Police in Edna, Texas last week arrested an illegal alien for the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old high school cheerleader on December 5, ABC News reported.
According to a statement from the Edna Police Department, Rafael Govea Romero, 23, was arrested on Saturday, December 9 for the capital murder of Lizbeth Medina.
Medina failed to show up at the Edna Christmas parade on Tuesday, December 5 where her cheerleading squad was scheduled to participate. When the teen never arrived, her mother, Jacqueline Medina, went to find her, ultimately discovering her daughter lying unresponsive in the bathtub at home, KTRK reported.
Edna Police Chief Rick Boone confirmed to KTRK that Medina had been fatally stabbed.
Police released surveillance images of a person of interest in Medina’s murder who was seen driving a silver Ford Taurus. According to Chief Boone, the images led to information on Romero’s whereabouts.
Edna Police, along with Texas Rangers, went to a residence in Schulenburg. The homeowner confirmed that Romero was there and he was quickly taken into custody.
At the same time police were arresting Romero in Schulenburg, the community of Edna was holding a candlelight vigil for Lizbeth at the gazebo in front of the Jackson County Courthouse.
Chief Boone said the officers seized the vehicle and other evidence that connected Romero to Medina’s murder but did not disclose what the specific evidence was.
Romero was booked in at the Jackson County Jail on a $2 million bail.
According to Chief Boone, the 23-year-old Romero is an “undocumented male subject” who was in the United States on an expired visa. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have placed a detainer on Romero.
So far, police have not said if Romero knew Medina or if her murder was random or the result of a robbery gone wrong. Medina’s autopsy report has not yet been released.
