In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves through Edna, Texas, a 16-year-old high school cheerleader Lizbeth Medina was found stabbed to death in her home last week.
Authorities subsequently arrested 23-year-old Rafael Govea Romero on suspicion of capital murder.
Medina’s body was discovered by her mother in their Edna residence, prompting a widespread outpouring of grief in the tight-knit Black community.
The suspect, Romero, was taken into custody in Schulenburg by the Texas Rangers and Edna police after the release of security photos depicting a person of interest and a vehicle linked to the case.
Romero is now being held on $2 million bail, facing charges related to the tragic killing of the 16-year-old cheerleader.
Medina, a vibrant member of her cheerleading squad, was slated to perform at a Christmas parade, but her absence led her mother to search for her, culminating in the heartbreaking discovery.
Edna Police Chief Rick Boone confirmed that Medina had been fatally stabbed, though details surrounding the circumstances of her death remain limited pending an autopsy report.
The arrest of Romero unfolded after investigators received information on his whereabouts, leading a team of law enforcement officers to apprehend him in Schulenburg.
Boone emphasized that items of evidence connecting Romero to the crime were seized during the arrest, without specifying the nature of the evidence.
In a statement on Monday, Boone revealed that Romero is an “undocumented male subject” and disclosed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on him due to an expired visa.
As the community grapples with the tragedy, a candlelight vigil was held for Medina on Saturday evening outside the Jackson County Courthouse.
Despite the arrest, questions linger about the relationship between Medina and Romero and the motives behind the attack.
Medina’s mother, Jacqueline Medina, expressed her grief and the overwhelming loss felt by those who loved her daughter.
The family had recently moved to Edna, and the vibrant teen was honored at a football game, where her favorite color, purple, was worn by the cheerleading squad and family members.
As of Monday afternoon, a GoFundMe page started by someone who identified herself as Medina’s aunt has raised more than $18,000 on behalf of the family.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and community members are rallying around the grieving family as they seek justice for the senseless loss of Lizbeth Medina.
