Overview
Jacqueline Medina, mother of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, a cheerleader brutally killed last December, spoke publicly following former President Donald Trump's recent election victory.
Jacqueline expressed her emotional response, hoping that Trump's leadership could bring about stricter immigration policies that she believes might prevent future tragedies. Rafael Govea Romero, a 24-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, stands accused of Lizbeth's murder and will face trial on December 3.
Mother's Reaction to Trump's Election Win
When Jacqueline Medina heard Trump had won, she says she “teared up,” thinking of her daughter and reflecting on what she perceives as a failure by the current administration to protect her family. “The Biden-Harris administration failed us terribly,” she told Fox News Digital, adding that stricter immigration policies might prevent others from experiencing the same pain.
The Crime
Lizbeth Medina was killed in her Edna, Texas, apartment on December 5, 2023. Jacqueline, who had left for work early that day, later realized something was wrong when Lizbeth didn’t attend her cheerleading team’s Christmas parade practice. Returning home that evening, Jacqueline discovered her daughter’s body in the bathtub, with a visible stab wound.
Romero, who had been on probation at the time of Lizbeth’s murder, was arrested five days later in Schulenburg, Texas, approximately 60 miles away from Edna. He had a prior criminal record and was reportedly on probation for a 2022 burglary in Schulenburg. Edna Police Chief Rick Boone noted that Romero might also be connected to a prior break-in at the Medina residence on November 13, suggesting Romero may have stalked Lizbeth before her death.
Justice and Advocacy
Medina, devastated by the loss of her only child, says her focus is on achieving justice for Lizbeth. She has also set up a scholarship fund for cheerleaders in her daughter's memory, with the family donating to child advocacy funds. “My whole life was my daughter,” she said. “The only thing keeping me strong is the fact that we still need to get justice for her.”
A Call for Change
Medina hopes her daughter’s story will raise awareness and push for stronger immigration enforcement. "I do want everybody to hear her story so they can understand why things need to change," she said, expressing a desire for policy reform that would, in her view, better protect American families.
Looking Ahead
Romero's trial is set for December 3 in Jackson County, Texas. Medina has also voiced her support for the family of Laken Riley, a Georgia college student allegedly murdered by another undocumented immigrant, whose trial begins this week.
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