Migrant charged with murder of cheerleader ‘knew what he was doing’ despite claiming he was crazy, mother says

The mother of slain 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant from Mexico in December 2023, says the suspect’s request for an insanity ruling “only adds to the pain.”

Rafael Govea Romero, 25, is charged with murder after Lizbeth was found dead with stab wounds in the bathroom of the Edna, Texas, apartment she shared with her mother on December 5, 2023.

“I collapsed. I completely broke down,” Jacqueline Medina, Lizbeth’s mother, told Fox News Digital about her reaction to his request for an insanity test, as first reported by local newspaper The Victoria Advocate.

“To me there is enough evidence that obviously confirms the fact … he knew what he was doing,” Medina said. “One of the police officers said he seemed professional.”

Medina left her apartment early on December 5, 2023 to go to work. Her daughter usually went to school shortly after, but that day she didn’t make it to school or the Christmas parade her cheer team was supposed to be practicing for.

Medina returned home that evening, after no one had heard or seen Lizbeth, and found her dead in the bathtub of her apartment.

Edna police arrested Romero inschulenburg, Texas, five days after Lizbeth’s death.

The murder suspect was reportedly on probation for a 2022 burglary inschulenburg, about 60 miles from Edna, the Fayette County Record first reported.

Edna police said Romero may also be linked to a break-in at Lizbeth’s home that occurred about a month before her murder.

“Pleading insanity only adds to the pain and hurt we are already going through,” Medina said. “And I was looking forward to this trial, and now it’s postponed.”

Romero’s trial was originally scheduled for December but was postponed until February, and Medina said she was not receiving any information from the court about developments in the case.

“All I want… all I’m begging for is justice for my daughter. That’s all I want. And the fact that this case is being pushed back further and further – it hurts me because I ask myself: Did my daughter get this chance? Did she get this chance? Did he show her this mercy? Or this chance to live?” Medina said. “She had the right to live. She had the right to be safe in her home.”

Medina said she is eagerly awaiting answers in her daughter’s case, including why a judge had already granted Romero parole in his previous burglary case.

Neither Medina nor Lizbeth knew Romero, but Medina noted that their home had been broken into on Nov. 13, about a month before the teen’s murder.

Edna police officers believe Romero may have been involved in the break-in and stalked Lizbeth before allegedly attacking and killing her.

The grieving mother also said she stands with others who lost their children to illegal immigrants this year, including Laken Riley’s family.

The suspect in the Riley murder, Jose Ibarra of Venezuela, was sentenced Nov. 13 to life in prison without the possibility of parole on 10 counts.

Lizbeth, Riley, Rachel Morin of Maryland, Jocelyn Nungaray of Texas, Ruby Garcia of Michigan and Maria Gonzalez of Texas are women and girls who were allegedly killed by illegal immigrants in the last two years.

“I stand with all the mothers and fathers who go through this, as well as Riley’s family and Jocelyn Nungaray’s family – everyone,” Medina said. “We all share the same tragedy. I recently saw the results of Laken Riley. And like I said, they’ll never get them back. But that could have been prevented. (The) Biden and Harris administrations have completely failed us and now I’m losing hope.”

Romero’s defense team also filed a motion to suppress certain evidence, arguing that Edna Police Department officers searched and arrested Romero without reasonable suspicion and that they searched his home without the suspect’s consent, the attorney reported.

The suspect’s defense attorney, Ross Reifel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Romero is currently being held on a $2 million bond in Jackson County.