalez in Michigan.

The suspect in Riley’s murder, Jose Ibarra, was convicted on 10 counts and sentenced to life without parole last month. “We are all united by the same tragedies,” Jacqueline said. “I saw the outcome in Riley’s case, and while her family will never get her back, it’s clear this could have been prevented.”

A Mother’s Plea for Action

Jacqueline is unflinching in her criticism of the Biden administration, saying its immigration policies have failed to protect American families. “The Biden and Harris administration failed us completely,” she said. “Now I’m losing hope.”

She also urged law enforcement to investigate Romero’s possible connection to the Medina home burglary, which occurred less than a month before Lizbeth’s murder. Police believe he may have stalked Lizbeth in the weeks leading up to the crime.

A Call for Justice

Jacqueline’s message is clear: delays and excuses will not bring closure. “The insanity plea just adds to the hurt we’re already going through,” she said. “All I can do now is fight for justice—for Lizbeth and for all the families who have suffered the same loss.”

The Medina family, along with their community, continues to wait for answers, grappling with a system that seems to prioritize the rights of perpetrators over the lives of victims.