mother of Murder of 16 year old Lizabeth MedinaThe man who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant from Mexico in December 2023 says the suspect’s request for an insanity evaluation only “increases the pain.”
Rafael Govea Romero, 25, has been charged with mass murder Lizabeth was found dead with a knife wound December 5, 2023, in the bathroom of the Edna, Texas apartment she shared with her mother.
“I broke down. I was completely devastated,” Lizbeth’s mother Jacqueline Medina told Fox News Digital about her reaction after seeing her request for an insanity trial as a local newspaper. The Victoria Advocate was first to report.
Medina said, “To me, there is enough evidence clearly determining the facts… that he knew what he was doing.” “One of the police officers said he looked professional.”
Medina left her apartment for work early on December 5, 2023. Her daughter usually left for school soon after, but that day she didn’t show up to school or the Christmas parade for which her cheer team was supposed to practice.
Medina returned home that evening after no one had heard from or seen Lizbeth and found her dead in the bathtub of her apartment.
Edna police arrested Romero in Schulenberg, Texas, five days after Lizabeth’s death.
The Fayette County Record reported for the first time that the murder suspect was reportedly on probation for a 2022 burglary in Schulenburg, about 60 miles from Edna.
Edna police said Romero may also be connected to a burglary at Lizbeth’s home about a month before her murder.
“The plea of insanity just compounds the pain and hurt we are already going through,” Medina said. “And I’ve been waiting for this trial, and now it’s being pushed back.”
Romero was initially scheduled to go on trial in December, but it has been rescheduled for February, and Medina said he was not receiving updates from the court regarding developments in the case.
“That’s all I want…I’m just begging for justice for my daughter. That’s all I want. And the fact that this case will be pushed back further – it hurts me because I ask myself: Did my daughter get that chance? Did he get that chance? Did he give him that mercy? Or that chance to live?” Medina said. “He had the right to live. He had the right to be safe in his own home.”
Medina said she is eagerly awaiting answers in her daughter’s case, including why a judge previously released Romero on parole in her prior burglary case.
Neither Medina nor Lizabeth knew Romero, but Medina noted that their home had been burglarized on November 13, about a month before the teen’s murder.
Edna police officers believe Romero may have been involved in the robbery and may have stalked Lizbeth before allegedly attacking and killing her.
The grieving mother also said she stands with others who have lost their children to illegal immigrant suspects this year Laken Riley’s family.
Venezuelan José Ibarra, the suspect in Riley’s murder, was convicted on 10 counts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on November 13.
lizbeth, riley, Rachel Morin of maryland, jocelyn nungare of texas, ruby garcia More of Michigan Maria Gonzalez Women and girls have reportedly been murdered by illegal immigrants in Texas over the past two years.
“I stand with all the moms and dads who are going through this and Riley’s family and Jocelyn Nungare’s family – with all of them,” Medina said. “We are all united by similar tragedies. I have recently seen the result of Laken Relay. And like I said, they’ll never get it back. But he could have been stopped. (The) Biden and Harris administrations have failed us completely, and now I’m losing hope.
The Advocate reported that Romero’s defense team also filed a motion to suppress certain evidence, arguing that Edna Police Department officers searched and detained Romero without reasonable suspicion, and that they obtained the suspect’s consent. Searched his apartment without.
The suspect’s defense attorney, Ross Reiffel, did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Romero is currently being held in Jackson County on a $2 million bond.
(Tags to translate) US news(T) illegal immigrants(T) immigrants(T) murders(T) Texas
