A man charged with the capital murder of a high school cheerleader in Edna, Texas is set to take a plea deal. The case, which has garnered considerable local attention, involves the death of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, who was found stabbed in a bathtub by her mother in December 2023, as reported by ABC13.
The suspect, 23-year-old Rafael Romero, was apprehended days after the crime and charged with Medina's murder, with officials citing a confession and "stalking-like behavior" preceding the incident. Surveillance footage and evidence of a prior burglary at the victim's residence are also linked to the suspect, Romero, who was undocumented with an expired visa at the time of his arrest, as per court documents. ABC13 reports that Romero is slated for a court hearing today.
In a separate report by KPRC 2, details of the plea agreement have emerged. Romero's attorney, Ross Reifel, confirmed that Romero is expected to plead guilty to murder with the possibility of parole, and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The sentences are set to run concurrently, with an additional 20-year sentence for burglary of habitation to be served consecutively.
The plea deal prompted a response from Jacqueline Medina, mother of Lizbeth Medina. She expressed her distress and questioned whether financial considerations influenced the handling of the case. Jacqueline told KPRC 2, "It leads me to believe that they didn’t pursue justice for my daughter because they didn’t have the money for it. And that hurts."
The district attorney's office has not responded to inquiries about the plea deal or the social media posts attributed to an individual believed to be Assistant District Attorney Stephen Tyler. Jacqueline Medina plans to confront Romero at the upcoming hearing, stating, "He took my daughter from me, but he hasn’t won," according to an interview with KPRC 2.
