The mother of Lizbeth Medina, a 16-year-old Texas girl who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant from Mexico in her own home in December 2023, expressed tears of relief and hope after Trump’s victory. She believes the Biden-Harris administration failed in protecting their family from such tragedies. Lizbeth’s alleged killer, Rafael Govea Romero, is set to face trial next month. Jacqueline Medina hopes that stricter laws will be put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Jacqueline Medina described her daughter as beautiful, loving, bubbly, and funny. She left for work on the day of Lizbeth’s murder, only to return home to find her daughter dead with a stab wound in the bathtub. Romero was arrested five days later and was found to have a criminal history in Texas. There were suspicions that he may have been involved in a burglary at Lizbeth’s home a month before her murder. The tragedy has left Medina lost and struggling to find a new direction in life, but she is determined to seek justice for her daughter and ensure that others do not suffer a similar fate.
Despite not personally knowing Romero, Lizbeth’s house had been previously burglarized, leading investigators to believe that he may have stalked Lizbeth before attacking and killing her. Medina is trying to stay strong by focusing on seeking justice for her daughter and raising funds for a scholarship in her name. She wants Lizbeth to be remembered for her kindness and accomplishments rather than for the tragedy that took her life. Medina is advocating for change to prevent such crimes from happening in the future.
The trial for Romero is set to begin on December 3 in Jackson County, Texas, while a trial for another illegal immigrant suspect, Jose Ibarra, in the murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley is also ongoing. Medina plans to watch Ibarra’s trial and keep Riley’s family in her thoughts as they seek justice for their loved one. She hopes that by sharing Lizbeth’s story, more people will understand the need for change in policies to ensure the safety of families and communities. Medina is also focusing on supporting child advocacy funds and scholarships in Lizbeth’s name to honor her memory and make a positive impact in her community.
