Rafael Gobert Romero, the suspect in the December 2023 murder of Texas 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Jackson County.
Romero, 24, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, is accused of stalking Edna after he allegedly punched her in the head and stabbed her, a high school cheerleader and aspiring nurse, in the apartment she shared with her mother. There is.
A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told FOX News Digital that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston had arrested Rafael Gobert Romero, 24, of Mexico, at the Jackson County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office. I filed a complaint with the office for immigration detention.” He is arrested for the murder of a villain. ”
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.
Mother of Texas teen allegedly killed by suspected illegal immigrant calls for change after Laken Riley’s murder
The Edna (Texas) Police Department announced the arrest of Rafael Gobert Romero, an “undocumented male” who authorities believe is “the person responsible for the death of Lizbeth Medina” in Schulenburg. (Edna Police Department)
Edna Police Chief Rick Boone told Fox News Digital that Romero had a criminal history in Texas and was on probation at the time of his arrest in connection with Lisbeth’s murder.
Illegal immigrant in Texas charged with felony assault and stabbing of cheerleader
Edna police said the investigation into Lisbeth’s murder is ongoing and authorities are taking special care in releasing information to the media “to adhere to due process, ethical standards and to avoid trial by press conference.” . (Jackson County Sheriff’s Office)
According to reports, the murder suspect was on probation for robbery. Schulenberg, Texasin 2022, about 90 miles from Edna, as first reported by the Fayette County Record. Edna police believe Romero may also have been involved in a robbery at Lisbeth’s home about a month before the murder.
A Jackson County grand jury indicted Romero in February on secret murder charges in connection with Lisbeth’s murder.
Jacqueline Medina returned home that afternoon to find her 16-year-old daughter, Lizbeth “Liz” Medina, dead in her bathtub. (Instagram)
Edna police first arrested Romero in Schulenburg, but five days later Lisbeth was found in the bathtub in her apartment with “blood on the side and what appeared to be a stab wound to the upper stomach,” according to a police affidavit. He was found dead with “marks”. Previously obtained by Fox News Digital. Police were able to identify the suspect thanks to cell phone data and other evidence linking him to the crime scene.
Laken Riley’s mother speaks of ‘inevitable tragedy’ after daughter’s funeral
The victim’s mother, Jacqueline Medina, had left her apartment early on Dec. 5 for work. Her daughter usually heads to school afterwards, but she was unable to go to school that day or to the Christmas parade where the cheer squad was supposed to practice.
A Jackson County grand jury has indicted Rafael Romero on a charge of secret murder in connection with the December 5, 2023 stabbing death of Lizbeth Medina. (FOX26)
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.
Laken Riley funeral in Georgia honors nursing student allegedly killed by illegal immigrant
The grieving mother, who lived in Nebraska before moving to Texas for work, said neither she nor her daughter knew Romero, but about a month before the teenager was killed on 11. He said his home was burglarized on March 13th.Edna police believe Romero was involved in the robbery and may have stalked Lisbeth before. allegedly attacked and killed her.
Jacqueline Medina found her daughter, Lizbeth “Liz” Medina, dead in the bathtub of her Cottonwood Apartments home that afternoon. She did not see her 16-year-old daughter that afternoon, nor did she contact her. (Facebook)
“We believe the November 13, 2023 robbery may be connected to the murder suspect,” Edna police officers said in an affidavit. “I believed that the suspect in this murder was at large and posed a current danger to the community. I had heard that the suspected murder suspect had been sending emails to other high school students. We were particularly concerned and thought the suspect was targeting students.”
Click to get the FOX News app
“Additionally, the stalking-like behavior exhibited by the suspect poses a danger to the public through the potential connection between the robbery on November 13, 2023, and the driving of a vehicle at an apartment complex on December 4, 2023. I believe he was exposed to.”
Romero’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday. FOX News Digital has reached out to the defense attorney for comment.
