Rafael Gobert Romero, the suspect in the December 2023 murder of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina in Texas, has pleaded not guilty, according to his lawyer.
Romero, 24 years old illegal immigration from mexico The suspect is accused of stalking an Edna High School cheerleader, then hitting her in the head and stabbing her on Dec. 5 in the apartment she shared with her mother.
After Romero’s arraignment Thursday in Jackson County Court, Romero’s attorney Chris Iles said, “He entered a not guilty plea. We are looking forward to a trial to defend his case.” “I’m looking forward to it. He’s innocent.”
A Jackson County grand jury indicted Romero in February on capital murder charges in connection with Medina’s death. Medina was found in her apartment’s bathtub with “blood stains on the side and what appeared to be a stab wound to the upper stomach,” according to a police affidavit previously obtained by Fox News Digital.
Texas teen Lizbeth Medina murder case: What you need to know about illegal immigrant suspect Rafael Romero
A Jackson County grand jury indicted Rafael Romero on a charge of secret murder in connection with the December 5, 2023 stabbing death of Lizbeth Medina. (FOX 26 Houston)
Police were able to locate the suspect on December 10th. Schulenberg, Texasused cell phone data and other evidence linking him to the crime scene.
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At the time of his arrest, Romero was on probation for a robbery in Schulenburg, about 90 miles from Edna, in 2022, Fayette County Records first reported.
Edna police arrested Rafael Gobert Romero, an “undocumented male” in Schulenberg, Texas, who authorities believe is “the person responsible for the death of Lisbeth Medina.” (Edna Police Department/Edna Police Department)
Edna police believe Romero may have been involved in a robbery at Medina’s home about a month before the stabbing.
Illegal immigrant in Texas charged with felony assault and stabbing of cheerleader
The victim’s mother, Jacqueline Medina, left her apartment on the morning of Dec. 5 to go to work. Her daughter usually went to school afterwards, but she couldn’t go to school that day or to the Christmas parade where the cheer squad was participating.
Jaclyn Medina returned home that afternoon to find her daughter, Lizbeth “Liz” Medina, dead in the bathtub of her Cottonwood Apartments apartment. She did not see or contact her 16-year-old daughter that afternoon. (Facebook)
Jacqueline went to the parade in hopes of seeing her daughter, but when she couldn’t find Lisbeth anywhere, she began reaching out to friends and family for help in tracking down her 16-year-old daughter. Later that night, Jacqueline found her daughter dead in the bathtub.
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The grieving mother said neither she nor her daughter knew Romero, but that her home had been burglarized on Nov. 13, about a month before the teen was killed.Edna police believe Romero was involved in the robbery and may have stalked Lisbeth before. allegedly attacked and killed her.
Edna police are investigating Liz Medina’s death as a capital murder case. (Facebook)
A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement previously told Fox News Digital that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston “arrested Rafael Gobert-Romero, 24, of Mexico, on capital charges in Jackson County. “I filed a request for immigration detention with the (Texas) Sheriff’s Office.” murder. “
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According to ICE, ICE ERO dispatches immigration agents to noncitizens arrested and detained for criminal activity as part of the agency’s mission to identify and apprehend removable illegal immigrants.
Romero’s arraignment was Thursday in Jackson County, but he waived his right to appear in court, according to the Jackson County Herald Tribune.
